It has become easier to warm to the Toyota bZ4X, which now offers more choice in battery and power, a longer driving range, and is expected to come with a lower entry price.
When the Toyota bZ4X arrived in 2022, it carried the vibe of a child that was not entirely wanted-starting with its name. Who thought it was a good idea to give a car a badge that could just as easily belong to a droid in the Star Wars universe?
At the same time, it was no secret that the Japanese industrial giant remained wary of fully electric propulsion and only entered the market relatively late (unlike its hybrid technology, which is approaching 30 years), doing so with this mid-size electric SUV.
But, like most manufacturers, Toyota is being pushed to broaden its EV line-up-it has promised an onslaught of dozens of new EVs by 2035-and to sharpen its know-how. That is why Toyota has refreshed and expanded its electric offering, including the addition of an estate-like bZ4X variant called Touring, due next spring.
This matters because an ever-growing field of rivals-models such as the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq and Ford Mustang Mach-E-does not stand still, and this update is genuinely needed.
More power and more options
The technical foundation of the bZ4X 2026 remains the e-TNGA platform, yet the powertrain has received meaningful changes. Output from the electric motors has been lifted thanks to revisions to the rotors and stators that allow higher rotational speeds, while energy losses have also been reduced. It also introduces silicon-carbide inverters, which are more efficient, smaller and lighter than conventional units.
Instead of a single battery choice as before (71,4 kWh), there are now two capacities available:
- 57,7 kWh - front-wheel drive; power of 123 kW (167 hp); top speed of 140 km/h; range of 442 km;
- 73,1 kWh - front-wheel drive; power of 165 kW (224 hp); top speed of 160 km/h; range of 569 km;
- 73,1 kWh - all-wheel drive; power of 252 kW (343 hp); top speed of 160 km/h; range of 506 km.
Faster charging
Charging performance (especially in low temperatures) is another area that has been revisited, with improvements to heating and the introduction of a new thermal pre-conditioning system.
One of the changes for the Toyota bZ4X 2026 is that-unlike some German premium makers such as Porsche or Audi-it will now support 22 kW AC charging from the mid-range versions upwards (the entry version keeps 11 kW), effectively halving the 10%–100% charging time. DC charging remains capped at 150 kW, which does not leave Toyota especially well placed against competitors (10%–80% in 30 minutes).
Four levels of regenerative braking on deceleration are offered, and they can now be selected via steering-wheel paddles-something that was not available before.
Dynamically competent
The front-wheel-drive version with the larger battery feels well judged, as we were able to confirm during a dynamic drive in a lightly camouflaged pre-production car.
It reaches 100 km/h in 7,4s, which is brisk enough. The suspension set-up on the two-tonne bZ4X leans towards comfort and filters most road imperfections from occupants, although it cannot prevent noticeable body roll if you increase the pace through corners, roundabouts or other types of lateral load.
Worthy of praise is the body/chassis integrity: with this electric variant of TNGA (e-TNGA) being even stiffer thanks to the battery installation attached to the chassis.
The adaptive cruise control operates flawlessly, trimming speed as soon as it detects another vehicle ahead. If a vehicle closes in from behind, an alert appears on the screen. An in-cabin camera continuously watches the driver and prompts them the moment their eyes leave the road-even briefly.
This electric SUV also shows some off-road ability. The generous axle articulation, the high ground clearance (21 cm) and the 500 mm wading depth help the bZ4X clear moderately difficult obstacles without even "ruffling its hair".
The most powerful Toyota in Europe
In range-topping form, the bZ4X 2026 with all-wheel drive and 252 kW (343 hp) also becomes the most powerful production Toyota on sale in Europe-if we leave the limited Supra A90 Final Edition out of the equation. A sign of the times.
We drove it briefly-it's not expected to come to Portugal-and it is not just powerful on paper. It delivers a strong shove off the line (5,1s from 0–100 km/h) and keeps pulling convincingly beyond 120 km/h. It is possible to switch ESP fully off, which can lead to entertaining slides or even long, easily controlled drifts (in suitable environments and ideally with low grip).
It does not turn this heavy SUV into a GR Yaris, but it does make the handling clearly more agile.
Back on tarmac, braking felt very capable, including the progression of the left pedal-one of the "Achilles' heels" of many electric cars. The small steering wheel helps make driving the bZ4X feel genuinely engaging, if that is what you are after.
In our test, we recorded an average consumption of 15,2 kWh/100 km, a noteworthy figure and only slightly higher than the homologated consumption of the previous generation’s entry version (14,4 kWh/100 km).
Plenty of space, but the boot could be larger
With no changes here for the Toyota bZ4X 2026, the long wheelbase (2,85 m, 16 cm more than the RAV4) results in a very roomy cabin-something that is clear the moment you sit in the second row. The generous headroom accommodates rear passengers up to 1,90 m tall without restrictions.
Boot capacity is 452 litres (including the underfloor area), which is lower than what almost all direct rivals provide, such as the Mustang Mach-E (502 litres) or the Volkswagen ID.4 (543 litres). The absence of a frunk (front boot) also does not help, unlike what some competitors offer.
The rear seatbacks fold down in equal sections (but without creating a completely flat load floor) and, when upright, they can be adjusted in two positions.
Interior updates
There have been a few "tweaks" inside as well. The 14-inch touchscreen is now standard (replacing the previous 12,3-inch display) and the centre console has been lowered by 10 cm (it was overly intrusive), creating a greater sense of space and allowing two phones to be placed and charged at the same time.
These changes fix one of the elements that did not work well in the 2022 car: the driver felt somewhat "trapped" between an overly wide door panel and an intrusive centre console-unlike most EVs, which are known for their open, uncluttered layouts. However, there is still no glovebox, which remains highly unusual.
There is room to improve material quality: most surfaces, including those you touch most often, are finished in hard, basic-looking plastic. It is a flaw found in many other EVs, but it should be addressed given the high price.
The seat upholstery gives an impression of quality, although it is a shame the cushions are too short and that lateral support is somewhat limited.
How much will the Toyota bZ4X 2026 cost and when will it arrive?
Toyota has not yet announced exact launch dates, but it has confirmed the bZ4X 2026 will be available in several European markets towards the end of this year. As for prices in Portugal, there is still no indication.
The bZ4X currently on sale starts at €47 440. With the introduction of the smaller-capacity battery (71,4 kWh vs 57,7 kWh), there should be scope to reduce the entry price.
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