Reviewed: Toyota bZ4X Touring EV

First Drives

Oct 19

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Priced from $71,990, the bZ4X Touring has a range of 488km. Photos: Liz Dobson

When Toyota decided to enter the battery electric vehicle market after years of dominating the hybrid segment, it knew it needed a vehicle to impress.

So along came the bZ4X SUV, with 150,000 to 200,000 units sold globally since its mid-2022 launch.

But first let’s address the name ’cos it isn’t exactly catchy and doesn’t roll off the tongue (when I first tested it, I would mumble “it’s b something, something X”).

So what does bZ4X mean? The bZ means "Beyond Zero”, the 4 represents the size category of the vehicle, placing it in a medium-large class comparable to the Toyota RAV4, while - yup, you guessed it - the X means it's a crossover.

So why create a Touring (aka wagon) version of the bZ4X SUV?

The Touring has a new pre-conditioning function.

Toyota NZ Chief Strategic Officer, Andrew Davis, says until recently families and recreational adventurers wanting the space and versatility of a wagon, the confidence of All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and the benefits of an all-electric powertrain haven’t had many options.

“The bZ4X Touring delivers the space and practicality many Kiwi families are looking for, with more luggage capacity and rugged design elements that genuinely support active lifestyles,” he said.

The bZ4X Touring is 140 mm longer and 25 mm higher than the SUV, and these dimensions increase the load compartment capacity by more than a third to 550 litres measured to the bottom of the back window (bZ4X Motion is 410 litres).

“It’s a vehicle built for people who want to load up the bikes, boards or camping gear and head away for the weekend. In the past, this level of recreation has been a compromise for those wanting to shift to a full EV so it’s exciting to be able to offer such a capable option,” says Davis.

Performance has also been enhanced, with larger electric motors increasing total system output from 252kW to 280kW. The onboard AC charger is rated up to 22 kW three-phase, and max DC fast charging capability is 150kW. Improvements to the battery heating and cooling system, including a new pre-conditioning function, mean that fast charging performance will be more consistent.

Priced at around $71,990, it has a range of 488km while that 280kW output gives the Touring serious performance. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in around 4.4 seconds, meaning this is no slow family wagon.

And handling is one of its stronger attributes. The battery sits low beneath the floor, lowering the centre of gravity and helping the Touring feel planted through corners.

I was impressed with the handling of the Touring over the SUV, as its body roll is well controlled and the steering is natural and the suspension does a good job of balancing comfort with control.

The bZ4X Touring enters a very competitive part of the EV market. Its closest relative is the Subaru Trailseeker, while other alternatives include the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7, Zeekr 7X, Kia EV5 and Volkswagen ID.4 GTX.