2024 Toyota bZ4X new car review

After a long delay the world’s biggest car maker finally has an electric car on sale in Australia. This is everything you need to know about it.

Finally, belatedly, Australia’s largest car brand has an EV on sale: the Toyota bZ4X.

A smidgen larger (but lower) than Toyota’s best-selling RAV4, this medium SUV’s a direct challenger to Tesla’s ubiquitous Model Y.

I’ll not bury the headline. This bZ4X is about as average as they come in the EV world.

Price, electric range, performance, charging speed and features all proudly reside in the middle of the road.

Toyota has launched its first fully electric vehicle in Australia.

For Toyota loyalists making the electric transition, that’s probably perfectly played.

It’s a safe harbour in uncertain EV times, but buyers shouldn’t expect the cool factor offered by the Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 rivals.

Two versions are offered, using the same 71.4kWh battery. A 436km range single motor front-wheel-drive is about $71,500 drive-away and a 411km range dual motor AWD is priced from about $81,000. It nearly price-matches Tesla’s cheapest Model Y, and that’s no coincidence. The Toyota badge isn’t as hip as Tesla’s, but for Aussies it’s a long-established and trusted name. That matters.

So what’s it like? Styling’s sleek and edgy if a bit safe; the cabin’s spacious, practical and nicely equipped, while safety’s top notch.

The bZ4X is available with front- or all-wheel drive.

You’ll struggle to find much ‘wow,’ but there’s Toyota’s new “hammerhead” front design with slim LED headlights, full-width rear light strip and 20-inch dark alloys. It’s better proportioned than a Tesla Model Y’s bulbous shape.

Inside, a textured fabric dash and customisable digital driver display – set back so it better fills your peripheral vision – are neat additions, while comfy, heated front seats combine fabric and fake leather.

The bZ4X’s wheelbase matches Toyota’s LandCruiser, affording excellent rear space. More generous than a RAV4, back seat riders score airy head and leg room, air vents and USB-C ports. There’s space for iPads and phones under a shiny centre console and bottle holders are everywhere, but the boot’s only 452L – far less than a RAV4’s 580L.

It’s about the same size as a RAV4 SUV.

Goodies include power driver’s seat, dual zone climate, power tailgate, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto and sharp 12.3-inch infotainment.

AWD models add a panoramic roof, full faux leather ventilated memory seats, heated steering wheel, wireless charger and JBL audio.

Not great are some cheap-feeling plastics, no frunk, the glove box moving to under the armrest, and the steering wheel’s in your lap to best see the driver display. No V2L capability either, where you use the car to charge something else.

The cabin is typical Toyota with a good amount of tech and top-notch build quality.

The bZ4X’s drive continues the reassuringly conservative experience. What stands out is how easily you’d transition to EV life – there’s nothing revolutionary to the go-turn-stop aspects.

The single motor has all the performance needed of a family SUV. It hits 100km/h in 7.5 seconds, accelerates with ample urge and smoothly, quietly and confidently builds speed.

Only tyre noise lets down a plush highway experience; visibility’s good, driver aids refreshingly non-nannying and it cruises delightfully.

In traffic, radar cruise control follows the car in front for feet-free driving, but otherwise the two-mode regeneration (off or on) sadly won’t bring you to a complete stop.

Prices start at about $72,000 drive-away.

It’s a surprisingly firm low-speed ride. Quite stiff suspension and big wheels mean it’s not as cosseting as I’d expect from an SUV that’ll spend most of its life on urban roads and highways.

Trade-off is it’s a keen handler on country roads, showing impressive poise and stability even over big dips. It corners neatly and safely, then instant torque rapidly pulls you out of corners.

The dual motor bZ4X marginally improves on the above, but only hits 100km/h half-a-second faster. This AWD’s a tough sell. Yes it’s better equipped, but your extra $9000 buys less range, worse economy and a smaller boot.

It has a driving range of up to 436km.

But the AWD should appeal to mild off-roaders thanks to decent 212mm ground clearance and an X-Mode suite of off-road drive setting. Snow/Dirt or Deep Snow/Mud modes apply individual brakes to spinning wheels, while at under 20km/h, power can be evenly sent to all wheels, effectively working as a four-wheel diff lock.

We tackled a dusty, rutted unsealed section, and the Toyota EV tackled it with aplomb. But it’s a jittery ride on highway tyres, and no spare wheel limits deep exploration.

Our test realised slightly worse than Toyota’s economy figures, suggesting 400km range is realistic.

Public DC charging (up to 150kW) offers 10-80 per cent in around 30 minutes, while 11kW AC charging (home wallbox) takes seven hours.

VERDICT 3.5/5

Safe and predictable first electric car from Toyota. The competition’s more exciting, but the familiar badge is hugely reassuring for EV converts.

TOYOTA bZ4X FWD

PRICE: About $72,000 drive-away

POWER: Single electric motor, 150kW/266Nm

BATTERY: 71.4kWh

RANGE: 436km

WARRANTY/SERVICE: 5 years/unlimited km, $900 for five services/75,000km

SAFETY: 7 airbags, advanced auto emergency braking, emergency steering assist, lane trace and lane keep assist, driver attention alert, road sign assist, rear camera, front and rear sensors, rear AEB. AWD adds blind spot monitor, safe exit assist and 360-degree camera

LUGGAGE: 421L

SPARE: Repair kit