The mystery of the Toyota bZ4X EV range was solved: and it took only 3 months and thousands of km

The mystery of the Toyota bZ4X EV range was solved: and it took only 3 months and thousands of km


Extended time and Toyota bZ4X This year’s clean EV has created as many questions as answers for us.

The bZ4X comes in Pure FWD or Motion AWD models (pictured).

When the model was launched globally in 2022, the extreme disappointment of the range shown (but with the addition of about 80 km and the aircon turned off) created headlines and led Toyota to update the model software to show more realistic numbers.

We won’t go into that in too much detail (you can read about it here in our first long-term report), except to say that when we spent two months with bZ4X before production earlier this year we were completely blown away. We were assured our car had received the updates and indeed had the exterior “BEV” badge and instrument panel battery percentage indicator used for the model update.

But our car still only showed 300-330km on a full charge, despite a WLTP figure of 516km for our FWD Pure. And turning off the air cone still added 80-100km to that number.

Toyota bZ4X.
What is the exact type of bZ4X? It took us a while to figure it out.

We were even more confused when we got a chance to drive the Subaru Solterra’s sister model, which regularly showed 430km-plus and made little difference with the windshields on or off, in the same kind of driving we had done in the Toyota.

We even went so far as to do a real-world 300-km-plus-recharge test with the bZ4X, where we found the bZ4X performed remarkably well in terms of actual km-per-charge. Still confused.

Toyota New Zealand’s official media launch for the bZ4X this month was more exciting for us than most, then: the chance to interview chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama and drive some of the finished models.

Toyota bZ4X.
Chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama (left) and Toyota NZ CEO Neeraj Lala.

We explained our issues to Uchiyama-san during the pre-drive meeting. His answer: that aspect of the cars should be almost identical. “I am very confused”, he said. It’s not just us then. But the TNZ team was still confident that our long-term car was up to date.

Later in the day, when we came to drive bZ4X production, guess what? The same 400km-plus range to the Subaru, was confirmed when we took the Pure FWD (same specs as our long-term car) the weekend after the event.

So we apologize for the long explanation, but we have devoted a lot of time and space to this issue already and here we set the record straight: the bZ4X production actually has the most accurate range indicator. For whatever reason, our car obviously hadn’t picked up its updates properly.

Toyota bZ4X.
We got to a proper test of the bZ4X range in February.

Our initial long-distance test drive to Taupo wasn’t entirely for naught, as it reinforced our opinion of the car as a great daily ride and Uchiyama-san was also able to confirm our calculation of 6-7 percent left on board. the battery when the indicator reads zero (enough for 30-50km in an emergency) seemed fine.

We also got some great photos and videos of the bZ4X along the way. Watch it all here.

The Toyota bZ4X is now official for NZ

Uchiyama-san says the goal of the bZ4X project was to design an electric Toyota that would put driver and passenger comfort and safety at its core: “a people-centric approach”.

Toyota bZ4X.
The dispute between Toyota and Subaru resulted in a better car, says Uchiyama-san.

The bZ4X is now available in NZ in two variants – $72,990 Pure FWD and $82,990 Motion AWD. Both have the same 7.14kWh battery.

He praised Subaru’s role in the project, confirming that hundreds of Subaru engineers came to Toyota to work on collaborative development, and played a major role in the “success” of the electric AWD system and of course using Subaru’s X-Mode car. -Brace placement of electric SUVs.

“This was a joint development. We had a conflict with Subaru, but because of the conflict we were able to see the car from different angles. I believe that it made this car even better.

Toyota bZ4X.
The off-road capability of the AWD model is an important part of the bZ4X package, says the chief engineer.

“This off-road capability is important to me because before the bZ4X, I was managing the new Land Cruiser Prado,” says Uchiyama-san. “In fact, on the same off-road course in Japan, the bZ4X was very impressive. Sometimes I think the precise motor control of the bZ4X gives more peace of mind on rough roads than the Prado.

The bZ4X Pre-Collision System includes vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle detection, Intersection Collision Avoidance Assist and Emergency Driving Assist.

The Motion variant comes with additional parking aids including Panoramic View Monitor, Blind Spot Monitor with safety exit assist, Toyota team advanced parking system, and Driver Monitoring Camera. The Motion variant includes additional exterior features including a paneled roof and power sunshade, and a large split rear spoiler.

Toyota bZ4X.
Two-tone finish option on Motion AWD flagship (front).

The Pure rides on 18in alloy wheels with a silver and black metallic cover to aid aerodynamics, and the Motion goes up in size to 20in black and machine-finished alloys with resin accents.

The Safi is equipped with fabric and interior trim with power adjustment for the driver’s seat and manual adjustment for the front passenger seat, and front seat heaters, rising to synthetic leather trim in Motion and memory for the driver’s seat. , steering wheel and front heater. seat ventilation.

There’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via USB or wireless. The Safi has a six-speaker system, while the Motion adopts a nine-speaker JBL setup including a subwoofer. Color options include Frosted White, Silver Rush, Precious Metal, Ebony, Emotional Red and Dynamic Blue. All-wheel drive is also available in two tones with an Ebony roof.

Toyota bZ4X
Motion is two-motor, but only 10kW extra on the single-motor Pure.

The bZ4X is the first Toyota to feature eAxle technology that integrates the transaxle, engine-generator, and alternator. The FWD model produces 150kW while the AWD is 160kW (80kW front, 80kW rear). It can charge up to 150kW, with the most talked-about (at least by us) upgrades improving speeds between 80-100 percent. The car can be fast charged with DC up to 4 times a day.

Toyota New Zealand offers a BEV battery capacity warranty of 8 years or 160,000km. It protects against “abnormal capacity loss”, providing a minimum of 70 percent of the original capacity of the BEV battery.

Customers who purchase a bZ4X at Toyota Driveaway Price or “Bronze” fleet price this year will also receive a free Wallbox Pulsar Max charger valued at $2250 (including GST, excluding installation).