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A bit of a price shock for the Toyota, with the brand’s local executives having spent months warning us that the bZ4X wouldn’t be cheap. So starting at just $600 more than the entry-level Tesla Model Y is actually much better than we were expecting.
The FWD bZ4X (so called because of its front-mounted electric motor that drives the front wheels) opens proceedings, and is priced from $66,000 before on-road costs. Also available is a twin-motor variant, called the AWD bZ4X, which adds a second electric motor at the rear axle. It’s priced from $74,900.
Alternatively, the Toyota bZ4X is being offered with a three-year full-service lease, which is offered through Toyota’s finance arm. It includes scheduled servicing, repairs, tyres, roadside assist, rego and insurance. Interestingly, Toyota retains ownership of the vehicle, and at the end of the agreed period, the owner can either hand it back, lease it again, or jump into another Toyota.
The idea, the brand says, is to cycle several owners through each bZ4X, but you’ll be asked to pay around $1700 to $1900 per month for the privilege. And it’s worth pointing out that, at the end of the lease agreement, you won’t actually own the car.
Australia gets the just-updated bZ4X, which Toyota calls the “latest global specification”, which was essentially relaunched to iron out some kinks in the first edition. It’s also the first Toyota to ride on the Japanese giant’s e-TNGA platform, designed to maximise rigidity and interior packaging.
The front-wheel-drive bZ4X get LED headlights, 20-inch alloys, heated side mirrors, a powered tailgate and privacy glass on all rear windows.
Inside, there is fabric and synthetic leather trim, a powered driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone climate and keyless entry and start. On the tech front, expect a sizeable 12.3-inch central touchscreen with wireless phone mirroring, and a “Hey Toyota” virtual assistant. The cloud-based nav will guide you to charging stations, and over-the-air updates are available, too.
Step up to the AWD model, and you’ll find a more stylish exterior, including a roof spoiler, a glass roof, roof rails and gloss-back trimmings. Inside, there’s a JBL sound system, a 10W wireless charger, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a kick sensor for the powered tailgate. You also get more safety stuff, including blind-spot monitoring, safe exit assist and a better parking camera.
It’s also billed as the off-road-ready model, with 212mm of ground clearance and X-Mode off-road drive modes (including Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud) to deliver what Toyota calls “benchmark off-road ability among BEV SUVs”.
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