Toyota finally has a rival to the Tesla Model Y in Australia.
The Toyota bZ4X electric SUV has been detailed ahead of its imminent arrival in showrooms.
The front-wheel drive Toyota bZ4X is $600 more expensive the entry-level Tesla Model Y rear-wheel drive, while the all-wheel drive bZ4X undercuts the Tesla Model Y Long Range by $3500.
Under the skin, the bZ4X is a mechanical twin to the Subaru Solterra. The front-wheel drive option unique to the bZ4X – the Solterra is all-wheel drive only – helps drop the starting price by $3990, despite a pre-launch price cut to the Subaru.
Toyota Australia will be offering the bZ4X with a subscription-style full-service lease through Toyota Finance, along with its more traditional purchase methods.
Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley, confirmed Toyota has more than 122 orders and 7000 expressions of interest.
Pricing
- 2024 Toyota bZ4X FWD: $66,000
- 2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD: $74,900
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Powertrain
The base bZ4X FWD is powered by a front-mounted motor with 150kW of power and 266Nm of torque. It’s mated with a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack, good for a claimed 436km of range on the WLTP test cycle.
The 100km/h sprint takes a claimed 7.5 seconds.
The bZ4X AWD has a dual-motor system making a combined 160kW of power and 337Nm of torque. It’s mated to the same 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with a claimed 411km of range on the WLTP test cycle.
The 100km/h sprint takes a claimed 6.9 seconds.
The battery pack is liquid cooled, and there’s a heat pump as standard for more efficient cabin heating and battery cooling.
Efficiency
The bZ4X FWD uses a claimed 16.9kWh per 100km, while the AWD uses a claimed 18.1kWh per 100km.
Peak DC charge speed is 150kW, which Toyota says will get you a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes. 11kW AC charging is also available with a suitable wall box.
Dimensions
The bZ4X measures 4690mm long, 1860mm wide, and 1650mm tall, with a 2850mm wheelbase.
Claimed boot space is 452 litres in the front-wheel drive, and 441 litres in the all-wheel drive.
Ground clearance in the FWD is 182mm, increasing to 212mm in the AWD.
The FWD tips the scales at 1960kg (kerb), the AWD weighs 2055kg (kerb). Payload is 505kg in the FWD and 495kg in the AWD, and both models have braked and unbraked towing capacities of 750kg.
Servicing and Warranty
The bZ4X is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
That extends to seven years on the driveline, provided the car is serviced annually in the Toyota network.
The battery is warrantied for five years, plus an additional five provided the vehicle is subjected to an annual battery health check. Toyota guarantees the battery for eight years to 70 per cent of its initial capacity.
Maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, and the first five services will each cost you $180.
Safety
The bZ4X has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing carried out by Euro NCAP in 2022.
It scored 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 79 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 91 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Seven airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Front and rear
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keeping assist with lane centring
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
Moving to the AWD model brings:
- Blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist
Standard Equipment
Standard equipment in the bZ4X FWD includes:
- LED headlights with auto high-beam
- 20-inch wheels
- Privacy rear and side glass
- Faux leather upholstery
- Heated front seats
- 8-way powered front seats
- Reclining, 60/40 split folding rear seats
- Dual-zone climate control
- Keyless entry and start
- Automatic windscreen wipers
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- 7.0-inch digital driver display
- 12.3-inch touchscreen
- DAB+ digital radio
- Toyota Connected Services
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 4x USB-C, 1x USB-A port
- Six-speaker sound system
Stepping up to the AWD brings:
- Premium Soft-Tex seat trim
- Nine speaker sound system
- Heated steering wheel
- Cooled front seats
- 10W Qi wireless phone charger
- Kick sensor for powered tailgate
- Surround-view camera
- Intelligent parking assist
MORE: Everything Toyota bZ4X
