2025 Toyota bZ4X

Overview

The bZ4X compact SUV is Toyota's first all-electric mass-market vehicle, developed in tandem with the nearly identical Subaru Solterra. With Toyota's history of hybrid electrification, hopes were high but, unfortunately, the bZ4X's driving range falls short—literally—by a sizable distance compared to top rivals. It offers up to 252 miles of EPA-estimated range, which isn't unreasonable. What is cause for alarm, though, is the mere 160 miles it covered in our real-world highway range test before it ran out of juice. That's too bad because it's otherwise a decent EV, offering a choice of single or dual motors and front- or all-wheel drive. It's peppy around town, has plenty of interior space, and rides comfortably. It's the bZ4X's dearth of highway range that makes the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Tesla Model Y smarter alternatives.

What's New for 2025?

The bZ4X is more affordable this year, thanks to massive price cuts on the XLE and Limited trims. A Nightshade model also joins the lineup, based on the XLE trim and embellished with a two-tone paint job and blacked-out styling elements. The top Limited trim now comes standard with Traffic Jam Assist.

C/D Expert Tip:

If this year's model has no changes, this is your cue to save by looking at cars from previous model years. You can almost always get the features you want for less money by purchasing a one-to-three-year-old model.

C/D Rating:7.5/10

2024 Toyota bZ

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C/D Rating:7.5/10

2023 Toyota bZ

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

The bZ4X can be had with a single motor and front-wheel drive or dual motors and all-wheel drive. Upgrading to dual motors may be better in slick conditions, but we'd stick with the standard front-wheel drive powertrain if you live in a mild climate since the dual-motor version isn't appreciably more powerful and has less range. Standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Assist. The Limited's additional features include a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, a multi-view camera, 20-inch wheels, automated parking, and Softex faux-leather upholstery. It's worth spending extra for the Limited's niceties—particularly the heated seats and steering wheel, which can allow for less reliance on climate control in the winter, preserving battery range.

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

A front-wheel-drive, single-motor setup is standard and offers 201 horsepower—that output exactly matches the Kia Niro EV and the base variant of the Volkswagen ID.4. The all-wheel-drive bZ4X has two motors, but power increases only slightly, to 215 horsepower. That's a lot less than the all-wheel-drive ID.4 (330 horsepower) or the all-wheel-drive Hyundai Ioniq 5 (320 hp). In our initial test drive, we noted perky in-town acceleration in both the front- and all-wheel drive versions, but you shouldn't expect to beat any Teslas in a drag race. The bZ4X absorbs bumps without complaint, yet it doesn't feel floaty, and the steering is reasonably well-weighted. There are just two levels of regenerative braking: none and some. The latter is switched on via a button on the center console, but the bZ4X falls short of offering true one-pedal driving as in many other EVs.

0–60-MPH Times

At our test track, the most powerful dual-motor version managed a 6.4-second run to 60 mph, which is respectable but hardly exhilarating by EV standards. By comparison, the single-motor Kia Niro EV took 6.7 seconds, while the dual-motor version of the VW ID.4 sprinted to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, and the twin-motor Hyundai Ioniq 5 got there in 4.5 seconds.

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Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The two bZ4X powertrains have nearly identical batteries: a 63.4-kWh battery pack in the single-motor version and a 65.5-kWh pack in the dual-motor model. EPA range estimates for the 2025 bZ4X lineup aren't posted yet, but we expect them to be similar if not identical to the 2024 model's numbers. That equates to an EPA range of as high as 252 miles for the single-motor front-drive version dropping down to 222 miles at the low end for the twin-motor, all-wheel-drive Limited. When we tested the dual motor model, we were disappointed with its 160-mile highway range result. If you're doing mostly city driving, you might not feel the range pinch as much, but this result ties the Nissan Leaf for the lowest highway result among EVs. With a Level 2 supply, the 6.6-kW onboard charger can replenish the battery in 9 hours. At a DC fast-charger, Toyota claims that adding 80 percent charge takes just under an hour, with peak charging rates of 150 kW for the front-drive variants; the dual-motor version, however, maxes out at 100 kW. Buyers also receive a year of free charging at EVgo locations.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe

The 2025 bZ4X with a single motor is EPA-rated as high as 131 MPGe in the city and up to 107 MPGe on the highway. The dual motor version falls to 112 MPGe city and 92 MPGe highway. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy test route, our dual-motor Limited test vehicle returned a disappointing 86 MPGe. MPGe stands for miles per gallon of gas equivalent, an EPA metric that estimates PHEV and EV vehicle fuel efficiency. For more information about the bZ4X's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The bZ4X has a spacious, airy interior, and the dashboard incorporates a digital gauge display and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen. That gauge display is located awkwardly far forward, and the driver looks over the steering wheel at it, so some drivers will find they need to position the wheel quite low to avoid blocking the display from view. The wide center console between the front seats features standard wireless smartphone charging and open storage underneath, although there's no glovebox. An optional feature in the Limited is a radiant heating element in the lower dash that warms front-seat riders' legs. There's also no frunk; the rear cargo hold volume maxes out at 26 or 28 cubic feet depending upon the model (versus 38 cubes for the RAV4).

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Infotainment and Connectivity

All bZ4X models come standard with a large 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability as well as a 7.0-inch digital gauge display. The system is well-connected with cloud-based navigation, an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless smartphone charging all included. A six-speaker stereo with SiriusXM satellite radio is standard but buyers can opt for an upgraded, nine-speaker JBL stereo system on the Limited trim. The audio system lacks any physical buttons or knobs for tuning—a negative from our point of view—and volume is via tiny up/down buttons; the satellite radio interface is also fairly obtuse.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

Like several other Toyota models, the bZ4X comes standard with a suite of driver-assistance features, including pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency braking. For more information about the bZ4X's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Toyota matches what its competitors offer, but it provides above-average coverage when it comes to complimentary maintenance. Likewise, its electrical component warranty is at industry-standard levels.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles

Specifications

Specifications

2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWD
Vehicle Type: front- and mid-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $49,995/$52,050
Options: audio package (JBL stereo, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto audio, Sirius XM, Wi-Fi), $580; two-tone exterior, $500; Wind Chill Pearl paint, $425; weather package (heated rear seats, front radiant heat), $350; rear spoiler, $200

POWERTRAIN
Front Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 107 hp, 124 lb-ft
Rear Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 107 hp, 124 lb-ft
Combined Power: 214 hp
Combined Torque: 248 lb-ft
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 65.6 kWh
Onboard Charger: 6.6 kW
Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.9-in vented disc/12.5-in vented disc
Tires: Bridgestone Turanza EL450 Enliten
235/50R-20 100V M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 112.2 in
Length: 184.6 in
Width: 73.2 in
Height: 65.0 in
Passenger Volume: 94 ft³
Cargo Volume: 26 ft³
Curb Weight: 4514 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.9 sec @ 92 mph
100 mph: 18.5 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.4 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.9 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 104 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 174 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.82 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 76 MPGe
75-mph Highway Driving: 86 MPGe
Highway Range: 160 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY (MFR'S EST)
Combined/City/Highway: 112/92/102 MPGe
Range: 222 mi

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

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