Monday to Friday 9am - 12.30pm - 2pm - 7pm
100% electric, 100% convinced?
A forerunner in hybrid vehicles with the launch of the Prius in 1997 and in hydrogen with the Mirai in 2014, Toyota was quick to show its interest in alternative propulsion methods. Lexus, Toyota's top-of-the-range arm, already has an electric 100% vehicle in its range, the Lexus 300e. Lexus also presented its counterpart in the new Toyota bZ4Xthe Lexus RZ 450e. Based on the same technical platform, it should nevertheless have a more powerful engine.
If the switch to electric vehicles will be compulsory for all manufacturers from 2035 onwardsToyota does not feel particularly constrained by current regulations. In fact, thanks to its large fleet of hybrid cars, the Japanese brand is one of the best performers in terms of CO2 emissions.
The hybrid specialist has taken its time to unveil its 100% electric strategy, starting with the new Toyota bZ4X. This is the first in a line of vehicles under the name ''bZ'' for Beyond Zero. More than a range of vehicles, it's a new philosophy that Toyota is adopting, with the aim of CSR very pronounced. However, this range is launching with a family SUV measuring 4.69 metres in length, a very large format that is sure to provoke reactions from climate protectionists.
Let's take a moment to explain the name of this new product ToyotaWith the new Toyota bZ4X, there are no more classic names like Aygo, Yaris or Corolla. The new Toyota bZ4X has a name as brutal as its design edges. A tortured design, not uncommon on modern Toyotas, which almost makes it seem like a concept car. If there's one thing that really sets this new Japanese SUV apart, it's its design. We'll see in the rest of the review that Toyota hasn't lost a grain of its seriousness when it comes to other aspects of the vehicle.
bZ a growing range
bZ4X therefore refers to the range of bZ vehicles, then the 4 tells us about the format of the vehicle, which in this case is close to a RAV4, and the X is there to emphasise the SUV aspect of the vehicle. We can therefore imagine future bZ3s, bZ2Xs or even bZ5Ls. Names that sound more like engineering references than real car names.
While Toyota hopes to sell 50% electric cars by 2030, its ambitions for the bZ4X are virtually confidential, with a target of 3,000 units a year. In context, Toyota currently owns more than 5% market share with over 100,000 cars sold by 2020. While the company's sales ambitions are low, its ambitions for the development of the range are high, with the announcement of the launch of 30 electric 100% models by 2030 between Toyota and Lexus.
Toyota has retained its strong Japanese DNA with its new SUV. The watchword is "Kanzen", peace of mind. Toyota wants to offer a complete experience around its new electric vehicle. The manufacturer is therefore offering the Beyond Zero Academy, a course designed to help you learn how to drive your electric vehicle better and get the most out of its performance. This course will be offered directly at the dealership, when the vehicle is purchased.
What is Toyota's new electric platform?
Let's start with the platform of this new Toyota bZ4X. The market trend has not escaped the Japanese manufacturer, which has chosen to launch its range with an SUV. This new offering from Toyota is therefore positioned in a segment that is already well catered for. To stand out in the 100% electric SUV market, the bZ4X uses a new platform designed for electric vehicles. Called e-TNGA (electric - Toyota New Global Architecture), on paper this platform looks very similar to the various electric platforms with which we are already familiar. The design resembles that of a skateboard with the battery in the floor surrounded by the two undercarriages on which the motors can be positioned, in its basic version.
However, the engine is located at the front, where more and more manufacturers are opting to place the engine at the rear. This would allow the bZ4X to offer driving performance similar to that of more traditional vehicles, which should not make Toyota drivers feel too out of place. It's an intriguing choice, since we know that manufacturers, and this is also the case for Toyota, seek customers from other brands for their electric vehicles. One might therefore have imagined Toyota reinventing itself with its new electric range. But Toyota, the world's leading manufacturer, has chosen instead to stick to its values without reinventing the wheel. Rather than trying to position itself as a leader in innovation, Toyota has chosen to take a formula that works well and tried and tested technologies and build on them. Innovate rather than revolutionise.
Rugged exterior design
To stand out from its rivals, Toyota has opted for an adventurous design. The ground clearance has been raised to 17.7 cm to underline the SUV's off-road capabilities. This is a central point on which the bZ4X is trying to distinguish itself, these off-road capabilities co-developed with Subaru, another Japanese brand renowned for its rally cars. It is in this spirit of adventure that the design was conceived. There are large plastic wheel arches and rocker panels. Plastic makes it possible to widen 18-inch wheels as standard. To get the 20-inch wheels on our test version, you'll have to choose the highest trim level. This is not a recommended choice, as they reduce the car'sautonomy of around 40 km. Toyota is well aware of this and is offering a range pack that consists mainly of a return to the basic 18-inch wheels. This pack also adds a small solar roof that will save a few kilometres. The headlamp line is also very horizontal, which makes the vehicle look less tall than it actually is.
To stand out from the Subaru Solterra, its alter-ego, the front headlights have been given an additional plastic cover extending from the bonnet. The grille is also much smoother on the Toyota model. This gives it a more modern line at Solterra which has additional headlights on the lower body to underline its adventurous vocation. Under the bonnet, Toyota has installed a strip of shiny black plastic that conceals the front camera used in the 360-degree vision system. Surprisingly, this camera is not centred, a fault also found on the reversing camera. This may seem a little trivial, but it's a feature that is noticeable in use, even though the cameras have very good definition.
Very pronounced lines
On the side of the vehicle is the charging port, which straddles the plastic insert of the wheel arch and the bodywork. Toyota's aim here is not to break design lines, but to reduce the length of the high-voltage cables between the charging port and the battery, with a view to reducing costs and simplifying the platform.
The rear is perhaps the most successful part of this bZ4X. We start with the spoilers at the top of the rear windscreen, which break up the flat areas of the windscreen without wipers and the rear wings. There's also a small spoiler at the bottom of the rear window, mounted above a strip of light that runs the full width of the vehicle. Toyota has followed the trend with this design feature, which is increasingly found on new vehicles. On either side of this LED bar are the headlights, which extend to form an 'X'. Unlike the front lights, the rear lights have a design that appears to protrude. They attempt to reproduce a pixelated effect, but this is not as successful as that of the IONIQ 5.
Toyota remains eccentric with the placement of the logos, which are not aligned. While the name bZ4X can be found at the top left of the boot, the right-hand side remains empty as it is reserved for limited editions. Finally, one level lower, but still on the boot, we find the AWD logo on the 4-wheel drive versions. A rather original two-tier layout, and the only eccentricity. on an otherwise very serious design. Finally, at the bottom of the body, there is a large plastic diffuser that completes the vehicle's appearance and once again contributes to the adventurous design.
Beev offers multi-brand 100% electric vehicles at the best prices, as well as recharging solutions.
Inside, a very Japanese spirit
Climbing aboard the bZ4X quickly brings you back to the world of the Japanese manufacturer. The driving position is largely adjustable, with an electrically adjustable seat on our test version. Toyota has created a real cockpit around the driver, an effect that is underlined by the yoke steering wheel, which is reminiscent of an aircraft control stick. As the cockpit is designed for this type of steering wheel, it poses a major ergonomic problem when compared with a more traditional round steering wheel. The view of the speedometer can be blocked by the top of the steering wheel for people under 1.70 m tall. Despite being positioned quite far away and directly under the windscreen, the speedometer is easily hidden by the steering wheel.
You'll have to adjust your riding position very high up to avoid being disturbed. On both sides of the speedometer display, large plastic parts contribute to the cockpit effect by creating a sort of funnel that draws the eye towards the speedometer. However, the design is a little heavy-handed, with large plastic parts of poor quality. The same criticism can be made of the car's interior. There are many different types of plastic, in different colours and materials. This gives the impression that Toyota has assembled its car from a catalogue of available parts and that not enough effort has been made to harmonise the quality of the plastic, even if it is not the best.
A jungle of low-quality plastic
The disappointment continues with shiny black plastic inserts on the centre console and window mountings, in other words the two places where you're most likely to put your arms and hands and leave some nice marks. The steering wheel, while not beautiful, is functional, with shortcuts to cruise control and media control. And it's a comment that comes up a lot, you get the impression that at Toyota the engineers carry more weight than the designers. We're not necessarily looking to make something beautiful, but to make something functional and easy to use. This is a quality that is quite common to Toyota and which has perhaps enabled it to become the world's leading manufacturer. That and the reliability of these vehicles, but more on that later.
As I said, the centre console is in piano black, a material that tends to quickly become a magnet for fingerprints. There's also a rotary gear selector, which is in fact the only rotary knob on this car. The temperature is controlled by buttons that can be raised or lowered, and the volume can be adjusted by pressing a button. 3 levels, 3 different ways of adjusting your car. Toyota has also succumbed to the trend for haptic feedback buttons to adjust the functions of the heating/air conditioning system and the heated seats.
Ergonomics first!
These buttons are mounted on a screen with a diagonal measurement of 12.3 inches on our test version. To accommodate this long screen, the centre console is not symmetrical, with a protrusion on the right-hand side. Finally, nothing is aligned on this centre console, which is a little disturbing. The centre console is deformed to accommodate a large 12.3-inch screen. This will also be available in a version closer to 10 inches. The question then arises as to its positioning, which is bound to be a little awkward.
Beneath the centre console, there is a practical storage area, as well as a large storage compartment. 2 USB-C charging ports. This space is complemented by another storage area under the armrest. These spaces are important because Toyota has done away with the glove compartment, so there's nowhere obvious to put the car manual or the report if you're still using paper versions of these documents.
A new screen with a modern interface
This screen is equipped with a new system, Toyota Smart Connect. The screen is well made and very responsive. Everything you'd expect from an infotainment system in 2022. However, some of the menus are still a little empty, a sign of the system's youth. It is of course Android Auto and Apple Carplay compatible This means you can connect your phone even wirelessly to get back to your favourite interface. If the system seems responsive, we imagine that most users will instinctively connect their phones.
The top of the dashboard is made of a synthetic fabric-type material, which, although visually quite successful, does not feel so good. Still, it's a welcome choice that creates a bit of a break in an otherwise fairly dark interior made up of different layers of plastic.
A noteworthy point is the JBL audio system which is quite good, in line with the segment average. With the improved audio system, we have a subwoofer that invites itself into the boot, although it is set far too low in its factory settings. You can, however, adjust the equalizer to your preference in the audio menu, which should give the bass a little more punch.
Remarkable legroom
It's surprising how much space is available on board. Even if you move the passenger seat back as far as it will go, there's still enough legroom for the passenger behind, a remarkable optimisation of on-board space. Toyota is well aware of this, and has announced that it is quite simply the most spacious car on the market. the most livable vehicle in the entire range from the Japanese manufacturer. The bZ4X has a wheelbase, i.e. the space between the front and rear wheels, of 2,850 mm, a good value but not the king of its class. The Jaguar I-Pace, for example, has a wheelbase of 2,990 mm, offering even greater habitability. All in all, this is a vehicle with ample interior space that will satisfy family use. As an electric platform, the bZ4X has a flat floor at the rear, or so we thought before we sat in it.
To meet the demands of off-roading, Toyota had no choice but to remount certain components, creating a very slight transmission column of around 5 mm. To hide this, thick mats have been fitted at the rear to smooth the floor. Another detail to note is that, unlike its German rivals, the bZ4X is not equipped with a ski hatch, which is a shame for a vehicle that claims to be adventurous, with driving modes designed for the snow. However, it is still possible to lower the rear seat to carry longer objects.
A practical everyday box, but not so big
It has a capacity of 452 litres (441 with the subwoofer), a respectable amount of space that will be sufficient to carry the luggage of the whole family. It's not as much as some of its competitors, but it's enough for most uses. The RAV4 and Skoda Enyaq come to mind, both of which offer around 580 litres of luggage space. Beware, however, that the SUV's coupé design has an even greater impact on load space. On the plus side a double bottom wide enough to accommodate charging cablesThe bZ4X comes as standard with a Type 2 cable for recharging at charging points and a domestic cable for occasional recharging if you need to use a normal socket overnight. The boot opening is also very practical to use, being wide and the loading sill not very high, making everyday life with this vehicle much easier.
Another detail that many people will appreciate is that the Toyota bZ4X is approved to tow up to 750 kg.
On the road it's serious
We took the Toyota bZ4X for a fifty-kilometre loop around Copenhagen, enough to get a good first impression of the vehicle and its capabilities, but too short to verify the vehicle's range and recharging speed claims. Toyota has developed a new platform for its 100% electric vehicle. All the advantages common to electric vehicles are there, including a fairly low centre of gravity, and good chassis rigidity helped by the battery pack, which becomes almost structural without reaching the level of integration of an electric car. Tesla Model Y for example. These are advantages that Toyota has seized upon. We had the 4-wheel drive version of the bZ4X at our disposal (it's also available with front-wheel drive), and it delivers brisk acceleration. We were never worried about running out of power when overtaking, and the experience was actually quite pleasant.
Under hard acceleration, there is a slight rearward body movement as the weight is transferred to the rear, but the handling remains very healthy indeed. This is due to the SUV size of the vehicle and the good ground clearance which makes it easy to overcome obstacles. On the road, the behaviour is very serious, the vehicle lives up to its family vocation, there are no surprises and it's hard to fault it. The suspensions are very well adjustedThis is surprising for an SUV of this size. It feels really good, and Toyota has drawn on its experience with electric hybrid powertrains to fine-tune the bZ4X's powertrain or powertrains.
Feeling at home in the Toyota bZ4X
There's no question here of going for lap times, the vehicle isn't designed for that, and in fact the difference in power is very small between the front-wheel drive version (204bhp) and the version with 2 engines and 4-wheel drive (218bhp). What is not gained in terms of horsepower is gained in terms of torque, 266->337 Nm, enabling the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 in under 7 seconds, compared with 7.5 seconds for the single-engine version. Having a second engine, however, comes at a significant cost in terms of range. While the front-wheel-drive version can cover a range of up to 513 km, the 4-wheel-drive version has a maximum range of 470 km, according to the European standard. WLTP. Add in all the options, and especially the 20-inch wheels, and the range can drop to just 411 km.
However, these kilometres will be covered in great comfort thanks to the suspension, which offers good filtration, but also to theparticularly successful soundproofing. It wasn't until the car reached 120kph that aerodynamic noises began to be heard from the front pillars, probably due to the imposing rear-view mirrors. When it came to braking, there was one black mark on the picture, and that was the car's stopping power. regenerative braking. On electric vehicles, it is possible to recharge part of the battery during braking and deceleration. On the bZ4X, two modes are available: a freewheel mode in which the vehicle continues to coast, and a 'one-pedal' mode in which the vehicle brakes as soon as the accelerator pedal is released, which should make it possible to drive with only the accelerator pedal under control.
Insufficient regenerative braking
However, this was without taking into account the very low setting of the one-pedal mode. Unlike most other vehicles, regenerative braking doesn't increase with speed, on this Toyota it's set to offer a fairly constant braking force. The problem is that this setting is too low and there's no way for the driver to adjust it. We would have preferred to see a pedal system on the steering wheel that would allow the regenerative braking to be adjusted according to the driver's preferences. After all, some people like the sensation of regenerative braking more than others. Nevertheless, it's undeniable that more powerful regenerative braking allows you to regain more autonomy, as it will be useful in a wider range of situations.
Charging, good but no more than that
Although the Toyota bZ4X does not have powerful regenerative braking, it should be able to recharge at a satisfactory rate. Toyota has announced a 150 kW recharging capacity 80% of range in half an hour. While we're not at the level of an IONIQ 5 or a Model Y, this Toyota still offers similar, if not superior, recharging speeds to the vehicles on the MEB platform. Volkswagen for example.
On a charging point bZ4X will be capable of recharging to 11 kW. However, the first units to be delivered will only be equipped with a 6.6 kW charger. We therefore advise you to wait until later to order your new bZ4X, as the 11 kW charger will become standard from November 2022. While it will take a minimum of 12 hours 45 minutes to fully recharge the first units produced, with the 11 kW charger this figure will fall to just 7 hours 45 minutes, enough to recover a full 71.4 kWh battery overnight.
All-terrain performance inherited from Subaru
Co-developed with Subaru, the Toyota bZ4X features XDrive mode, a driving mode specifically for off-road driving with mud and deep snow modes. During our test drive, Toyota gave us a short demonstration of the crossing capabilities of its new electric SUV. So there's a real intention on the part of the Japanese manufacturer to capitalise on the adventurous and adventurous aspect of its 4×4. Designed to get you off the beaten track, the Toyota bZ4X is able to clear up to 50 cm of water and very uneven terrain, as you can see in this video taken on site.
Facing the competition
Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, IONIQ 5, Volkswagen ID.4...
Toyota is entering a market that is already well established for electric SUVs. While the bZ4X stands out for its real crossing abilities, it remains inferior to some of its rivals in aspects that are more or less important depending on how you use it. These include range, which is not the best in the segment. However, the Toyota bZ4X has an important card to play, that of its price, as Toyota wants to launch its new basic electric SUV 100% at a lower price than its RAV4. Exact prices will be revealed on 1 July, but we already know that rental offers will start at less than €400 per month. Check back on 1 July for an update of this article with the official prices.
