2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD overview

There’s fashionably late, then there’s simply plain late – and the Toyota bZ4X was plain late for Australia.

The Japanese big took its candy time getting its first electrical car (EV) to Australia, with a number of delays attributable to abroad high quality niggles.

Lastly in 2024 it landed, giving Toyota-loving Australians an alternative choice to the Tesla Mannequin Y. It’s additionally an analogous measurement to the top-selling RAV4 Hybrid. Recipe for fulfillment, proper?

Nicely, Toyota Australia has been fairly candid about its aspirations and forecasts for the bZ4X. Very similar to the unique Prius 20-something years in the past, the bZ4X is a little bit area of interest – and premium – in its positioning.

As such, the nation’s top-selling car model is forecasting a modest 1500 gross sales of its new EV in its first 12 months.

Tesla registered 28,769 new Mannequin Ys in 2023, so clearly Toyota isn’t aiming for a gross sales stronghold prefer it has in different segments. As an alternative, it’s dipping its toes in to gauge the response.

The 2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD on check is the costliest model, priced from a cool $74,900 plus on-road prices. That places it proper in competition with the Tesla Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary, amongst different electrical crossovers.

It has been met with combined critiques abroad, however early impressions from my colleagues have been optimistic. I used to be fairly eager to have the keys thrown to me so I might get my first style.

Is it value a glance for those who’re purchasing for a Mannequin Y, Ioniq 5 or EV6?

How does the Toyota bZ4X evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota bZ4X towards equally sized automobiles.

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bZ4X

How a lot does the Toyota bZ4X price?

There are two variants on sale in Australia – on check we’ve the dual-motor bZ4X AWD.

To see how the Toyota bZ4X traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.

What’s the Toyota bZ4X like on the within?

Whereas not typical Toyota per se, the bZ4X is much more typical than, say, a Mannequin Y.

It has an instrument cluster, conventional switchgear and stalks, and all the pieces is just about the place you’d anticipate it to be – however there’s some recent takes on custom at play.

The steering wheel and cluster array are tiered such as you get in a Peugeot, that means it is advisable have the wheel low to cease the rim obstructing the digitised cluster. I might get it to work, however not everybody can.

Construct high quality is typical Toyota stable too. There’s a pleasant ratio of soft-touch surfaces and contrasting textures, like piano black and the material trim on the dashboard – however the former is a nightmare for fingerprints.

There’s a mix of bodily and contact capacitive switchgear all through the cabin, and it’s largely acquainted from different new Toyota merchandise.

Entrance occupants are handled to properly supportive SofTex leatherette-trimmed chairs which can be electrically adjustable, and are each heated and ventilated. Reminiscence presets are a pleasant contact when you’ve got a number of major drivers.

Sitting atop the sprint (however built-in into the upright centre stack) is the 12.3-inch touchscreen, which is working the most recent Toyota interface that’s shared with many new Lexus merchandise as properly.

It’s nothing tremendous flashy when it comes to kind or operate, however the unit provides net-based functionality and features along with embedded navigation, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and DAB radio. It covers all bases, and simply works.

I’m not an enormous fan of the quirky shift-by-wire controller that requires a push and a flip to interact Drive or Reverse. It’s fiddly, and may generally really feel a little bit flimsy in operation.

Not less than there’s a easy button for P, and the digital parking brake routinely engages or disengages once you put it in Park or interact Drive or Reverse.

Storage is fairly helpful, too. There’s a giant cubby underneath the centre console bridge that matches odds and ends or a small bag, full with USB-C ports and a 12V outlet.

There are additionally respectable door bins with bottle holders, in addition to a lidded cubby with a slot to cover your smartphone out of sight. It’ll maintain it charged courtesy of the wi-fi cellphone cost pad.

The second row is surprisingly good. At 6’1 I had good head, leg- and knee room even behind my very own driving place.

You do get a little bit of that knees-up feeling because the floor-mounted battery pack raises the ground considerably, and the panoramic sunroof would possibly make head room cosy for anybody taller than me.

It’s in any other case fairly good for facilities, with directional air vents behind the console, USB-C cost ports, map pockets, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, in addition to bottle holders within the doorways.

You additionally get the requisite ISOFIX and high tether factors for little one seats, although there’s no rear heated seats such as you would possibly discover on another SUVs at this value level.

Claimed boot area is 452 litres within the FWD. That’s down on the 580 litres on provide within the RAV4 (which additionally has a spare wheel), and fewer than the 560 litres on provide within the equally sized Hyundai Ioniq 5.

With that stated, the ground is low and flat, and there’s storage beneath it for the sliding baggage cowl.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Each single- and dual-motor variations of the bZ4X can be found in Australia – right here we’ve the dual-motor AWD one.

We noticed an indicated power consumption readout within the low-19kWh/100km realm, which isn’t far off the WLTP declare although it meant vary off a full cost was nearer to 400km – on this metric, the bZ4X is off the tempo.

Rivals from Tesla, Hyundai, Kia and extra will all obtain higher consumption in the true world whereas additionally providing extra vary from comparable battery capacities. Additional, most rivals will cost faster too.

To see how the Toyota bZ4X traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.

How does the Toyota bZ4X drive?

There’s a way of familiarity with the bZ4X, although it’s extra luxury-leaning in its on-road really feel than a RAV4.

Whereas the start-up sequence with robotic beeps and lack of powertrain sounds may be very Toyota Hybrid, the solidity of the bZ4X’s stance on the street is extra upmarket.

Simply because the LandCruiser 300 and Prado sit within the semi-premium ends of their segments, the bZ4X offers an analogous impression. It’s a Toyota, nevertheless it’s simply that little bit… nicer.

It’s stable, substantial, and sure-footed, and it’s fairly properly refined in the way it goes about its enterprise. Actually, that is what I’d think about the Toyota Crown household to really feel like as these automobiles sit in an analogous area.

The drivetrain isn’t calibrated to knock your socks off like some dual-motor EVs, however there’s a pleasant linearity to the way it delivers its energy – and it’s hardly sluggish with a 6.9-second 0-100km/h declare.

In regular driving the bZ4X is comfy and quiet factor to stay with, with what looks as if a chassis setup geared extra in direction of consolation and liveability

That’s to not say it’s wallowy or obscure to drive, nevertheless it additionally doesn’t push you to drive it onerous. It looks like a giant, comfy household SUV, and that’s simply high-quality.

The steering is mild and fluid like different TNGA-based Toyota fashions, and there’s a little bit of doughiness to the throttle off the road so it doesn’t simply shoot off. For driving across the metropolis and the suburbs, it’s good.

On the freeway I observed a extra street noise than I might have anticipated, possible all the way down to the 20-inch wheels and decrease profile 235/50 tyres. Given how quiet each different facet of the drive is, it stands out extra – nevertheless it’s removed from unrefined.

It’s a disgrace you may’t choice the smaller 18-inch alloys out there on the bottom Subaru Solterra, the bZ4X’s twin underneath the pores and skin.

The chubbier tyres would possible soften the experience, transmit much less noise into the cabin, and provide higher driving vary (although the Solterra quotes the identical vary because the bZ4X AWD with each wheel sizes).

The bZ4X does really feel its weight when issues get tight or windy, and the AWD’s 2055kg (kerb) heft makes it some 300kg heavier than the chunkiest RAV4 Hybrid. It’s extra in keeping with a Kluger Hybrid on the scales.

It little doubt helps to make the bZ4X really feel fairly stable and safe like a car from the section up, however extra weight means it’s much less environment friendly and fewer wieldy from a dealing with perspective. However, it’s high-quality for what it’s.

As for driver assists, it’s very like any Toyota which implies it’s usually good.

Adaptive cruise management and Lane Hint Help facilitate semi-autonomous cruising on the freeway, and take the load off driving in visitors jams.

Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and encompass cameras offer you additional units of eyes when merging in visitors or parking, which helps to offset the chunky C-pillar design.

It’s a disgrace you must step as much as the AWD to get the options talked about in that final paragraph, however if you would like the complete suite within the Toyota you want the dual-motor model.

What do you get?

Every bZ4X drivetrain provides differing ranges of specification.

bZ4X FWD highlights:

• 20-inch wheels
• Tyre restore package
• Computerized LED headlights
• Computerized high-beam
• Rear fog lights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Privateness rear and aspect glass
• Energy tailgate
• 7.0-inch digital driver show
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Toyota Related Companies
• 4x USB-C, 1x USB-A port
• 6-speaker sound system
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Keyless entry and begin
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Cloth and SofTex upholstery
• Heated entrance seats
• 8-way powered entrance seats
• Reclining, 60/40 cut up folding rear seats

bZ4X AWD provides:

• X-mode terrain modes
• Downhill help management
• Multi Terrain Sensing and Crawl
• Gloss black bonnet accent
• Fastened panoramic sunroof
• Facet mirror reverse tilt and reminiscence operate
• Roof rails
• Rear spoiler
• Fingers-free operate for energy tailgate
• 9-speaker JBL premium sound system
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• Heated steering wheel
• Premium SofTex upholstery
• Ventilated entrance seats
• Driver’s seat reminiscence
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Protected exit help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Superior park help

Is the Toyota bZ4X protected?

The bZ4X has a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on testing carried out by Euro NCAP in 2022.

It scored 88 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 87 per cent for little one occupant safety, 79 per cent for susceptible street consumer safety, and 91 per cent for security help.

Commonplace security gear contains:

• 7 airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Ahead, Reverse
  • Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
• Adaptive cruise management
• Lane maintain help incl. lane centring
• Parking sensors entrance, rear
• Reversing digital camera

bZ4X AWD provides:

• Superior park help
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Protected exit help
• Encompass-view digital camera

How a lot does the Toyota bZ4X price to run?

The bZ4X is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, which extends to seven years for the driveline, offered the automotive is serviced yearly inside the Toyota community.

The battery is warrantied for 5 years, plus an extra 5 offered the car is subjected to an annual battery well being verify. Toyota ensures the battery for eight years to 70 per cent of its preliminary capability.

Upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, and the primary 5 providers will every price you $180.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota bZ4X

After all of the abroad press previous to the Australian launch, the bZ4X pleasantly shocked me.

It will not be a benchmark or class chief, however for Toyota consumers who’ve been ready for the Japanese model to lastly enter the EV world, it is a fairly stable effort – very like most of Toyota’s hybrids, if I’m trustworthy.

The bZ4X is a Toyota by way of and thru. It’s stable, it’s straightforward to stay with and, in idea, ought to be reliable. It feels properly constructed and doesn’t provide any surprises in the way it drives and handles, nor the way it features actually.

I just like the Toyota Premium really feel to all of it, and it’s good that it’s maintained a good degree of practicality regardless of the extra angular and swoopy seems to be in comparison with the RAV4. The concept-y, robotic seems to be actually catch the attention, too.

There’s loads of room for enchancment, although. The twin-motor bZ4X is behind the pack in terms of driving vary, power effectivity, and charging speeds.

It’s additionally costly in comparison with opponents, particularly given the efficiency and vary specs. Personally, I’d prefer to see a second bZ4X variant with the identical gear ranges for $69,000 with that 30-50km additional vary afforded by the single-motor drivetrain.

Regardless, the bZ4X is stable throughout most measures, however doesn’t actually stand out in any method. And actually, that’s why it’s excellent for Toyota consumers trying to step into the world of electrical.

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