2024 Toyota bZ4X Preview: What we expect

The Toyota bZ4X started rolling into U.S. dealers in 2022, but in limited availability and with some serious manufacturing defects, both of which have left many customers waiting for an updated model. While the issues have since been fixed, a model year update is likely to be issued in a few months, with which the electric SUV will become a 2024 product. Here’s what we expect from the 2024 Toyota bZ4X. Do note that the details and images we have provided in this article reflect the current model year, and we will keep updating this page as new information becomes available.

Design & Interior

Considering that the design is brand new, the 2024 Toyota bZ4X should look the same as the outgoing model, both on the outside and on the inside. Toyota could offer new color, wheel, or trim choices, but expect nothing different visually.

The size and proportions of the bZ4X are reminiscent of the Toyota RAV4. However, the bZ4X looks sharper and more aerodynamic. It was designed from the outset as an EV, and it’s not a conversion of the RAV4. The lower height and coupe-styled tail section give it a sporting character.

Thanks to a dedicated EV platform, the bZ4X has short overhangs and a long wheelbase. The interior space is comparable to that of a D-segment sedan (Toyota Camry). The low position of the dashboard and the location of the fully digital instrument cluster enhances the sense of space inside the cabin while also improving road visibility.

Specifications

Dimensions

Measuring 184.6 inches in length, 73.2 inches in width, and 65.0 inches in height, the Toyota bZ4X is roughly the size of the RAV4. However, as Toyota designed the bZ4X as an EV from the ground up, it managed to achieve a significantly longer wheelbase of 112.2 inches. These figures should remain unchanged following the MY2024 update.

Dimension	Value
Length	184.6 in.
Width	73.2 in. (w/o mirrors)
Height	65.0 in. (with antenna)
Wheelbase	112.2 in.
Ground Clearance	8.1 in.
Headroom	38.6 in. (front)/37.1 in. (rear)
Legroom	42.1 in. (front)/35.3 in. (rear)
Shoulder Room	57.8 in. (front)/56.0 in. (rear)
Hip Room	54.4 in. (front)/44.8 in. (rear)
Cargo Volume Behind Rear Seats	27.7 cu. ft. (standard)/25.8 cu. ft. (with JBL sound system)
Cargo Volume With Rear Seats Folded	94.4 cu. ft. (Toyota est.)

Performance

While most bespoke compact EVs have an RWD drivetrain layout by default, the 2024 Toyota bZ4X will be an FWD model. The base variant should have a single motor propelling the front wheels which generates 150 kW (201 hp) and 196 lb.-ft. of torque. The top-end variant should feature two motors, one at the front and one at the rear, each producing 80 kW (107 hp) and 124 lb.-ft. of torque. The combined power and torque of these motors will likely be 214 hp and 248 lb.-ft., respectively.

Charging and range

The 2024 Toyota bZ4X may offer some improvements in charging and range. Like the outgoing model, it may come with a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack in the FWD variant and a 72.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack in the AWD variant. However, we hope that the peak charging power and thus charging time would get better.

In the outgoing model, the 71.4 kWh battery pack is chargeable at up to 6.6 kW on AC and 150 kW on DC, while the 72.8 kWh unit can be charged at up to the same rate on AC but only 100 kW on DC. As a result, charging (low light to 80%SoC) at a Level 2 charging station takes around 9.5 hours for both units. Charging (low light to 80%SoC) at a Level 3 charging station takes approximately 30 minutes in the 71.4 kWh unit’s case. The 72.8 kWh unit, however, takes double that time for the same.

The 2024 bZ4X FWD may deliver a range of around 255 miles, while the 2024 bZ4X AWD’s charging may fully deplete at around 230 miles. We would have to wait for a few months to get the confirmed EPA-est. range figures, but we anticipate that the range figures will not differ significantly.

Heat pump & AWD

Toyota will likely fit a heat pump for both heating and air-conditioning in the 2024 bZ4X as standard. A heat pump-type climate control system reuses the battery pack’s waste heat to warm the cabin when required, reducing the impact on the range.

The 2024 bZ4X would feature an eAWD system co-developed with Subaru, along with X-Mode and Grip-Control. X-Mode is a Toyota-first feature and engaging Snow/Dirt mode with it improves vehicle stability and traction on slippery, dirt surfaces. There’s also a Snow/Mud mode, for unpaved and bumpy roads, which applies the brakes on spinning wheels to replicate the effect of a limited-slip differential. Grip-Control is an additional function of X-Mode, and it allows determining road surface characteristics and locking to a speed to prevent slipping on rough roads.

Aspect	2024 Toyota bZ4X Specification (Expected)
Drivetrain Layout	FWD/AWD
No. of Motor(s)	One/Two
Front Motor Power	201 hp (FWD)/107 hp (AWD)
Rear Motor Power	107 hp (AWD)
Combined Power	214 hp (AWD)
Front Motor Torque	196 lb.-ft. (FWD & AWD)
Rear Motor Torque	248 lb.-ft. (AWD)
Battery Pack Type	Lithium-ion
Total Battery Pack Capacity	71.4 kWh (FWD)/72.8 kWh (AWD)
Battery Pack Voltage	355 V (FWD & AWD)
Range	~255 miles (FWD)/~230 miles (AWD)

One year of free DC fast charging for bZ4X owners

2024 Toyota bZ4X customers will likely get one year of complimentary DC fast charging access through EVgo’s network. EVgo’s fast chargers are located at prime locations like grocery stores, shopping centers, and city centers. The facility would enable customers to charge their EVs when busy with their routine errands. The process is simple. Owners have to use the Toyota smartphone application to sign up for the free service. EVgo has 850+ fast-charging stations spread across 30+ states in the U.S.

90 percent range even after 10 years of use

Toyota has put efforts to ensure that the bZ4X is durable. It wants to ensure that the battery pack will deliver up to 90% of its range even after ten years of use. Masahiko Maeda, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, has said that this is one of the highest endurance performance targets in the world.

Preventing the formation of degraded materials on anode surfaces is key to extending battery life. Toyota is taking measures in various aspects such as pack structure, material selection, and control system to prevent the development of these degraded materials. Keiji Kaita, the President of Toyota’s CN Advanced Engineering Development Center, had said that the battery cost will reduce by 40% compared to the C-HR/Izoa/UX EV when it launches the bZ4X. So, cheaper battery replacements could be another advantage of the bZ4X.

The Toyota engineer in charge of the bZ4X’s development, Daisuke Ido, had told Bloomberg that the SUV’s battery would offer exceptional durability. The report states that Toyota experimented with battery materials and temperature management for 20 years, enabling the brand to extract extraordinary long-term battery life. The approach bodes well with Toyota’s historical focus on reliability—Toyota’s ICE powertrains are known to outlast their owners, and fetch a good price in the used car market. It makes sense for the Japanese brand to use its expertise in durability for EVs as well.

Features

As currently, the 2024 Toyota bZ4X should come with features like 20-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia system with dual Bluetooth phone connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a shareable Digital Key, Toyota-first front-seat radiant foot-and-leg heater, etc.

Toyota may offer the 2024 bZ4X in Softex/Fabric-trimmed interior in Black color in the XLE grade and Softex-trimmed interior in Black or Light Gray color in the Limited grade. A JBL Premium Audio system with 9 speakers, including an 8-channel HiD-watt amplifier and 9-inch subwoofer should be among the available features.

Also available will likely be a plethora of additional standard Connected Services. A 3-year trial should be included for the Remote Connect service, allowing Toyota App users to control the bZ4X’s headlights, seat heaters/ventilators, defroster, steering wheel heater, climate control system, rear hatch, and more. Remote Charging and enables checking charging status, starting/stopping charging, and editing charging schedules should also be possible with Remote Connect.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0

The bZ4X is the brand’s first model in America to feature Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) safety package, which should safely make it through to the MY2024 series. TSS 3.0 includes a millimeter-wave radar and a monocular camera with an expanded detection range. Toyota has improved the performance of each function of Toyota Safety Sense for v3.0. Moreover, it has added new functions to assist in normal driving conditions. For example, the Pre-Collision System offers Daytime Motorcyclist Detection, Low-Light Cyclist Detection, and Guardrail Detection. Another example is Lane Recognition, which provides improved Lane Tracing Assist mode functionality.

No solar roof and steer-by-wire in the U.S.

A steer-by-wire system is available internationally but not in the U.S., and it is unlikely to be introduced in the country with the MY2024 update, with the feature reserved for the Lexus RZ. The steering wheel and tires have no mechanical connection, so unwanted vibrations from the maneuvers don’t make it to the driver’s palms. In this setup, Toyota has set the lock-to-lock at around 150 degrees, making U-turns and parking simpler, as there is no need to change grips.

Price & Release Date

The 2024 Toyota bZ4X could start at around USD 43,000. Its long list of competitors will include the VW ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Nissan Ariya, and the Kia EV6. Toyota may launch the 2024 bZ4X in the U.S. in Q3 2023 (July-September 2023), with cars expected across U.S. dealers towards the end of the year. We will update this page as we gather new information.

Toyota bZ4X GR Sport Concept

At the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) unveiled the Toyota bZ4X GR Sport Concept. The modified bZ4X features an exclusive matt gray paint, large gloss black alloy wheels, GR badging, and GR-branded black sports seats. A lower height amplifies its sportier character, but we wish TGR had equipped it with an aggressive body kit to improve its presence. Toyota hasn’t revealed the specifications of the concept.

Toyota is examining the business case for a bZ4X GR Sport, the car’s chief engineer Daisuke Ido told Move Electric. Ido said that the bZ4X could see the addition of a performance variant tuned by GR Sport. He cleared that “it’s still not a concrete idea yet,” though. The biggest challenge facing the bZ4X variant isn’t increasing its power or torque, but rather giving customers the superior handling and performance they demand from GR Sport models, Ido stated. There is no set release date as of yet, but if everything goes according to plan, the bZ4X GR Sport could launch globally in 2024.

Toyota electrification efforts in the U.S.

Toyota will manufacture a three-row electric SUV with locally-sourced (North Carolina-made) batteries in the country from 2025. The company plans to invest approximately USD 3.4 billion in the U.S. by 2030 to develop and locally produce batteries, including those for fully battery-powered EVs or BEVs.

A new company and a new battery plant built together with Toyota Tsusho in the U.S. will support Toyota Motor North America’s ZEV transformation. Toyota aims to begin manufacturing batteries in the U.S. by 2025. The company will invest approximately USD 1.29 billion in this project until 2031. The company’s initial focus will be making HEV batteries, not BEV batteries. By 2030, Toyota expects to sell 1.5-1.8 million electrified vehicles in the U.S. and increase their share in its sales to nearly 70%.

TopElectricSUV says

The Toyota bZ4X features a futuristic and funky design and offers plenty of space and a welcoming interior. However, the limited range, slow charging, and lackluster performance robs away appeal, which we hope Toyota will address in subsequent model years.

Toyota bZ4X FAQs

Featured Image Source: Toyota