While electric cars have firmly established themselves in the market, electric SUVs remain relative newcomers to the green-car segment. A step up from their plug-in hybrid predecessors, these all-electric SUVs require no gasoline but still offer all the people- and cargo-hauling capabilities buyers expect.
Toyota has finally set foot in this segment with its all-new 2023 bZ4x electric SUV. Details about the new Toyota electric SUV are still thin, but you can learn all the available information about it—and its competition—below.
Toyota bZ4x: Exterior
While many automakers have toned down the styling of their electric vehicles, the new Toyota electric SUV, the bZ4x, went in the opposite direction. It features a bold and eye-grabbing design that’s sure to be somewhat polarizing. Some buyers will love its looks, whereas others will find it a little too aggressive for their liking.
This design includes four available two-tone paint schemes where the roof and wheel arches are a different color than the rest of the body, a short hood, slim headlights, and a flat fascia with air inlets on each side. Around the back, the bZ4x features a unique lighting design that flares out near the end of the LED light bar. It also includes a split rear roof spoiler, coupe-like rear glass, and a smaller spoiler just below the glass. From every angle, the bZ4x stands out.
The bZ4x is slightly larger than the compact Toyota RAV4, measuring 4,690 mm long, 1,650 mm tall, and 1,860 mm wide, and riding atop a 2,850-mm wheelbase.
Toyota bZ4x: Interior
Inside, the new Toyota electric SUV continues with a modern, forward-looking design, but it’s toned down relative to the body. This cabin features a thick, three-spoke steering wheel, a large center divider with loads of storage and a joystick-style gear shifter, a rounded dash design, a digital gauge cluster, and plenty of gloss piano-black accents. Higher-trimmed models replace the glossy bits with satin materials for a more premium look and feel.
The bZ4x will come standard with black cloth seats in the L and LE trims. The XLE trim will come standard with black cloth and synthetic leather seats, but it will also have optional full synthetic leather seats in black or light gray.
Tech will be abundant inside this advanced electric SUV. It will come standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’ll also include three years of free Connected Service, which offers Intelligent Assistant, Cloud Navigation, and Destination Assist. In LE and XLE models, the touchscreen is 12.3 inches.
Toyota doesn’t outline the bZ4x’s standard audio system, but it mentions that a nine-speaker JBL audio system with an 800-watt amplifier and subwoofer is available.
The bZ4x is not only full of the latest tech, but it is also quite roomy with 1,138 mm of front legroom and a massive 1,212 mm of rear legroom. It also offers 784 litres of cargo room behind the second-row seats.
Toyota bZ4x: Driver Assist Features and Safety
The Toyota electric SUV will be the first Toyota vehicle to feature the new Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 package. It features new millimeter wave technology and a monocular camera for enhanced detection. This primarily impacts the standard automatic emergency braking by adding in low-light cyclist detection, daytime motorcyclist detection, and guardrail detection.
Other safety and driver assist equipment includes lane-tracing assist, driver safety stop, a rearview camera, and more. The LE and higher models will get blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist.
Toyota bZ4x: Powertrain
The all-new Toyota electric SUV will have two zero-emissions powertrain options. The base powertrain will be a front-wheel-drive (FWD) single-electric-motor unit with 201 horsepower (hp) that sprints to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds.
The optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain will deliver 214 hp and sprint to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. This AWD system will feature X-MODE, which includes a Snow/Dirt and Snow/Mud mode for those slippery Canada winters. Snow/Mud mode uses the brakes to simulate a limited-slip differential (LSD) to transfer power from the wheels that slip to the wheels with the most grip.
Toyota advertises no towing capacity for the bZ4x, so it’s safe to assume it’s not rated to tow.
Toyota bZ4x: Charging and Driving Range
The Toyota bZ4x hasn’t revealed its lithium-ion battery pack’s useable capacity yet, but Toyota lists this battery electric vehicle’s (BEV’s) all-electric range (AER) at 406 km on FWD models and 367 km on AWD models.
As for fuel-consumption equivalents, the bZ4x with FWD comes in at 1.8 Le/100 km in city driving, 2.2 Le/100 km in highway driving, and 2.0 Le/100 km combined. The all-wheel-drive models check in at 2.1 Le/100 km in city driving, 2.5 Le/100 km in highway driving, and 2.3 Le/100 km combined.
The new Toyota Electric SUV will come standard with a 6.6-kW onboard charger that can accept a charge from a 120-volt, 240-volt, or a public DC fast charger. Charging at home or on a public Level 2 charger will take about 11 hours.
Toyota bZ4x: Pricing and Availability
The new Toyota electric SUV is not on the market yet, but it will arrive in late 2022. It will come in four trim levels. These trims, their features, and MSRP before national and provincial incentives are as follows:
- Toyota bZ4x L: $44,990
- Standard equipment includes: 18-inch alloy wheels, heated and powered exterior mirrors, LED daytime running lights, Smart Key System with Push Button Start, a rear-view camera, and many safety systems, including Lane Tracing Assist and Driver Emergency Stop
- Toyota bZ4x LE: $49,990
- Adds the following features to the L: Three-year trial for Toyota’s Safety Connect and Remote Connect services, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, front seat heater and foot and leg radiant heater, a heated and leather-clad steering wheel, foot lighting on the exterior mirrors, a power back door, rain sensing wipers, and additional safety system including the Blind Spot Monitor with Safe Exit Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Toyota bZ4x XLE: $54,990
- Adds the following features to the LE: AWD with X-MODE, Drive Mode Select system, Multi-Terrain Select, Downhill Assist Control, Crawl Mode, fixed panoramic roof with shade, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, HomeLink with integrated Garage Door Opener, Qi-compatible wireless charging system, a tonneau cover, and Intelligent Clearance Sonar system with Rear Cross Traffic Brake.
- Toyota bZ4x XLE Technology Package: $62,750
- Adds the following features to the XLE: JBL Audio system, a 3-year trial for Service, Safety, Remote and Drive Connect, auto-leveling headlights, hands-free power liftgate, Advanced Park, digital key, a panoramic rearview monitor, 20-inch alloy wheels, eight-way power-adjustable driver seats, heated and ventilated front seats, illuminated entry system, a rear spoiler, roof rails, and full synthetic-leather upholstery
The bZ4X all-electric SUV is not available for order yet from dealerships, but you can register online for updates to learn when it arrives. This also means this all-new model has some time before it joins our used electric SUV and crossover lineup. But keep an eye on our inventory to be the first to know when it arrives!
Toyota bZ4x: Competitors
The electric crossover and SUV segment continues growing, and the Toyota bZ4x will have plenty of high-quality competitors when it finally hits the market.
Volkswagen ID.4
The Volkswagen ID.4 all-electric SUV comes standard with an RWD powertrain that delivers 201 hp and has a dual-motor AWD model with 295 hp. It can travel up to 443 km with RWD and 410 km with AWD, depending on the model year.
The ID.4 has a relatively tame design compared to the bZ4x, but it is still stylish and eye-catching. The ID.4 comes standard with 19-inch wheels, a 12-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a seven-speaker audio system, and loads of standard safety and driver-assist features.
Prices start from $43,995 new, but you can get a used 2021 model for around $41,000.
Hyundai IONIQ 5
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is another newcomer to the electric car market with a more hatchback-like crossover design. It boasts a modern but palatable design and features three powertrain options: a 167-hp unit, a 225-hp setup, and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup with 320 hp. The standard range model can travel up to 354 km on a charge, while the long-range model can travel up to 488 km with two-wheel drive or 428 km with AWD.
The IONIQ 5’s standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, dual 12.3-inch screens, SiriusXM, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, and a host of safety and driver-assist features.
Pricing for a new IONIQ 5 starts from $47,550, but you can get a used 2022 model for about $43,000.
Find Your Used Electric SUV at Clutch
While you may not be able to scoop up the all-new Toyota electric SUV just yet, plenty of used electric SUV options pass through our inventory, including the Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4, and more. Instead of waiting on a used Toyota bZ4x, why not try one of these in-stock models and save a ton by buying it pre-owned?
At Clutch, quality comes first, as all our cars undergo a 210-point inspection and reconditioning process to ensure they’re ready for the road. We also include our 90-Day Protection Plan and nationwide roadside assistance for additional peace of mind. Want even more coverage? You can also opt for one of our nationwide Extended Warranties.
If you’re unsure about purchasing a vehicle 100% online, Clutch puts your mind at ease with a 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee on every car we sell. If you don’t love your new electric SUV during those first ten days, you can exchange it for a new one or return it for a no-questions-asked refund.
Check out our inventory of quality used electric SUVs today and choose a model suitable for you. You can also set up financing and even get your trade-in vehicle appraised online. There’s no need to ever set foot in a dealership again.
