New Toyota bZ4X arrives with big range and power boosts

• Exterior and interior updates for Toyota bZ4X
• Up to 358 miles of range
• Range-topping 338bhp, all-wheel drive model

The electric SUV scene is moving forward at a rapid pace, so the Toyota bZ4X has been given a significant mid-life update to keep pace with the new competition. The mid-size SUV, which launched in 2022, has been treated to a new battery, a longer range and more performance, with a new range-topping model that delivers 338bhp.

Toyota has made some styling changes, too, including a sharper front end with the Japanese brand’s latest ‘hammerhead’ design language. While the updates aren’t revolutionary on paper, Toyota will hope that they contribute to a more compelling overall package that will win buyers away from the Skoda Enyaq, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the best-selling Tesla Model Y.

What does the new Toyota bZ4X look like?

Toyota’s designers haven’t gone too wild for the bZ4X’s facelift, with the key styling changes taking place at the front end. Toyota claims the new look is more aerodynamic than before, which will have contributed to its range increase for this update.

The most obvious change is the new lighting design. The daytime-running lights are slimmer than before and are connected by a thin light-bar that spans the leading edge of the bonnet below the Toyota emblem. The main headlight units have been positioned separately below, following a popular trend set by cars like the Hyundai Kona and Skoda Elroq.

The front bumper has changed, too – it’s sharper than before, with more prominent creases and less black cladding. Speaking of, that distinctive cladding that wraps around all four wheelarches is now gloss black rather than matte black.

What about the interior?

The interior changes look to be more significant than those exterior tweaks. The whole dashboard has been redesigned, with different materials and a new horizontal air vent. The digital driver’s display is still set quite far back, but it’s no longer surrounded by the big shroud from the old car.

There’s a new infotainment display sitting proudly at the centre of the dashboard. It’s grown from 12.3 inches to 14 inches, and now incorporates the climate controls – the separate capacitive buttons have been ditched. There are still rotary dials for temperature, though, as well as physical controls for the media volume, windscreen demister and the heated mirrors and rear screen.

The interior should be a more pleasant place to sit, too, thanks to improvements with the bZ4X’s suspension and bodywork. Toyota claims these changes have resulted in “lower noise and vibration levels and improved comfort and driving dynamics”.

What about batteries, range and other important specs?

This is where the game has really moved on since the bZ4X launched three years ago, so thankfully there are some big improvements here.

The highlight is a maximum range increase from around 320 miles in the current car to 356 miles. That’s a useful increase and practically identical to the updated Skoda Enyaq, even if it’s not one of the longest ranges we’ve seen in an EV. That figure is exclusive to the bigger 73kWh battery, but there’s now a smaller and cheaper 58kWh unit available. There’s no official range figure for this model yet, but it’s likely to appeal to those who don’t travel afar quite as often.

Its maximum charging speed remains pegged at 150kW, which is about average among its rivals. However, Toyota has fitted a new battery pre-conditioning system to the bZ4X, meaning it should be able to utilise that peak charging speed sooner, helping to reduce the overall charging time. It should also make charging a bit speedier in colder temperatures.

There are now three motor and battery configurations to pick from, replacing the old 201bhp front-wheel drive and 218bhp all-wheel drive models. The range kicks off with a 165bhp bZ4X with the smaller 58kWh battery and front-wheel drive.

Upgrading to the bigger 73kWh battery brings a beefier 221bhp front-mounted motor, while there’s a new 338bhp all-wheel drive model at the top of the range. Not only will the 338bhp model be the quickest of the lot, it’s able to tow twice as much as the old car, with a maximum capacity of 1,500kg.

How much does the new bZ4X cost?

Pricing for the updated bZ4X is still unconfirmed at this point, but the new 57kWh model could bring with it a lower entry point to the range. The bZ4X currently starts from around £43,000, so Toyota may decide to price its new, entry-level model below the £40,000 luxury car VED tax threshold. Order books are expected to open in the latter half of this year.

New Toyota bZ4X exterior and interior images

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