Toyota’s electric vehicle has been upgraded with dual battery choices, increased range, enhanced power output, and quicker charging capabilities. The lead engineer of the project provides insights into these improvements.

Although Toyota claims it is dedicated to a future featuring various highly efficient propulsion systems, the global leader in vehicle production has frequently faced accusations of
Not treating the electric vehicle revolution with sufficient seriousness
The final evidence might very well be the Toyota bZ4X. As competitors rapidly advance with increased ranges, superior technology, specialized electric vehicle software, and quicker charging speeds, Toyota’s contemporary electric car seems to become progressively less competitive over time.

However, an unforeseen event occurred in recent years: Despite everything, the bZ4X became popular. It seems sales have taken off unexpectedly.
rose sharply in the United States in 2024
Despite intense incentive programs, this trend is gaining momentum in Europe as well. For instance, in largely electric-dependent 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 upgrades to the bZ4X this year—including increased range, faster charging, enhanced power, and better route planning—Toyota wants to convey a clear message to these individuals: We understand your concerns perfectly well.

By listening to feedback from our customers, retailers, and the journalists evaluating our products, we’ve made significant improvements,” stated Simon Humphries, Toyota’s Operating Officer and Chief Branding Officer, during the company’s Kenshiki Forum held in Brussels recently. “The new model boasts up to 50% increased power output, charges up to two times faster, and has doubled towing capabilities.

The main designer behind the bZ4X, Masaya Uchiyama, informed InsideEVs that this vehicle was compared with the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Cadillac Lyriq. These models represent tough competition within the electric vehicle market, as they’ve generally outperformed Toyota’s previous offerings across various aspects.

Given these improvements—which are anticipated to roll out in the U.S. market shortly—will the bZ4X finally fulfill its potential as an electric vehicle?

Advancing with Increased Range and Power

We’ll begin with the key updates. The bZ4X now features 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 states that this change allows customers to choose a configuration that perfectly matches their driving needs and financial constraints. The compact battery will only be offered for the front-wheel-drive variant, whereas the bigger battery option will be accessible 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 for the vehicle yet. In the domestic market, the longest-ranging variant of the bZ4X—the XLE front-wheel-drive configuration—provides up to 252 miles. Based on some preliminary calculations, the bZ4X might potentially achieve around 280 miles of range with U.S.-spec settings; however, an official confirmation is still pending. Additionally, it remains unclear if the model equipped with a smaller battery will reach American shores since local buyers appear particularly concerned about driving range.

Uchiyama also mentioned that the differences extend beyond battery sizes. He explained, “We enhanced the energy density and packed more cells into each unit.” He continued, “Previously, the bZ4X featured one battery with 96 cells. In the latest model, this number has been raised to 104.”

The eAxles in the bZ4X, which is Toyota’s term for their electric motors, have undergone enhancements and now feature 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 now 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 series.”

Given that the previous bZ4X I tested offered 214 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, the updated model ought to deliver 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 possibilities for European customers.

Improved Charging, Preconditioning, Navigation

However, the main concern with the bZ4X isn’t its range but rather its charging capabilities. Hopefully, this problem will become obsolete soon. Toyota has increased the capacity of the onboard AC charger on top-tier models from 11 kW to 22 kW, surpassing even the Ioniq 5 and similar vehicles. Assuming drivers have access to highly potent Level 2 chargers, this improvement should reduce charging times by about half, making the process quicker for the bZ4X.
typically took around 10 hours
From its “dim lighting alert” to full brightness.

However, DC fast-charging capabilities remain the same with maximum speeds capped at 150 kW. This might be disappointing as an increasing number of electric vehicles are capable of handling charges up to 200 kW or even higher. Nonetheless, Uchiyama stated that this specification applies to the bZ4X’s
charging curve
—Its capacity to maintain a high level of power for an extended period has also been enhanced, which should result in an improved overall experience.

Uchiyama acknowledged, “Previously, we experienced a sharp peak in our charging curve,” which indicated that the bZ4X reached its fastest charging rate initially but then decreased rapidly, causing delays for drivers trying to recharge. He added, “Now we have smoothed out this curve so that we maintain a higher voltage level.”

Uchiyama stated that Toyota intends for the bZ4X to charge from 10% to 80% in just half an hour. Although this isn’t as swift as the Ioniq 5’s performance, it represents a notable enhancement over previous versions where certain bZ4X models required almost an entire hour for the same charge level increase. This places the Toyota within the same charging timeframe range 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
—he implemented a reliable electric vehicle routing feature into the navigation system. That was
One of my main complaints about the preceding 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 stations because the vehicle’s built-in software couldn’t handle these tasks. However, this has changed now. According to the company, “The system will autonomously choose a route featuring suggested, user-friendly charging stops, taking into account both the current battery level and how far you can still travel.” Additionally, they mentioned that this feature would soon become available on all existing vehicles through wireless software updates as well.

Updates Inside And Out

You would need exceptionally sharp vision to quickly notice the visual distinctions between the refreshed bZ4X and its predecessor, yet these differences can be found. The frontal design has been mildly altered with Toyota asserting this will enhance aerodynamics for increased range. However, anticipate minimal alterations elsewhere.

What’s happening inside 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 change, you’ll find the gear selection dial relocated beneath two wireless phone charging stations. Additionally, the design of the ventilation outlets differs, and a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen comes as standard equipment.

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

Toyota representatives further mentioned that the updated bZ4X boasts improved sound insulation, making the interior quieter. They highlighted enhancements to the vehicle’s noise, vibration, and harshness reduction systems. Uchiyama noted that these changes would result in a more pleasant driving experience overall.

Price And Release Date

The pricing for the revised bZ4X hasn’t been disclosed yet; however, with an optional smaller battery, it might begin at a lower price point compared to its predecessor. The new model is anticipated to hit showrooms in Europe sometime after the summer.

Toyota representatives highlighted that these modifications are specifically designed for the European models. Nonetheless, it’s quite probable that they will be adopted for the U.S. market versions within the next few months or possibly sooner. Upon the arrival of the bZ4X in the United States,
given Toyota’s past claims
It’s probable that it will come with a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector as standard equipment.

This could position the bZ4X as a speedier, stronger, and farther-traveling electric vehicle with superior navigation and expedited charging capabilities, along with direct connectivity to the Tesla Supercharger network. Should Toyota manage to fulfill these promises, 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, apparently a pickup truck and at least one SUV, potentially derived from the original model.
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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