Toyota bZ4X 2024 review

A bit of a price shock for the Toyota, with the brand's local executives having spent months warning us that the bZ4X wouldn't be cheap. So starting at just $600 more than the entry-level Tesla Model Y is actually much better than we were expecting.

The FWD bZ4X (so called because of its front-mounted electric motor that drives the front wheels) opens proceedings, and is priced from $66,000 before on-road costs. Also available is a twin-motor variant, called the AWD bZ4X, which adds a second electric motor at the rear axle. It's priced from $74,900. 

Alternatively, the Toyota bZ4X is being offered with a three-year full-service lease, which is offered through Toyota's finance arm. It includes scheduled servicing, repairs, tyres, roadside assist, rego and insurance. Interestingly, Toyota retains ownership of the vehicle, and at the end of the agreed period, the owner can either hand it back, lease it again, or jump into another Toyota.

The front-wheel-drive bZ4X get LED headlights.

The idea, the brand says, is to cycle several owners through each bZ4X, but you'll be asked to pay around $1700 to $1900 per month for the privilege. And it's worth pointing out that, at the end of the lease agreement, you won't actually own the car.

Australia gets the just-updated bZ4X, which Toyota calls the "latest global specification", which was essentially relaunched to iron out some kinks in the first edition. It's also the first Toyota to ride on the Japanese giant's e-TNGA platform, designed to maximise rigidity and interior packaging.

On the tech front, expect a sizeable 12.3-inch central touchscreen with wireless phone mirroring, and a "Hey Toyota" virtual assistant.

The front-wheel-drive bZ4X get LED headlights, 20-inch alloys, heated side mirrors, a powered tailgate and privacy glass on all rear windows.

Inside, there is fabric and synthetic leather trim, a powered driver's seat, heated front seats, dual-zone climate and keyless entry and start. On the tech front, expect a sizeable 12.3-inch central touchscreen with wireless phone mirroring, and a "Hey Toyota" virtual assistant. The cloud-based nav will guide you to charging stations, and over-the-air updates are available, too.

Step up to the AWD model, and you'll find inside, there's a JBL sound system, a 10W wireless charger and ventilated front seats.

Step up to the AWD model, and you'll find a more stylish exterior, including a roof spoiler, a glass roof, roof rails and gloss-back trimmings. Inside, there's a JBL sound system, a 10W wireless charger, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a kick sensor for the powered tailgate. You also get more safety stuff, including blind-spot monitoring, safe exit assist and a better parking camera.

It's also billed as the off-road-ready model, with 212mm of ground clearance and X-Mode off-road drive modes (including Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud) to deliver what Toyota calls "benchmark off-road ability among BEV SUVs".

The bZ4X stretches 4690mm in length, 1860mm in width and 1650mm in height, and Toyota says its actually bigger inside than a RAV4 (though there’s more than 100 litres less boot space), and it rides on a wheelbase that’s about the same as the LC300, given the wheels have been pushed to the furthest corners.

And that’s a boon for backseat riders, where there was a heap of space in front of my knees, and, at 175cm, I found there was ample headroom, too.

There are some quirks, though. There’s no frunk, for example. And nor is there a proper power point like you find in so many EVs these days. Toyota says the latter will likely arrive with future updates to the bZ4X.

For the boot, you'll find up to 421L (VDA) of luggage space.

There is seating for five, and at the boot, you'll find up to 421L (VDA) of luggage space. Towing is capped at 750kg.

USB charge points are all accounted for in the front and back, and likewise there some practicality perks, too, like the multi-stage storage options between driver and passenger.

The front-wheel-drive bZ4X models produce 150kW and 266Nm, while AWD (dual-motor) models up the grunt to 160kW and 337Nm.

The power is fed though a single-speed gearbox, and Toyota reckons you should see 100km/h in 7.5secs in FWD models, or 6.9secs in the AWD.

Both bZ4X models are fitted with the same 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery that delivers 436km on the WLTP cycle for front-drive models, while AWD models will travel 411km between charges.

The bZ4X is set up for DC fast charging, but it's limited to 150kW. Still, that should see you go from 10-80 per cent charged in 30 minutes, under ideal conditions.

The bZ4X is set up for DC fast charging, but it's limited to 150kW. Still, that should see you go from 10-80 per cent charged in 30 minutes, under ideal conditions.

At home, the bZ4X can accept 11kW AC charging, which will mean a seven-hour charge time. Most home chargers are more like 7kW, though, which will stretch that time, as will plugging it into a regular power point.

Both bZ4X models are fitted with what Toyota calls its "latest Safety Sense", with highlights including AEB with motorbike, cyclist and pedestrian detection, along with emergency steering assist, lane trace assist, active cruise, seven airbags and speed sign recognition.

The bZ4X was awarded a five-star crash rating when tested by EuroNCAP in 2022, which has carried over to ANCAP.