Toyota bZ4X Touring review: New AWD model boosts size at expense of range

In the world of Toyota, a sales total of 1718 cars is pretty … miserable. It’s an underwhelming number for a single month of Australian deliveries, but in the case of the bZ4X that number is the car’s first-half total for 2026. So to call it a slow burn is probably cutting the battery-electric SUV too much slack.

But at least Toyota has a plan for the bZ4X, adding a little more fuel to the fire with the introduction of a larger and more flexible Touring AWD model after a slight tweak earlier in the year.

It looks a little different in the tail, has all-wheel drive, and is claimed to have the right ingredients for weekend getaways thanks to its ‘recreational nature’. But that’s a stretch when the claimed range of 488 kilometres is down considerably from the 591 for the basic two-wheel drive bZ4X.

4

The bZ4X Touring is, as you would expect from Brand T, nice and a solid performer without being anything sensational. It’s not a winner in any way, beyond the appeal of that top selling T badge.

With a showroom sticker of $69,990, up from the basic $55,990 for a two-wheel drive bZ4X, it’s is also on the pricier side. But Toyota is late to the EV celebration and is still taking baby steps as part of the ‘multi-pathway’ program that spreads its bets without going all-in on anything specific.

“Toyota recognises there is no silver bullet. Our philosophy is to leave no-one behind,” said Ray Munday, senior manager product planning and pricing at Toyota Australia. “It’s more than just a slogan. Our role at Toyota is not to tell customers what they should drive. To allow customers to dictate the pace of change.”

In the case of its EVs, that pace is slow at best. If you were being unkind, glacial comes to mind. As a quick refresher, the bZ4X’s name uses bZ to signify ‘beyond zero’ emissions, 4 is for its size, and X means it’s a crossover. How the punctuation works is anyone’s guess. So it’s similar in size to the top selling RAV4, with a full battery-electric package. But the real comparison is with the existing bZ4X. The battery in the Touring is unchanged, at 74.7 kiloWatt-hours with lithium-ion chemistry and 104 individual cells.

1

Toyota says it takes 22 kiloWatt AC and 150 kiloWatt DC charging, nothing special, with a headline charging DC charging time of approximately 28 minutes, or 3.5 hours using AC charging. The driveline upgrade for the all-paw Touring uses twin 167 kiloWatt-268.6 Newton-metre electric motors. For context, the all-wheel drive version of the ‘regular’ bZ4X uses 165/268.6 in the front and 87/168.8 motors for a combined output of 252 kiloWatts.

So the Touring wins with a combined output of 280 kiloWatts. And its output still goes to twin e-Axle transaxles, with three-mode driving choices of Normal, Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud. There is also a downhill assist system and regenerative braking with four levels of driver-adjustable deceleration.

Switching to the bodywork, the Touring has a longer tail to convert it into more of a SUV box than a coupe. The official number is an extra 136 millimetres, with additional height in the luggage space, and a stronger ‘ring frame’ at the back to improve rigidity.

2

The tailgate is more upright and the luggage capacity improves by an extra 151 litres to a total of 603. The car’s suspension numbers remain the same, in length and width, but there is new tuning to cope with the extra overall length and weight in the back. As well as the potential for more luggage weight.

Visually, the Touring has been given (slightly) more impact with front and rear skid plates, black wheel arch mouldings and side skirts, and 20-inch black alloys.

Inside, there is a 14-inch multi-media touch screen, twin wireless phone chargers, and a 1500-watt inverter with a household pin to power small electric appliances. The Touring has the usual five-year/unlimited-kilometre Toyota warranty, with five-year coverage on the ’traction’ battery – not the regular 12-volt starter job – that can be boosted to 10 years with an annual heath inspection.

Viewed from the front, the Touring is only very slightly different. Perhaps a touch more muscular. But the rear end is obviously more family-focussed with the bigger box on the back pointing to carrying more ’stuff’ capacity for weekends away. There is plenty of space, a good shape, and it’s easy to load.

The cabin is same-same from the bZ4X, complete with one major failing. The siting of the adjustable steering column means it’s virtually impossible to see all of the instruments for all of the time. It’s the worst failing since the trendy i-Cockpit design used (unsuccessfully) by Peugeot, and means you have to adjust the steering wheel to sit uncomfortably in your lap if you want to monitor your speed.

On the trendy front, it has a digital rear-view mirror which requires significant adjustment – by the driver. There is a ‘panoramic’ fixed sunroof, which is becoming a must-have in many EVs but is not great for full summer driving with electric aircon. The Touring drives well, as you would expect, with lots of cabin quietness and comfort. A chilly morning on the introductory drive even allowed a toasty trial of the heated electric front seats. For the record, the front seats are well shaped for support and comfort and in the Touring a buyer can choose black or khaki for their synthetic leather.

3

The take-off in the Touring is brisk, but not special for an EV. The all-wheel drive system means it tracks straight and is not upset by minor road rash. The power delivery is good for overtaking, with a solid surge and none of the jiggling through the steering that’s common on Chinese EVs. On twisting roads it’s well balanced, although it helps to toggle to maximum regen braking for the approach to slower corners to settle the car.

The re-tuned suspension copes well with all conditions, although 20-inch wheels mean there can always be thumps through potholes. It has a same-same feel to the regular bZ4X.

Toyota has made a sensible move with the bZ4X Touring, looking to broaden the car’s appeal for families and people who enjoy weekend getaways. Although there is the contradiction of a loss in range.

So … it’s still nothing special and a midfielder at best for performance, range and value. There are plenty of Chinese start-ups which deliver more for less, and it’s never going to trouble the Tesla Y as Australia’s top selling EV. Its biggest strength is still, and will always be, its place in the Toyota family with the advantages that brings for resale, service back-up and all-round quality and reliability.

Standard equipment

• LED headlights with adaptive high beam
• Fixed panoramic sunroof
• Roof tails
• Electric tailgate with kick sensor
• Front and rear skid plates
• 8-way electric front sports seats
• 14-inch touchscreen with 7-inch instrument cluster
• 9-speaker JBL sound system
• Wireless Apple and Android connectivity
• Four USB-C ports
• Dual wireless phone chargers
• 8 airbags
• Pre-collision safety system with autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian, cyclist and oncoming vehicle detection
• Active cruise control with curve-speed reduction, lane assist and departure warning
• Adaptive high beam
• Panoramic view monitor

1

Toyota bZ4X Touring specifications