Summary
The Toyota bZ4X is a mid-size five-door SUV, and the first fully-electric model range in the Toyota family, which went on sale in the UK in Summer 2022.
Designed in collaboration with fellow Japanese marque Subaru, the bZ4X is about the same size as the Toyota RAV4, and structurally identical to the all-electric Subaru Solterra. The entry-level model is powered by a 150kW electric motor paired with a 71 kWh battery pack, producing an output of 201hp and a promised battery range of 311 miles on a full charge.
A more powerful dual motor powertrain is also available, which ups the power output to 215hp, but lowers the official all-electric range to 286 miles. Models are front-wheel drive as standard, but all-wheel drive models are also available.
Regarded as “a fine all-rounder” by What Car?, the Toyota bZ4X has received a warm reception from the British motoring media – praised for its well-built interior and comfortable ride quality.
Parkers adds that the bZ4X has plenty of useful on-board tech as standard, and that the car’s infotainment is a big step forward for the Toyota brand, with “slick graphics and a responsive interface.” The SUV also comes with a very long ten-year warranty, which has impressed several reviewers.
While being a formidable and sensible entrant to the electric SUV market, a number of reviewers have complained that some awkward design elements make the car less usable on a day-to-day basis, such as the absence of a glovebox and a compartment under the bonnet.
As of January 2024, the Toyota bZ4X holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 79%. It gets top marks for its excellent safety rating, zero tailpipe emissions and strong media reviews. Running costs are also good. The only caveat is that the bZ4X is too new for us to have any reliability data.
bZ4X highlights
- Comfortable ride
- Spacious and well-built interior
- Improved Toyota infotainment
- Longest warranty around
bZ4X lowlights
- Rivals are more practical
- So-so battery range
- Alternatives offer more boot space
- Polarising exterior styling
Key specifications
Body style: Medium SUV
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £46,110 on-road
Launched: Summer 2022
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Family buyers after a capable, all-electric SUV, will be impressed by the talented Toyota bZ4X” (Paul Adam)
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Toyota’s first electric car is a good one. It may be no more of a head-turner than rival EV SUVs, but the way it drives will get people talking. It’s super-comfortable and has plenty of space inside, it’s well made and comes with plenty of tech.”
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“Distinctive inside and out but grounded in clear-headed practicality and typically solid engineering, the bZ4X is the equal of class favourites like the Skoda Enyaq iV and newcomers like the Nissan Ariya alike.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Toyota’s electric crossover finally makes it to UK roads. It’s on good form – just don’t expect fireworks.”
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Stupid name aside, the Toyota bZ4X is a formidable entrant to the bulging E-SUV segment – an impressive first move from such a latecomer to EVs. It’s spacious, good to drive and should prove utterly painless to own whether you’re leasing it for a short spell or hanging onto it for the best part of a decade.”
Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: bZ4X prototype
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s very pleasant to drive, practical and looks good, while the sturdy Toyota build quality and long warranty will please those who already own other models from the Japanese firm.”
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Toyota bZ4X is a great family EV with lots to like, although some rivals are more practical.” (Miles Goodson)
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Though the Toyota bZ4X doesn’t do much to stand out in a pretty crowded electric SUV sector, its sheer user-friendliness makes it one to consider. You’ll want to look elsewhere for practicality, though.”
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Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Although it doesn’t move the game on in a major way, the Toyota bZ4X is an instantly competitive contender in the electric family SUV arena.” (Ellis Hyde)
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Toyota’s first ever go at a pure electric car is not a game-changer, but there’s a lot of ability and subtle appeal in the bZ4x that takes care of the little hassles of running an electric car. It’s clever, competent and useful.”
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Move Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“While the Toyota bZ4X doesn’t stand out in any single aspect, it’s also lacking in any major faults or annoyances. It feels like exactly what is it: a crowd-pleasing, mass-market mainstream SUV from the world’s biggest car company that just happens to be electric.” (James Attwood)
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.6 / 10
“Unfortunately, the poor inefficiency and therefore low range and high running costs of the early models mean we struggle to recommend the Toyota bZ4X over cars like the Skoda Enyaq or Kia EV6.”
Author: Keith Adams
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“There’s nothing radical, but this family SUV – hybrid specialist Toyota’s landmark debut EV – is all the better for a methodical approach.” (Andrew English)
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: bZ4X prototype
Score: 7 / 10
“An extremely competent, well-built example of the breed – but apart from those looks, doesn’t have a stand-out unique selling point.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s already clear that this is a fine all-rounder that won’t make life easy for the Kia EV6 and Volkswagen ID.4. We suspect the front-wheel drive (FWD) model in mid-rung Motion trim will be the pick of the range.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 88%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 79%
Safety assist: 91%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of January 2024, the Toyota bZ4X has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
No reliability rating
As of January 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Toyota bZ4X to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively for us using warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the bZ4X, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 286 miles | A | 258 – 318 miles | A – B |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 4 m/KWh | C | 3.6 – 4.4 m/KWh | B – D |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 37 | C | 35 – 38 | C – C |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £246 | B |
| Year 2 | £539 | B |
| Year 3 | £890 | B |
| Year 4 | £1,016 | A |
| Year 5 | £1,353 | A |
| Overall | £4,044 | B |
The Toyota bZ4X is quite an affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for petrol and diesel cars) is only average, but the bZ4X still offers a good average official battery range of nearly 300 miles. Insurance costs are also reasonable for the price of the car, while servicing and maintenance costs are expected to be very good for the first five years of ownership.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Toyota bZ4X, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Audi Q4 e-tron | BMW iX3 | Citroën ë-C4 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Hyundai Kona Electric | Kia e-Niro | Kia EV6 | Mercedes-Benz EQA | Nissan Ariya | Polestar 2 | Skoda Enyaq iV | Subaru Solterra | Tesla Model Y | Volkswagen ID.4 | Volvo XC40 Recharge
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Toyota bZ4X at The Car Expert
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