2023 Toyota bZ4X available in select U.S. states [Update]

Update: ‘Price & Release Date’ section updated.

The U.S.-spec Toyota bZ4X has some changes compared to the Japanese version. Here’s an in-depth look at Toyota’s first dedicated electric vehicle for the American market, which began reaching dealers last year.

Toyota bZ4X at a glance

Here are the highlights of the Toyota electric car that is now available in the U.S. market:

• The size and proportions of the bZ4X EV 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.
• The bZ4X has a new all-wheel drive system co-developed with Subaru.
• Solar roof, which charges the battery pack when the vehicle is stationary, also omitted in the U.S.-spec model.

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.

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.)

Motor

While most bespoke compact EVs have an RWD drivetrain layout by default, the Toyota bZ4X is an FWD model. The base variant has a single motor propelling the front wheels which generates 150 kW (201 hp) and 196 lb.-ft. of torque. The top-end variant features two motors, placed at the front and rear, each producing 80 kW (107 hp) and 248 lb.-ft. of torque. The combined power output of these is 214 hp. The driver can select the gear using a dial-type shifter, a first for Toyota.

Aspect	Specification
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)
AC Charging Input	6.6 kW (FWD & AWD)
DC Charging Input	150 kW (FWD)/100 kW (AWD)
EPA-est. Range	252 miles (XLE FWD)/228 miles (XLE AWD)/242 miles (Limited FWD)/222 miles (Limited AWD)

Battery & charging

The Toyota bZ4X FWD has a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, while the Toyota bZ4X AWD uses a slightly bigger, 72.8 kWh lithium-ion pack. However, both batteries have the same operating voltage – 355 V. Two trims are available, namely XLE and Limited, both in FWD and AWD. The EPA-est. range, depending on the configuration, is up to 252 miles.

The maximum charging power on alternating current is 6.6 kW. Fully charging with a Level 2 charger takes about 9 hours. The maximum charging power on direct current is not class-leading. The single-motor variant supports charging at 150 kW, while the dual-motor variant’s peak DC charging power is just 100 kW.

Heat pump & AWD

Toyota has fitted a heat pump for both heating and air-conditioning in the 2023 bZ4X. 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 U.S.-spec bZ4X features a new AWD 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.

One year of free DC fast charging for bZ4X owners

Toyota announced on February 24, 2022, that American bZ4X customers would 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 800 DC fast chargers in the U.S. and thousands of Level 2 chargers across 68 metropolitan areas in 35 states. The EVgo chargers derive energy from 100% green sources.

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

The U.S.-spec Toyota bZ4X comes 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.

AVN

The 2023 Toyota bZ4X is available in Softex/Fabric-trimmed in Black in the XLE grade and Softex-trimmed in Black or Light Gray in the Limited grade. A JBL Premium Audio system with 9 speakers, including an 8-channel HiD-watt amplifier and 9-inch subwoofer is available. Also available are a plethora of additional standard Connected Services. A 3-year trial is included for the Remote Connect service, which allows 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 is also possible with Remote Connect, and it enables checking charging status, starting/stopping charging, and editing charging schedules.

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. 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. market. 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 Toyota bZ4X is available at U.S. dealerships, but in select states only and in limited quantities. According to the official sales data, Toyota sold 1,220 units of the bZ4X in the U.S. in 2022.

We can spot inventory of the bZ4X in West Springfield, Massachusetts-based Balise Toyota, Redlands, California-based Toyota of Redlands, Mount Laurel Township, and New Jersey-based Holman Toyota.

Prices of the bZ4X start at USD 42,000 (excl. delivery, processing, and handing fee of USD 1,335). The bZ4X competes with the VW ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Nissan Ariya, and the Kia EV6.

Configuration	Toyota bZ4X Price
XLE FWD	USD 42,000
XLE AWD	USD 44,080
Limited FWD	USD 46,700
Limited AWD	USD 48,780

Toyota bZ4X colors

• Heavy Metal
• Elemental Silver Metallic
• Wind Chill Pearl
• Supersonic Red
• Black
• Wind Chill Pearl with Black roof
• Elemental Silver Metallic with Black roof
• Heavy Metal with Black roof
• Supersonic Red with Black roof

Note: Every option except for Black costs extra

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 as early as the second half of 2023.

Toyota to launch 6 additional bZ EVs following the bZ4X

Toyota has half a dozen BZ EVs in the pipeline by 2025, following the Toyota BZ4X. bZ at Toyota is the condensed form of ‘Beyond Zero’ branding dedicated to its electric car series. Toyota may apply the alphanumeric branding with an ‘X’ for crossovers, while the hatch, sedan, or MPV names could end with the number connoting their place in the ladder. Toyota filed more than ten trademark applications at EUIPO in 2020, and it would use a few of them in the upcoming bZ models:

• Toyota BZ
• Toyota BZ Series
• Toyota BZ1
• Toyota BZ1X
• Toyota BZ2
• Toyota BZ2X
• Toyota BZ3
• Toyota BZ3X
• Toyota BZ4
• Toyota BZ4X
• Toyota BZ4X Concept
• Toyota BZ5
• Toyota BZ5X

A total of seven Toyota EVs are planned for global deployment by 2025, and a few of them are of the SUV/crossover body style. The plan includes a large SUV, a medium crossover, and a medium SUV.

All models would be based on the e-TNGA, given their appeal and the necessary compliance to American and European standards. The medium crossover and SUV would be 5-seat Toyota electric cars, and the large SUV could be a 7-seat model.

Eventually, the Toyota bZ range will start with the Toyota bZ Small Crossover, a potential zero-emission alternative to the Aygo X city crossover. However, the immediate launch will be a Corolla-like sedan, known as Toyota bZ3. Around 2024, the Toyota bZ Large SUV should follow, as well as a smaller crossover, the Toyota bZ3X. TMC has confirmed that the former is a three-row model, and the design suggests that it’s a derivative of the bZ4X. The latter, a coupe-style compact SUV presently referred to as Toyota bZ Compact SUV, could serve as a zero-emission alternative to the Toyota C-HR around the same time.

Toyota electrification efforts in the U.S.

Toyota hasn’t announced EV manufacturing in the U.S. but is preparing the building blocks for it in the not-too-distant future. The company plans to invest approximately USD 3.4 billion 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.

Toyota bZ4X FAQs

Featured Image Source: Toyota