TOYOTA BZ4X ELECTRIC HATCHBACK

Want a more interesting kind of Toyota bZ4X EV? Try this more SUV-like Touring version. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Background

Things are not always what they seem. Take the car we're looking at here, Toyota's bZ4X Touring. On the face of things, it's just an estate version of the Japanese maker's rather unloved bZ4X mid-sized EV crossover. That's one way of looking at it. The other is to acknowledge that this is Toyota's version of a quite different car, the Subaru E-Outback. If you've been following Toyota's rather tentative steps into the EV market, you'll know that the brand is rather keen on joint ventures. With Stellantis to create its electric vans. With Suzuki to create its Urban Cruiser small EV. And with Subaru to create the bZ4X. Subaru decided it needed to create an SUV-style estate version of the Solterra, it's bZ4X clone. The E-Outback was the result. And Toyota has used the E-Outback design to create this bZ4X Touring.

Driving Experience

Unlike its Subaru counterpart, the bZ4X Touring comes in two distinct flavours. Unique to Toyota is the front-driven single motor 221bhp drivetrain of the base 'Design' model, which offers 366 miles of range from the 74.7kWh battery that all Touring models share, a pack that's slightly bigger than the one in the hatch model. Also different to what you get in the hatch model is the alternative dual motor powertrain fitted to the plusher AWD 'Excel' model we're trying here, which puts out 376bhp (38bhp more than the AWD hatch), making this top Touring variant the most powerful EV Toyota has yet made. But of course range falls in tandem with that - to 297 miles. That figure might be less than you were hoping for if you were planning to try and replicate the kind of extreme country rough-roading lifestyle Toyota likes to think potential Touring owners might want. To that end, this dual motor AWD model gets a Subaru-developed X-MODE system for slippery conditions, with bespoke 'Snow/Dirt' or 'Deep Snow/Mud' drive settings that give this estate an unusual level of EV capability on the slippery stuff. The X-MODE settings work at under 12mph and in tougher offroad conditions (at under 6mph) a built-in Grip Control set-up effectively takes over, allowing the driver to concentrate on accurate steering while the system controls vehicle speed, whether travelling downhill, uphill or on level ground. On downhill slopes, the driver can also use the car's Downhill Assist Control for a similar level of assistance. Of probably more interest to most likely owners is that this Toyota can tow properly - at up to 1,500kg, though that figure only applies to the dual motor version (it's just 750kg with the single motor model). None of this of course, will be available to you if you've pocketed considerable price, tax, range and insurance savings and gone with the front-driven model. Though even this variant gets a 'Snow' mode for slippery surfaces (to add to the more usual 'Eco' and 'Normal' settings). Both versions of course feature selectable brake regen settings, which can be operated by steering wheel paddleshifters. The front-driven variant goes as quickly as you'll need to go, 62mph taking 7.3s en route to 99mph, figures the AWD model improves on substantially - to 4.5s and 112mph. At speed in either version on twistier roads, the steering feels quite direct and well-weighted, but there's not that much in terms of feel. But the car feels quite agile and is helped by the 20-30kg weight saving this Touring model's slightly lighter battery pack gives it over the bZ4X hatch. Cruising refinement's acceptable and ride quality is fine, though gets unsettled by poorer surfaces.

Design and Build

If you quite liked the standard Toyota bZ4X but decided it wasn't quite big enough for your family, then this bZ4X Touring might be your car because it's quite a lot larger; there's 140mm more length and 20mm more height than the ordinary model. Even if you didn't know that this design was based on a Subaru estate, you might guess that from the raised ride height, the accentuated wheel arch cladding and the chunky roof rails, able to carry up to 70kg. Slim C-shaped daytime running lights define the front end and there's a full-width LED rear light bar. As with the Solterra, Subaru has deferred to Toyota when it comes to interior design, so inside, this Touring is a lot more recognisable as a bZ4X. Which means it benefits from the hatch model's recent mid-term update which bought a larger 14-inch central infotainment screen and a redesigned centre console. There's a compact instrument pack with a little 7-inch screen. Plus the cabin gets a compact power-saving air conditioning system, recycled upholstery materials and a 64-colour ambient lighting system. It's a bit different in the rear though, where this Touring offers an airy feel from its bigger windows - and noticeably more headroom. As you'd expect from the extended 4.83-metre body length, there's more luggage space too, the 669-litre boot 117-litres larger than the hatch. It's 1,718-litres with the rear bench folded.

Market and Model

From launch, on-the-road prices were £45,995 for the Design grade model and £51,695 for the Excel. The Design has front-wheel drive and is fitted as standard with a 14.3-inch Toyota Smart Connect+ multimedia system, a wireless smartphone charger, heated front seats, a power back door and Panoramic View Monitor. Plus puddle lights and a windscreen de-icer. The Excel features all-wheel drive and a more powerful 22kW on-board charger. Building on the Design specification, it is equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels, Skyview panoramic roof, synthetic leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a digital rear-view mirror. A JBL premium audio system is available as an option for the Excel grade. As for drive assist technology across the line-up, well there are all the usual Toyota Safety Sense features, including a Pre-Collision System, Emergency Steering Assist, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert and Lane Trace Assist. There's also a 'Blind Spot Monitor', which will alert you if you're just about to pull out dangerously in front of another vehicle. The same camera is used for a 'Safe Exit Assist' system that'll warn occupants about to open the doors in the face of oncoming vehicles pedestrians or cyclists. Top Excel spec gets you an extended Toyota Safety Sense package with Front Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist, plus Advanced Parking Assist and Downhill Assist Control.

Cost of Ownership

As we told you in our 'Driving Experience' section - up to 366 miles is possible in the single motor bZ4X Touring, though that figure will obviously take a big dip if you specify the dual motor variant (to 297 miles) and/or start to exercise this estate's towing capacity. There's a menu in the instrument cluster that shows the battery's state of health and informs you what percentage of the battery's original capacity remains. All good, but the DC public charging speed isn't particularly class-competitive - rated at 150kW; plenty of rivals charge faster, but that's still enough to provide a 10-80% fill in 28 minutes. At least that 150kW speed can be achieved even in very cold conditions. A 22kW AC on-board charger is available with 'Excel' trim. But that's no use if all you've got is a single-phase 7.4kW garage wallbox, which will need 12 hours 45 minutes for a full charge. You can reduce that to around 7 hours with a three-phase 11kW AC supply. The brand says that the battery will hold 90% of its range for the first ten years of its life, aided by water cooling for the cells (something Toyota has never done before), with active thermal management of the battery further aiding durability and range. That range is optimised courtesy of an on-board solar charging system that aims to minimise the effect of cold weather on usability. Plus, as with all Toyotas, the bZ4X Touring is covered by a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which owners can extend at no cost through the 'Toyota Relax' programme simply by having their vehicle serviced at an authorised Toyota centre, gaining an extra year and 10,000 miles of cover up to a limit of the vehicle reaching 10 years and/or 100,000 miles.

Summary

This may not be an SUV, but it more authentically fits with an SUV lifestyle, especially in this top dual motor form, which off the beaten track benefits hugely from its shared Subaru parentage. The clever X-MODE and Grip Control technology isn't meant for extreme off roading of course, but it's good for rough tracks and winter towing - and the outdoorsy looks and beefy roof rails will certainly appeal to camping and caravan folk looking to make the EV switch. But why not just buy a Subaru E-Outback, which is essentially the same thing? That's a fair question. If you're deciding between the two models, you might be swayed towards this bZ4X by the fact that this Toyota offers the option of a more affordable front-driven powertrain - though choosing that version doesn't really deliver you much more than you'd get in the many mid-sized EV crossovers that over-populate this busy segment. We'd try and stretch to this dual motor model - and might justify its choice over the identically-engineered Subaru by referencing Toyota's potentially longer warranty and easier servicing via a much larger dealer network. Both cars represent a more interesting choice in an increasingly dull segment. It certainly seems that Toyota EVs are getting more adventurous - this one more than most.