17 January 2024/Published byEmma Bass/Toyota News

Beyond the Boundaries: Our Review of the Toyota bZ4X Electric Vehicle

Almost 30 years ago, Toyota unveiled the Prius. A revolutionary vehicle that introduced the concept of hybrid technology to the consumer market, it placed the marque at the forefront of industry-leading technology. And as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Fast forward to today and Toyota has joined the electric vehicle party: enter the bZ4X.

What does bZ4X mean?

The bZ stands for Toyota’s newest future-focused badge in their product mix, ‘beyond Zero’. The ‘4’ represents the size indicator – in this case, a medium-large SUV, similar to the likes of the RAV4.

Given that – at the time of writing – one in four cars on Kiwi roads is a Toyota, and I’d argue that nearly every New Zealander has driven a Toyota. But not an electric one. I was beyond excited (pun intended) to get behind the wheel of the all-electric Toyota bZ4X and really put it through its paces, traversing from the central Miles Toyota showroom to the windy roads of the Port Hills. I wanted to ensure all types of driving scenarios were covered including stop/start city driving, open roads, and steep windy hills to get an accurate representation of real-world range and driving experiences.

Keep reading for my review of the electric Toyota bZ4X.

Toyota bZ4X pricing and specifications

Available in two variants, bZ4X Pure All-Electric FWD and bZ4X Motion All-Electric AWD
We’ve reviewed the bZ4X Motion AWD in frosted white
A first for Toyota, the bZ4X is their first pure battery electric vehicle and is built on a dedicated e-TNGA platform
Book a test drive at Miles Toyota, ILAM Toyota, or Pacific Toyota today, or live chat with our team in the bottom right-hand corner

Toyota bZ4X at the Port Hills during sunset

Our bZ4X review

It was a stunning Canterbury evening when I picked up the all-new bZ4X Motion from Miles Toyota’s central city showroom. I’ve spent a fair few months staring at photos of this vehicle, but it struck me when I saw it for the first time just how genuinely striking it is in person. Bold, distinctive fenders are perfectly complimented by the bZ4X’s sleek and modern silhouette, lending to its overall assertive, but not aggressive stance. More on the looks later.

A step inside the bZ4X

Instantly recognisable when you sit inside the bZ4X is how well thought out, stylish, and spacious the interior is. It’s modern, but not alienating – as often many a new EV’s styling is.

Comfort at every turn

Straight off the bat the seats are beyond comfortable. Bucket-style synthetic leather seats ensure you’re supported, with the driver’s seat boasting impressive ten-way power adjustments, including lumbar, tilt, and more. Both the driver and passenger up-front enjoy cooling and heated seats – a godsend for the ever-changing New Zealand weather.

The bZ4X’s styling and synthetic leather continue into the spacious rear. With plenty of legroom, USB-C connectivity, and plush leather seats, your backseat passengers definitely aren’t travelling in second class. It’s clear this is a vehicle designed with Kiwis in mind and one that prioritises practicality – without compromising on those premium finishes that are just nice to have. Speaking of just nice to have, the bZ4X boasts an auto-slide function that automatically moves the seat to the rearmost position to ease your entry and exit. This is something that would be particularly beneficial for those with mobility issues and naturally falls in line with Toyota’s mission of mobility for all.

Clever configurations

Your front-seat passenger is awarded extra legroom with no traditional glovebox. Rather, there’s convenient storage underneath the gear shifter in between the driver and passenger.

Connected at every corner

Meanwhile, a large 12.3″ touchscreen seamlessly integrates into the driver-centric dashboard. It’s obvious Toyota has been careful with the placement of this screen, something that has been clearly reflected in their stylistic choices. It doesn’t stick out or look out of place but rather perfectly blends in with the rest of the dashboard. What’s more, it’s in that sought-after spot that both the driver and passenger can easily access. Toyota New Zealand shared that the bZ4X allows customers to “operate controls with confidence and without it feeling like the cockpit of an aircraft.” Something that certainly rings true.

Underneath is a sleek, user-friendly touchscreen panel. Within a few minutes on the road, I had a clear idea of where everything was, from the cooling seats to the air conditioning. For someone who prefers tactile buttons and switches, I was pleasantly surprised and delighted at how the touchscreen buttons delivered a little give, ultimately proving to be the perfect symbiosis of a touchscreen and traditional button – with the added sleek styling that touchscreens lend themselves to.

A key differentiator from other Toyota vehicles in the lineup is the unique gear shifter, reminiscent of the one used in the Lexus RZ. A simple push and twist allows you to easily change gears, all the while contributing to a sleek and minimalistic look.

Charging on the go

Cast your eyes further down and find you’ll wireless charging capabilities hidden away underneath a nondescript cover, opened with the push of a button. Another example of a fantastic design choice on Toyota’s part, it allows your phone to be tucked away and hidden by the cover all the while charging. There’s nothing more annoying than your phone sliding off wireless charging, and this cubby does a fantastic job of mitigating this.

Panoramic roof

Providing perhaps the cherry on top of the bZ4X’s spacious interior is the panoramic roof, which opens up to allow even more light to filter in and flood the cabin. Easily accessed by the touch of a button, this was one of the stand-out design features for me and gives the bZ4X a premium feel.

A smooth operator from a to bZ

Given how much I enjoyed merely sitting and driving around town in the bZ4X, hopes were high for how it would handle. Immediately it’s notable just how smooth the vehicle is. Sure, it’s pleasant driving 30 km through town, and the bZ4X executes this flawlessly. It’s when you hit the open road that the full repertoire of skills come to play. Steering is light and handles with precision. Windy, bumpier roads of the Port Hills were tackled with ease, providing a comfortable ride. It corners particularly well without much lean, which inspires confidence in the driver. On corners the steering felt naturally weighted, seamlessly building as you head into the bend. As is a given with any EV, hit the gas (metaphorically) and it’s instant torque and power, which lends itself to an entertaining drive that consistently delivers exhilarating acceleration.

Regenerative braking and real-world range

The regenerative braking is great, and my preferred mode of driving. Not only was it easy to adapt to one-pedal driving, but it also helped maintain our electric range. I travelled up and down the Port Hills and found that regenerative braking effectively recuperated the range that was used on the ascent. Even with the aircon, cooling seats, and radio, it didn’t diminish greatly. Of the full 485 km range (NEDC)* available, we travelled roughly 80 km and used roughly 60 km of range – showing just how effective the regenerative braking was on our journey.

All-electric, all-wheel drive

The bZ4X is built on Toyota’s all-new e-TNGA platform and powered by a high-capacity 71.4 kW battery pack placed under the floor of the SUV, which promises to deliver a “flat and composed ride on both the highway and NZ’s famed secondary roads”, something that I found rang true. Whilst the furthest I pushed the bZ4X was a steep shingle car park, the Motion’s all-wheel drive capabilities are touted to tackle anything from dusty trails to claggy ground and everything in between.

Top-spec sound

Inside the cabin, the road noise was minimal. Combined with the silence of an EV, it was crucial that Toyota delivered an excellent sound system. And they have. A nine-speaker JBL premium audio with subwoofer set-up, to be precise. Not a necessity, but certainly a nice to have.

An exciting, engaging, and emission-free experience

Overall, the bZ4X handled everything thrown at it in its smooth stride. Tight turns, tough hills, and bumpy roads were no problem, and the vehicle delivered a fun, engaging drive every time I sat behind the wheel. Perhaps what’s most comforting about the bZ4X is that it doesn’t feel like too much of an electric vehicle, retaining all the traditional characteristics of Toyota vehicles that have been perfected in their current lineup.

Second-to-none safety system

The bZ4X adopts the latest Toyota Safety Sense package, something which was evident as soon as I took my eyes off the road to wave to the people admiring the bZ4X (true story), and Driver Assist kicked in, subtly reminding me to keep my eyes where they should be. Other notable features equipped in the latest Toyota Safety Sense Suite include the Pre-Collision System with motorcycle detection and Intersection Collision Avoidance Support.

Panoramic View Monitor

As someone whose daily driver is a petrol hatchback, heading off an electric SUV is not only a huge step up in terms of performance but also size. I found the Panoramic View Monitor simply fantastic. Providing a bird’s eye 360-degree view of the bZ4X, the cameras create a composite image of the vehicle’s surroundings while dynamic on-screen guides assist with parking or tight manoeuvres.

Advanced Park Assist

If parking is ever an issue, there’s also the Advanced Parking Assist. I did test it out, purely because I was curious and not because there was a need. I’ll be the first to admit it’s a foreign concept handing over control to your vehicle – but the bZ4X excelled under the pressure I’m sure I was putting it under. After selecting Advanced Parking Assist, the screen prompts you to choose between multiple car parks the vehicle has identified. Simply select your desired one and the bZ4X gets to work, seamlessly maneuvering you into your desired spot. Yeah, it’s that easy.

bZ is for beautiful

There’s no doubt that the bZ4X is a striking vehicle. A sleek, modern silhouette is given an edge with dramatic wheel arches and a large split rear spoiler. I particularly like that Toyota has hidden the front sensors into the front, further reinforcing the sleek and modern styling. At first glance you might mistake the bZ4X for the RAV4’s twin, but upon closer inspection the bZ4X presents a more streamlined and modern look. This is partially thanks to the sharp lines and lower roofline, which helps Toyota’s first electric vehicle effortlessly avoid the stereotypical appearance associated with some electric cars, instead embodying a captivating and sporty aesthetic.

The bZ4X is available in six colours (Frosted White, Silver Rush, Previous Metal, Ebony, Emotional Red, and Dynamic Blue). A striking two-tone livery is also an option.

Toyota bZ4X in the Port Hills Canterbury

To sum up our bZ4X review

The bZ4X stands out as an impressive electric SUV, offering a captivating and thrilling driving experience. Toyota’s first EV continues their legacy of providing customers with capable and practical everyday mobility, with the added benefits of instant power, zero emissions, and zero trips to the petrol station.

Whether a Toyota team member’s cat went for a wander across their keyboard and the name stuck is still one that I’m pondering. Nevertheless, it’s a nameplate I’m sure will become a more common sight on our roads.

Experience the Toyota bZ4X

Book a test drive at Miles Toyota, ILAM Toyota, or Pacific Toyota.

Discover the bZ4X

Find out more about the Toyota bZ4X.

Please note

Please note that while care is taken to ensure all details displayed here are correct, specifications, pricing, imagery, and offers often change and information here may no longer be accurate. Images may also include overseas specification and/or optional accessories not included in the price or available in New Zealand. Content can also, of course, be subject to the occasional human error. For all current and correct details, please speak to our friendly and informative Sales Specialists. If you notice information that may be inaccurate, please don’t hesitate to let us know as soon as possible. Thank you for your support and understanding.

NEDC range:

*Energy consumption figures and driving range are based on tests under controlled conditions and are provided for comparison purposes. Actual results will vary depending on factors such as vehicle usage and operating conditions. You should not expect that the exact energy consumption and driving range figures will be achieved in real world driving conditions.