Toyota bZ4X Gets a Big Upgrade: Check Out the Latest Features!

Toyota's electric vehicle has been upgraded with dual battery choices, increased range, enhanced power output, and quicker charging capabilities. Here’s what the lead engineer says about these improvements.

Although Toyota maintains its dedication to various highly efficient propulsion systems for the future, the global market leader has frequently faced accusations of Not treating the electric vehicle revolution with enough seriousness The final evidence might very well be the Toyota bZ4X. Despite many competitors advancing rapidly with greater ranges, superior technology, dedicated electric vehicle software, and quicker charging speeds, Toyota’s initial contemporary electric vehicle model has become progressively less competitive over time.

However, an unforeseen event occurred in recent years: Despite everything, the bZ4X became popular. Perhaps owing to this popularity, sales have surged. rose sharply in the United States in 2024 Despite intense incentive programs, this trend is also gaining momentum in Europe. For instance, in largely electric-powered Norway, It has become the best-selling model in the nation. Clearly, individuals desire excellent fully electric choices from the brand that introduced electrified vehicles.

With numerous enhancements to the bZ4X this year, including increased range, faster charging, greater power, and better route planning, Toyota is clearly communicating to these individuals: We understand your concerns perfectly well.

By listening to feedback from our customers, retail partners, and industry experts reviewing our offerings, we've made significant enhancements," stated Simon Humphries, Toyota’s Operating Officer and Chief Branding Officer, during the company's Kenshiki Forum held in Brussels recently. "These upgrades include an increase of up to 50% in power output, charge times cut in half, and a doubling of towing capability.

Masaya Uchiyama, the lead engineer for the bZ4X, informed InsideEVs that the vehicle was designed with comparisons to the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Cadillac Lyriq. These are significant rivals within the electric vehicle market, where they've typically outperformed offerings from Toyota across various aspects.

Thanks to these improvements—which should make their way to the U.S. market shortly—will the bZ4X finally fulfill its potential as an EV?

Advancing with Increased Reach and Power

We'll begin with the key features. The bZ4X now offers two entirely new battery choices. Previously, the bZ4X provided a 71.4 kWh battery for its front-wheel-drive versions and a 72.8 kWh option for its all-wheel-drive configurations.

Now, it adheres more closely to the "large and small" approach we observe. along with electric vehicles from Hyundai and other manufacturers The base model of the bZ4X comes with a 57.7 kWh battery, whereas the upgraded version features a larger 73.1 kWh battery. (These figures represent the total capacity.)

Toyota made this change to allow customers to choose a configuration that perfectly matches their driving needs and financial constraints. The smaller battery will only be offered for the front-wheel-drive variant, whereas the larger battery will be an option for both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models.

The precise ranges for these models have not been revealed yet; however, Toyota has stated that the bZ4X will provide up to 356 miles (573 kilometers) of range based on the European WLTP test cycle. This represents an improvement over the previous maximum range of 320 miles (516 kilometers) in Europe, marking a significant enhancement.

The United States hasn’t released the specific range details yet. In the domestic market, the longest-reaching variant of the bZ4X—the XLE front-wheel-drive model—provides up to 252 miles of travel distance. A rough estimate suggests that under American specifications, the bZ4X might achieve around 280 miles of range; however, an official confirmation is still pending. Additionally, it remains unclear if the model equipped with a smaller battery will reach the U.S., since local buyers appear to prioritize longer ranges.

Uchiyama also mentioned that the differences extend beyond just the battery sizes. He explained, "We enhanced the energy density and included more cells per unit. Previously, the bZ4X featured one battery with 96 cells. In the latest version, this number has been raised to 104."

The eAxles in the bZ4X, which are Toyota’s term for their electric motors, have undergone enhancements and now incorporate silicon carbide semiconductors to boost power output. What technology makes the Lexus RZ300e the most efficient electric SUV available in the U.S. market? The bZ4X currently offers 165 horsepower as the starting point with the basic front-wheel-drive model; however, it can reach an impressive 343 horsepower when equipped with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. According to the company, this makes it "one of the most potent Toyota models offered in Europe beyond their GR performance lineup."

Given that the previous bZ4X I tested offered 214 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, the updated version ought to pack significantly more power.

The towing capability of the AWD model has been increased twofold to 3,306 lbs (1,500 kg), specifically designed to enhance caravan-towing capabilities for European customers.

Improved Charging, Preconditioning, Navigation

However, the limited range isn’t the primary concern with the bZ4X. The real challenge lies in charging. Hopefully, this problem will become obsolete soon. Toyota has significantly boosted the capacity of the onboard AC charger in the top-tier versions from 11 kW to 22 kW, surpassing even the Ioniq 5 and similar vehicles. If drivers manage to locate a highly potent Level 2 charger, they might see their charging duration reduced by half; thus, improving the bZ4X’s efficiency. typically took around 10 hours From its "dim lighting alert" to full brightness.

However, DC fast-charging capabilities have not been altered and remain capped at maximum speeds of 150 kW. This might be disappointing considering many new electric vehicle models can handle charges up to 200 kW or even higher. Nevertheless, Uchiyama mentioned that this limitation does not affect the bZ4X's charging curve —its capacity to maintain a high level of power for an extended period, essentially—has also seen improvements, which should result in a more enjoyable experience overall.

Uchiyama confessed, “Previously, we experienced a sharp increase followed by a rapid decrease in the charging rate.” This meant that the bZ4X reached its fastest charging speed initially but soon slowed down significantly, causing delays for drivers looking to recharge. He explained further, “Now, we have smoothed out this curve so that we maintain a higher voltage level throughout the process.”

Uchiyama mentioned that Toyota intends for the bZ4X to charge from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes. Although this isn’t as quick as the Ioniq 5’s charging time, it represents a notable enhancement compared to previous versions where certain bZ4X models required almost an hour for the same process. This places the Toyota in the same charging timeframe category as rivals such as the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

More importantly, the bZ4X now comes with battery preconditioning as a standard feature, and it's activated both manually and automatically when a charging station is set in the navigation system. By warming the battery before charging, Uchiyama said, this should enable much quicker charging overall. This was added especially for those bZ4X drivers in places like Norway or Canada, he said, who struggled with charging in very cold weather.

Toyota also finally— finally —incorporated a reliable electric vehicle routing feature into the navigation system. That was One of my main complaints about the earlier bZ4X was If you wished to drive from New York to Boston, you previously needed to utilize Toyota's mobile application for planning your journey or locating nearby charging points since the vehicle's built-in software couldn’t handle these tasks. However, this has now changed. According to the company, "The system will choose a suggested route featuring conveniently located charging stations, taking into account both the current battery level and how far you can still travel." Additionally, they stated that this feature would soon be available for currently owned vehicles through a wireless software upgrade as well.

Updates Inside And Out

You'd have to have pretty impressive eyesight to immediately spot the visual differences between the updated bZ4X and the old one, but they do exist. The front end is slightly revised for what Toyota claims will be better aerodynamics for more range, but otherwise, expect no major changes.

What happens within tells a separate tale. The complete dashboard has undergone an overhaul to distance itself from the former "cockpit" ambiance of the bZ4X model. This includes shifting the driver-oriented display screen. Below this adjustment, you'll find the gear selector knob positioned beneath two wireless phone charging stations. Additionally, the design of the air vents has changed, and a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen comes as standard equipment.

Uchiyama mentioned that people desired increased interior space, particularly for BEVs.

Toyota representatives further noted that the updated bZ4X boasts enhanced quietness within the cabin and includes upgrades to its noise, vibration, and harshness reduction systems. Uchiyama mentioned that these changes make it a more pleasant vehicle for extended use.

Price And Release Date

The pricing for the revised bZ4X hasn’t been disclosed yet; however, with an optional smaller battery, it might have a lower starting price compared to its predecessor. The vehicle is anticipated to hit showrooms in Europe sometime after summertime this year.

Toyota representatives highlighted that all these upgrades pertain specifically to the European-model vehicle. Nonetheless, it’s quite probable that they will be adopted for the U.S.-bound variant within the next few months or possibly sooner. Upon the bZ4X reaching American shores, given Toyota's past claims It's probable that it will come with a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug as standard equipment.

This could position the bZ4X as a speedier, stronger, and farther-traveling electric vehicle with superior navigation and swifter battery recharge capabilities, along with direct connectivity to the Tesla Supercharger network. Should Toyota genuinely meet these expectations, the bZ4X might no longer be overlooked as merely an ancillary offering.

At this event, Toyota reiterated that they will introduce three additional all-electric models by 2026 to complement the refreshed bZ4X, the new C-HR+, and the current lineup. Urban Cruiser . Another three are en route, appearing to be a pickup truck and at least one SUV, potentially based on the Land Cruiser Se concept .

Does Toyota seem more committed to electric vehicles now? Indeed, it appears so, which is undoubtedly good news for enthusiasts anticipating this shift.

Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com

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