Power, range, charging … what's wrong with this EV from Toyota?
PLANO, TEXAS—The tarmac is sun-baked and the air is heavy with humidity. While the road surface isn't bad, there are some pretty aggressive expansion joints that do make themselves felt. But not as much as I would expect.
That's because I'm driving the all-new Toyota bZ (formerly bZ4X) electric crossover and, boy, has Toyota ever done wonders with the ride in this version of the vehicle.
As good as the ride is — even though my tester has the optional 20-inch wheels, and that kind of thing tends to affect ride negatively — it's a very small part of a much bigger picture here. A lot of massaging has been done for this mid-cycle refresh of Toyota's one-and-only full battery-electric vehicle — it is a lineup that will soon triple in size after the recent announcement of the new C-HR and bZ Woodland — to address the most pressing needs of the old model, which swirled mainly around EV range and power.
There needs to be an asterisk here, because, in some ways they have addressed this, but, in others, they haven't. Just as it was previously, the bZ is available with single-motor front-wheel-drive (FWD) and dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD). For '26, the AWD version makes 460 kilometres of range and 338 horsepower, 25- and 50-per-cent boosts, respectively, on the previous model. That's good, but the FWD model has a smaller battery than before and less range, as a result. Toyota maintains this is a cost-saving measure (pricing hasn't yet been announced), but it's, well, a bit of a bummer. AWD models of a car do tend to outsell FWD models in Canada so the lion's share of buyers will likely be happy with this.
The story of its styling is a 'Tale of Two Cities'; the front end is a vast departure from the previous model, and not much has changed in the back. The vehicle gets Toyota's new 'Hammerhead' styling, which adds cool c-shaped daytime running lights and a smooth lower fascia with seamlessly-integrated body colour bumpers. Also new for '26: you can have body-coloured fenders depending on the exterior colour choice. For '26 some colours still do get contrast-colour fenders but the ones that don't look very classy and upmarket.
At the rear sit the same tail light lenses and twin roof-mounted wings, with changes for '26 amounting to little more than some new badging.
Inside, the main additions include a standard 14-inch central infotainment display, as well as optional nine-speaker JBL audio, while dual wireless charge pads are standard on all bZ trims (XLE FWD, XLE AWD, Limited AWD). As was the case before, the speedometer sits atop the dash, in the driver's line of sight, without obstructing the view. It essentially takes the place of a heads-up display, and it works.
I spent the duration of my test in the dual-motor AWD version and that 338 horsepower can really be felt as soon as you dip in to the throttle. At 2,065 kilograms in Limited AWD spec, the bZ is no lightweight, but the power on offer and the throttle response make up for that and they have you squirting through intersections with ease. There's no problem getting up to speed on the highway. It's properly quick, this EV CUV, and inspires driver confidence as a result.
The ride is very good, even if you specify the 20-inch wheels, but the chassis and suspension tuning is only half the battle when it comes to comfort of occupants. The seats are well padded and supportive, both front and back, and, while there is a nice, deep storage bin underneath the front seat armrest and a deployable armrest in back, hips and stray limbs don't get overly squeezed. The optional full-length glass roof doesn't impinge too much on front- and rear-seat headroom, which is a bonus.
The added power and range are advantages. As is the charging. For '26, all bZ models come standard with NACS charging, which means you can plug in to a Tesla Supercharger and charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes. If you prefer to use more traditional charge ports, such as a DC fast charge, each bZ sold comes with an adapter that will allow you to plug in to those, as well as a level II home charger if you happen to have one.
Yes, the FWD model makes less range than before, but the power and range on offer from the AWD version hits the nail on the head. In AWD guise, it's exactly what the doctor ordered for the bZ.
Type:
Five-door, mid-size crossover; all-wheel-drive
Engine:
Front and rear EV motors; 338 horsepower
Range:
460 kilometres
Transmission:
Single-speed automatic
Cargo:
730 litres or 26 cubic feet behind second row
Price:
Not yet announced
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