Toyota recently unveiled the 2023 Toyota BZ4X, the first member of its new BZ (Beyond Zero) electric vehicle sub-brand, and the 2023 Toyota BZ4X. A compact crossover similar in size to the best-selling RAV4, it is scheduled to be released in showrooms mid-2022 as a 2023 model.
The Toyota BZ4X has been a long time coming, but Toyota’s first modern electric car is almost here. It may not be the most powerful or flashy electric car on the market, but its launch from the Toyota brand will surely make it a version worth a lot of thought and testing.
The truth is different, there are two generations of the RAV4 EV (2014), and Toyota had an early investment in Tesla Motors, which confirms that Toyota is interested in electric vehicles.
But in terms of tangible results, Toyota’s interest in the electric space has not resulted in any actual modern electric vehicles.
The Japanese manufacturer is focusing more on building hydrogen-fueled cars.
The 2023 Toyota BZ4X is based on a newly developed platform, dubbed e-TNGA.
It is Toyota’s first dedicated electric EV platform, and you can expect to see it on multiple Toyota (and Lexus) models in the coming years.
Toyota said
it plans to have 15 zero-emissions vehicles in its production line by 2025, seven of which will be from the BZ sub-brand.
Toyota BZ4X 2023
, a compact SUV that’s slightly longer than the current RAV4.
The specs of the 2023 Toyota BZ4X on paper aren’t amazing, but those looking for a Toyota will find it a powerful, modern electric vehicle with just enough driving range.
And we can’t rule out the unique 2023 Toyota BZ4X design, which is a bold shape for Toyota, which said it was focused on delivering reliable performance throughout the vehicle’s life.
It says its first electric car will maintain its range even in cold winters, and promises the battery will retain about 90% of its capacity after 10 years.
2023 Toyota BZ4X Engine and Battery
The 2023 Toyota BZ4X is front-wheel drive, powered by a single electric motor on the front axle.
Toyota says that the power output of its electric car is 150 kilowatts, which is equivalent to 201 horsepower.
That doesn’t sound like much given the car’s curb weight of 4,232 lbs., but the instant torque from the electric motor should provide smooth acceleration from a standing position.
Unlike other manufacturers such as Volkswagen and Ford, Toyota does not increase production excessively, if you want the all-wheel drive version.
This front engine is swapped out in favor of two 80 kW motors (one in the front and one in the rear) for a combined output of 160 kW, or 215 hp.
We suspect that a little more power will translate into significantly greater acceleration, as the AWD model weighs about 200 pounds more than the FWD version.
The BZ4X has a single 71.4 kWh battery and can choose from a 201 hp front-wheel drive powertrain, or a 214 hp all-wheel drive setup.
Toyota has not announced the top speed of its first electric car, but acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 8.4 seconds with front-wheel drive (FWD) and acceleration time is reduced to 7.7 seconds with AWD system.
Under the floor of the 2023 Toyota BZ4X is a lithium-ion battery pack, which can be charged up to 150 kilowatts, or 80%, in 30 minutes.
The all-wheel-drive model’s package has a slightly larger capacity, at 72.8 kWh, but Toyota hasn’t confirmed a range estimate for this version.
2023 Toyota BZ4X Interior Design
Like many modern Toyotas, the cabin of the 2023 Toyota BZ4X is clean and simple.
The center stack houses a wide but visually intuitive touchscreen.
It’s loaded with the latest system from Toyota, and it looks the same as the one on the new Tundra, and I really like the infotainment interface on the new Tundra.
Other cabin features include USB ports (A and C) and a panoramic roof.
Below the screen is a panel dedicated to climate functions, consisting of a mix of touch controls and a few toggles for often used features such as temperature, fan speed, and fan direction.
In front of the driver has a new, uncovered digital screen that forms the instrument panel of the 2023 Toyota BZ4X.
And we think the curved, cobra-like design elements that draw your eyes from the steering wheel to the screen are pretty cool.
The interior of the 2023 Toyota BZ4X is fairly spacious for a car of this size.
At 6 feet tall, its interior is similar to Subaru’s Solterra, which it shares a dashboard and trim, and I found the Toyota’s rear legroom to be quite generous, especially when the front seat was set to my preferred driving position.
However, the battery pack under the car appears to raise the floor somewhat.
The rear seat is lower off the floor, and the headroom is a bit cramped although the roof doesn’t slope much from the front seat.
And in the front area, I felt the steering column was too low.
Hopefully, Toyota will revise the space under the steering wheel rim like a pre-production model, and the problem will not pass to the final model.
Toyota BZ4X 2023 Vehicle Technologies
There are several important things about the technical offerings that the 2023 Toyota BZ4X will have that we don’t know.
What is the screen size?
What features and trim levels will be available?
And the list of questions goes on.
However, we do know that the bZ4X will release the latest version of Toyota’s suite of advanced safety features, dubbed Toyota Safety Sense 3.0.
And we don’t think it’ll have any great hands-free driving technology like the Super Cruze Chevrolet Bolt EUV or the BlueCruise from the Mustang Mach E.
However, the TSS 3.0 package supports Forward Collision Alert and Mitigation by Fender Identification, Daytime Biker Detection, and Low Light Cycler Detection.
It is also said that the lane centering feature has been improved.
Other useful features of the BZ4X include cloud-based navigation, which can provide information about things like traffic, charging station, and parking space availability in near real time.
Toyota will make real-time updates available online, along with a digital key.
The digital key allows the owner to use a smartphone to unlock and start the car, and this remote access can be transferred between the family’s smartphones.
The 2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited FWD starts at $46,700, while the bZ4X XLE AWD and Limited AWD are priced from $44,080 and $48,780, respectively.
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Gallery: 2023 Toyota bZ4X in US specification.
| Category | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Body Style | SUV/Crossover |
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