2023 Toyota bZ4X: Everything you need to know about the delayed electric car

The Toyota bZ4X isn’t here yet, so what’s happening with Toyota’s first electric car, and when does Australia get it?

CarsGuide was invited to a media preview of the 2023 Toyota bZ4X, coinciding with a press conference at which the brand outlined its future battery electric vehicle plans.

At the conference, Toyota confirmed the bZ4X will now arrive in late 2023, having been delayed because, in the words of vice president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley, “we want to be able to secure supply and the latest spec.”

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Details for the Australian specification of the bZ4X aren’t confirmed, nor is pricing or exact timing beyond that it should land in quarter four, but there are some things we do know about the bZ4X and what to expect.

Toyota supplied, as the preview car, a production specification car from the UK in all-wheel drive and explained to journalists that Australia would likely get cars in a specification above the relatively basic car previewed.

This means that, while Toyota has already confirmed it’s not looking to turn the bZ4X into a high-volume seller just yet, that customers who do go along for the early stages of Toyota’s EV journey, they won’t be lacking features.

While a front-wheel drive version with a 150kW motor and a 71.4kWh battery is available, the AWD car with 160kW across two 80kW motors, one at each axle, and the same 71.4kWh battery is likely the big target for Toyota Australia.

Toyota has now confirmed the bZ4X will arrive in late 2023.

Those who own or have driven a recent Toyota will also still have something to look forward to inside the cabin, where an updated dash and console advances Toyota’s usually quite conservative interior design. 

Sleek piano black panelling and a 12.3-inch centre multimedia screen visually blend into one central element, though still featuring physical buttons for important functions and climate control.

In true Toyota style, ergonomics and useability are key, with a new ‘dial’ gear selector design for the brand unlikely to confuse those used to a traditional stick.

Past the visual and ergonomic simplicity, we expect to see Australian bZ4Xs equipped with plenty of comfort features like heated and ventilated seats, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging, automatic tailgate, and all the visual trim options ticked.

Upfront is a 12.3-inch centre multimedia screen.

More than just a visual preview, we were given a preview drive of a UK-spec all-wheel drive version at Toyota’s testing ground in Melbourne.

While it wasn’t enough to fully evaluate the car, we got a taste of its mannerisms.

It’ll be no surprise to anyone who’s driven a car on Toyota’s TNGA platform that the electric version is similar.

Smooth and accessible are the first words that come to mind, with elements like acceleration and steering weighted to be gradual and relatively calm.

In true Toyota style, ergonomics and useability are key with the addition of a new ‘dial’ gear selector design.

There’s also no harsh regenerative braking when lifting off the pedal, though it can be increased with a regenerative braking boost.

The bZ4X can’t be driven ‘one pedal’ style, but we’ll have to wait to find out more when we get to properly review it at its media launch late this year.

As mentioned, Australia’s bZ4X models won’t be cheap, with Mr Hanley even outright saying “electric cars are expensive, don't kid yourself”, when asked what we can expect for pricing.

We’re estimating a price tag close to $70,000 for the bZ4X, with Toyota likely to lean on its image as a trusted and reliable brand, as well as a relatively long standard features list for the cost, even at the entry level.

The bZ4X should hit the Australian market in quarter four of this year.

With prices like that, Toyota admits it isn't expecting to shift huge numbers of the bZ4X just yet. Mr Hanley told CarsGuide that building trust in Toyota’s EVs is more important than cashing in on sales.

“What's important about bZ4X is it's our first launch of a full battery electric vehicle into the Australian market. 

“So safety, quality, reliability, durability, and building trust around that car is what's most important to us, not speed to market. And certainly not volume, because [the shift to] BEVs is a once in a lifetime, generational change.

“So therefore, you've got to think of it more long term. You can't think of it as: ‘I'm gonna do this because I want to sell a load of cars quickly’.”

The bZ4X is Toyota's first launch of a full battery electric vehicle into the Australian market. 

That’s not to say, though, that the car won’t live on once similarly sized SUVs go EV, with Mr Hanley saying “one hundred per cent it does” have a future potential to be as prolific for EVs as the Prius was with the brand’s move to hybrid.

“But the good news is that [a younger] generation won’t have to wait 22 years like I had to, you’re only going to have to wait seven or eight.”

If Toyota Australia’s current leadership is right, expect to see plenty of bZ4Xs on Aussie roads… just maybe give it a few years to pick up.