- toyota revealed specs for its new bz4x electric crossover that will enter production in the middle of 2022. more u.s. details will be available next month.
- it uses a roughly 64.0-kwh battery pack and is available in either front- or all-wheel-drive configurations with up to 215 horsepower.
- we expect the bz4x to have epa range figures between 200 and 230 miles when it makes its way to the u.s. in 2022.
toyota's new electric crossover, the bz4x, will arrive in the u.s. in the middle of next year, and the japanese automaker has released some global specs that give us an idea of what our version will offer. we expect most of these details will be similar when the u.s. version is unveiled in november. seven more electric bz (for beyond zero) models will follow by 2025, toyota says.
the bz4x is similar in size to toyota's best-seller, the rav4. it has a 6.3-inch longer wheelbase and is slightly longer and lower than the gas-powered crossover. it's built on the e-tnga electric vehicle platform that toyota developed alongside subaru, which will also underpin the upcoming subaru solterra. the photos of the bz4x shown here are still of a prototype model, but we don't expect the wacky styling to change much for the production model.
the bz4x uses a roughly 64.0-kwh lithium-ion battery pack, and the single-motor version provides front-wheel drive and 201 horsepower. a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration has 215 horsepower. toyota claims that all-wheel-drive models will reach 62 mph in 7.7 seconds. based on the wltp range targets toyota released, we expect epa range to come in at about 230 miles for the front-drive model and 200 for the all-wheel-drive variant. that would make it fall short of the ford mustang mach-e (up to 305 miles of epa-estimated range) and the tesla model y (up to 326 miles). toyota claims that on a 150-kw fast charger, the bz4x will replenish 80 percent of its battery in 30 minutes. solar panels on the roof will be available that toyota says can replenish just over 1000 miles of driving range per year.
a yoke-style steering wheel (pictured) will be available, similar to the one on the new tesla model s and x, but there's a key difference on toyota's execution that makes it more palatable. the bz4x limits the total rotation of the steering wheel to 150 degrees, using a steer-by-wire system to turn the wheels an appropriate amount based on the driver's input so you never have to go hand-over-hand during tight maneuvering. toyota's new infotainment system, which uses voice controls, displays on a large center-mounted touchscreen, and toyota says the car will improve over time through over-the-air updates.
production of the toyota bz4x is scheduled to start in the middle of 2022, so expect to see the new electric crossover at dealerships toward the end of the summer.