Toyota has made its return to the electric vehicle segment with the 2023 Toyota bz4x crossover. it features edgy styling that sets it apart from Toyota’s gasoline-powered SUVs. unlike the last all-electric vehicle, the company offered the RAV 4 EV. The bz4x will be sold at Toyota dealerships nationwide. both a front and all-wheel-drive model will be offered, with the former set to deliver up to 252 miles of driving per charge.
The bz4x was co-developed with the Subaru Solterra and the two models are nearly identical. the Nissan Aria rivals entry-level pure trim which is offered exclusively in 201 brake horsepower front-wheel-drive form will be capable of travelling 317 miles on a full battery. three further trim levels are offered at launch, with the option of a dual-motor four-wheel-drive version with 215 brake horsepower reaching up to 285 miles officially.
Pure trim comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, a multimedia system with an 8-inch display, a 7-inch digital instrument display, and a reversing camera. Keyless entry and start also feature as does a remotely operated climate control function to preheat and cool the bz4x. roof rails are optional as is a towing pack. Stepping up a level-to-motion trim raises the base price to 45750 pounds while the four-wheel-drive powertrain starts at 48350 pounds. Motion spec adds a rear spoiler, rear privacy glass, optional 20 inches alloy wheels, and an entry illumination sequence for the led lighting.
The 2023 Toyota bz4x features a spacious airy interior and the dashboard incorporates a digital gauge display and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen. Wireless smartphone mirroring is standard and navigation is included for three years. it’s available via subscription. The wide center console between the two front seats features standard wireless smartphone charging and open storage underneath. Although there’s no glove box. An optional feature in the limited is a radiant heating element in the lower dash that warms front seat riders’ legs. The rear cargo space is 26 to 28 cubic feet.
Compared with the brand’s RAV4 hybrid models, The 2023 Toyota bz4x is 85 millimeters lower and has shorter overhangs but a 165-millimeters longer wheelbase and yet a relatively tight turning circle of 11.4 meters. For the bz4x concept, the new E-TNGA platform has allowed Toyota to develop a steer-by-wire system which will be introduced on European models at a later date according to the brand.
This new setup called one motion grip does away with a mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the front wheels. Instead, it is replacing it with a digital connection in which the driver’s inputs on the steering wheel are relayed electronically to the front tires, with a motor adjusting the tire angle.
A front-wheel-drive single motor setup is standard and offers 201 horsepower that output exactly matches the Kia Niro EV and the front-wheel-drive variant of the Volkswagen id.4. the all-wheel-drive version has two motors but power increases only slightly to 215 horsepower. that’s a lot less than the all-wheel-drive id.4 with 295 horsepower or the all-wheel-drive Hyundai Ioniq 5 with 320 horsepower.
Behind the wheel, the two versions feel similarly powerful and satisfying but not a widening initial response pulling away from a stop or accelerating to pass on the freeway. Additionally, the chassis felt taut but compliant over bumps and the steering has a decent amount of weighting. a button on the console boosts regenerative braking though not to the level of one-pedal driving
The starting price for the base 2023 Toyota bZ4X XLE is $42,000, which is about normal for the electric SUV market. The uplevel Limited trim adds comforts like heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power liftgate for $46,700.
