2023 Toyota bZ4X | First Drive

For the latest Toyota bZ4X pricing and information:

Hey, you wanna make an electric car? Well, you better do 3 things.

Make it look distinct. Yeah, we’ll go with distinct. Take this Toyota bZ4X. It does not have the style of some prosaic grocery getter. With those contrasting black fenders, hooded light treatment, and competing body side lines, it is unmistakably itself. Is the resulting shape attractive?

Throw a big screen at it. That is a standard 12.3” touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. Wireless for the former and wired for the latter.
Toyota has done a lovely job creating functional interface with just enough slick style to feel electric-car futuristic. And you can make demands of the vehicle using your voice. Hey, Toyota. Cool me down.

Give it range. The front wheel drive XLE trim covers 252 miles of range a competitive if not class-leading figure among modern electric cars. Here are the other EPA range estimates if you’re curious.
(XLE FWD 252 miles AWD 228 miles)
(Limited FWD 242 miles AWD 222 miles)

And with America’s expanding charging infrastructure, the viability of covering real distance in an electric car continues to improve. And, just to cover my data bases, here are a few more items.

Toyota says the AWD returns 0-60 springs of 6.5 seconds, which is decently zippy.

While there is some acceleratory fun to be had here, the bZ4X is not particularly fun to steer. Carry extra speed into a corner and you’ll find the handling limits quickly. Instead, the bZ4X is tuned to deliver predictable, comfortable road manners. Meanwhile over-the-shoulder visibility is somewhat hindered by a thick rear pillar, making us grateful for the presence of a standard blind spot warning system.

Stylistically, the interior incorporates soft surfaces in key areas along with this smudge-magnet black plastic. I wouldn’t describe the cabin as deeply fashionable but there are some interesting material choices in here. Perhaps the biggest stylistics swing is this oddly long steering column that extends forward like a Wonka hallway. I’ll add that with the steering wheel in my preferred position, the top of the wheel perfectly blocks the gauge cluster. Even then, I’d still prefer a wheel to a yoke. Before moving on, I’ll also note that the bZ4X doesn’t have a volume knob, the drive selector operates with an unfamiliar push and twist action, and there’s no glove compartment but there is a lower storage zone for the front occupants to use.
For cargo capacity the bZ4X offers a healthy 27.7 cu-ft. That’s a hair more than the Hyundai IONIQ5. I’ll also note that bZ4X is one of the more awkward car names I’ve ever been confronted with. What does that have to do with cargo space? Absolutely nothing.

One area worth scrutinizing with an electric car is recharge times. While Hyundai and Kia have chosen a speedy 800v architecture that allows their EV6 and IONIQ5 to blast from 10% to 80% charge should only take 18 minutes using a 350-kW DC Fast Charger, the Toyota bZ4X maxes out at 150 kW charging speeds for front drive models and 100 kW for AWD versions. Consequently, recharge times are much longer with the bZ4X.

Talking price a base bZ4X XLE FWD trim costs $42,000 plus $1,215 in destination charges. For that price the bZ4X includes smart key access, a panoramic roof with power sunshade, wireless phone charging, 4 USB ports, and 8 airbags. Enhancing safety is standard blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, guardrail detection, and daytime motorcyclist detection, plus full-speed dynamic cruise control and safe exit assist, which warns occupants about vehicles approaching from the rear.

Go with the priciest AWD Limited trim and the MSRP hits nearly $49-grand. Also, keep in mind that while the bZ4X is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax incentive as of when we made this video but Toyota’s tax credits should start to phase out in the 2nd half of 2022. That said, the bZ4X is potentially eligible for state incentives depending on where you live.

VO: The competitive set for small fully-electric SUV has grown of late and includes the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Tesla Model Y. And if you’re shopping electrified Toyotas I’ll also add the Venza hybrid and RAV4 Prime hybrid plug-in to your consideration list. In short, after years of fits and starts, the electric vehicle landscape is finally filled with an intriguing array of genuinely usable choices.

But if you value “distinct” style, a well-rounded driving experiences, and the easy ownership experience that comes with a Toyota badge, the bZ4X awaits.

00:00 2023 Toyota bZ4X
1:18 Range
1:46 Motors
1:54 Driving Impressions
3:43 Interior
7:45 Competitors

[shanet]

5 years ago I never thought I'd say this, but Hyundai/kia kicked toyotas ass with the Ioniq 5 and EV6. Like in basically every single way.

[KGSXRider]

For the last 10 years i keep hearing about electric car prices coming down and becoming more still waiting

[ramenandgyoza]

The person who authorized doing away the Glove Box needs to be fired

[musickaraoke]

went to a toyota dealer in L.A. and asked how much it was and they said for the base model it's 42k and they wanted an extra 10k because of a markup. I went for the limited awd so it came out to be 60k, not including destination charges and taxes. I thought about adding an addition 2k just to get a model y instead. The model y has more range, better performance, better charging times, more tech features, and I could add an extra 3rd row if I wanted to. Getting a model y is definitely worth it over the bz4x.

[rkeincfl]

One of my local Toyota dealers just received one of these in FWD trim. Sticker was 45k, however dealer tacked on an additional 10k “dealer fee” besides all the other misc fees. So until they get real on the price that’s gonna be a NO from me

[Thenevisian]

I don't understand how cars are still being made in 2022 WITHOUT a glove box. 😕

[shinikyokai]

That was a smooth transition from the back seat footage to the trunk footage 👌

[wp]

Lyn with the cameo is the best part of the video!

[Ryan]

I love that at 3:09 "lets floor it again" *flies by cop in intersection*

[mjhowson]

I don’t see any advantage this car has over the competition. The range is less than most, and the charging speed is horrible. One hour to get an 80% charge on a DC fast charge? Capping the AWD speed at only 100kwh when others, such as Hyundai/Kia can max out at 350 is just insane. The styling, both inside and out, is . . . an acquired taste. Suddenly the VW ID.4 looks cutting edge. Given Toyota’s decades of hybrid experience you’d thing their first pure EV would be much more competitive. Price this and an Ioniq 5 and the Hyundai wins hands down.

[sal.mallen]

Thumbs up, fun and exciting video. Good job from this lovely couple 💪🥰

[davidimmortal]

The most fun and funniest car review I’ve seen . 😂😂😂 thanks for the review

[Ashton-san]

If I'm being honest, I know everyone is crazy for crossovers, but I would've loved to see one of the sedans go EV. For the same battery pack size, it would get better range, and if it were the Avalon, they could position it as a roomier and more luxurious Model 3.

[seb.]

Slow charge on AWD? They really want to sell Hybrids a bit longer 🤣

[dcbel]

Very interesting video! The Toyota bZ4X looks great. It appears to have been well thought out in terms of practicality and space. 🚗 ⚡️

[maorgrinfelld]

I wanted to know what your height is, and when you are standing next to the vehicle, where is the seat relative to your body? (And is the chair most down or up or in the middle)

[conchobar]

@5:58 The bottom 2 prongs on the chargeport are missing plastic/rubber guide sleeves. That charge port won't actually accept a DC fast charge.

[dkdesai]

Hi, I thought you forgot to show the frunk and it’s storage capacity.

[vandreadparty]

The charging on the BZ4 is a joke. Their technology is like 5 years behind Kia and Hyundai and 10 years behind Tesla. If it was cheaper I would consider it but not at full price.

[markalexander]

Thanks for the review. Unfortunately, it's hard to take Toyota too seriously when they have been actively working against EVs for years, and then only import 7, 000 bZ4X's to the US (according to reports). For manufacturers complaining that they don't sell many EVs, I have a suggestion... make more of them.