Toyota bZ4X 2025 Review: What Makes It a Top Electric SUV?

2025 Toyota bZ4X

The bZ4X, a compact SUV, is Toyota's first mass-market electric vehicle, developed in collaboration with the nearly identical Subaru Solterra. With Toyota's long history of hybrid technology, expectations were high. However, the bZ4X falls short in terms of driving range, falling significantly behind its competitors. It offers an EPA-estimated range of up to 252 miles, which is not unreasonable. However, the bZ4X's real-world highway range test revealed that it only covered 160 miles before running out of power, which is disappointing. Despite this, the bZ4X is a decent electric vehicle, offering a choice of single or dual motors and front- or all-wheel drive. It is peppy in urban areas, offers ample interior space, and provides a comfortable ride. The limited highway range of the bZ4X makes it a less attractive option compared to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia V6, and Tesla Model Y.

What's New for 2025?

This year, the bZ4X is more accessible due to significant reductions in price for the XLE and Limited versions. A Nightshade model has been added to the lineup based on the XLE trim and features a two-tone paint job and blacked-out design elements. The top-of-the-line Limited trim now includes Traffic Jam Assist as standard.

Pricing and Which One to Buy.

The cost of the 2025 Toyota bZ4X begins at $38,465 and can reach up to $43,195, depending on the model and additional features.
The bZ4X is available with a single motor and front-wheel drive or two motors and all-wheel drive. Opting for dual motors may be beneficial in slippery conditions, but we would recommend sticking with the standard front-wheel drive powertrain if you live in a mild climate, as the dual-motor version offers little additional power and has a shorter range. The standard equipment includes features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Assist. The Limited version adds features such as a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, a multi-view camera, 20-inch wheels, automated parking, and Softex faux-leather upholstery. It's worth investing in the Limited version for its additional features, particularly the heated seats and steering wheel, which can help reduce the need for climate control in the winter, conserving battery range.

EV Motor, Power, and Performance.

The standard setup for the bZ4X includes a front-wheel-drive system with a single motor, providing 201 horsepower, which matches the Kia Niro EV and the base version of the Volkswagen ID.4. The all-wheel-drive version of the bZ4X has two motors, but the power output is only slightly higher, at 215 horsepower. This is significantly less than the all-wheel-drive ID.4 (330 horsepower) or the all-wheel-drive Hyundai Ioniq 5 (320 horsepower). During our initial test drive, we noticed brisk acceleration in both the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions, but it's not enough to outrun a Tesla in a drag race. The bZ4X handles bumps without any issues, but it doesn't feel overly floaty, and the steering is reasonably well-weighted. There are two levels of regenerative braking: none and some. The latter can be activated via a button on the center console, but the bZ4X falls short of offering true one-pedal driving, which is available in many other electric vehicles.

0–60-MPH Times.

On our test track, the most powerful version with two motors achieved a time of 6.4 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour, which is commendable but not particularly thrilling by electric vehicle standards. In contrast, the Kia Niro EV with a single motor took 6.7 seconds, while the dual-motor version of the VW ID.4 accelerated to 60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds, and the twin-motor Hyundai Ioniq 5 reached that speed in 4.5 seconds.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life.

The two powertrains of the bZ4X are nearly identical in terms of battery capacity: a 63.4-kWh battery pack in the single-motor version and a 65.5-kWh pack in the dual-motor model. The EPA range estimates for the 2025 bZ4X lineup have not been released yet, but we anticipate them to be similar, if not identical, to the 2024 model's figures. This translates to an EPA range of up to 252 miles for the single-motor front-drive version, dropping to 222 miles at the lower end for the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Limited. During our testing of the dual-motor model, we were disappointed with its 160-mile highway range. However, if you primarily drive in urban areas, you may not feel the range limitation as much. This result ties the Nissan Leaf to the lowest highway range among electric vehicles. With a Level 2 charger, the onboard charger can replenish the battery in approximately 9 hours. Toyota claims that with a DC fast charger, an 80% charge can be added in just under an hour, with peak charging rates of 150 kW for the front-drive variants.; The two-motor variant, however, has a maximum output of 100 kilowatts. Additionally, customers receive a year of free charging at EVgo stations.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe.

The 2024 bZ4X with a single motor was rated by the EPA as achieving up to 131 MPGe in the city and up to 107 MPGe on the highway. The dual motor Limited model fell to 112 MPGe in the city and 92 MPGe on the highway. We anticipate these numbers to remain similar in 2025. (Once we receive the latest EPA fuel economy figures, we will update this article and incorporate them.) On our 75 mph highway fuel economy test route, our dual-motor Limited test vehicle returned a disappointing 86 MPGe.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo.

The bZ4X boasts a roomy and airy interior, with a digital gauge display and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen on the dashboard. The gauge display is positioned rather inconveniently far forward, requiring the driver to look over the steering wheel to access it. Some drivers may find it necessary to adjust the wheel position to avoid obstructing the display. The wide center console between the front seats houses standard wireless smartphone charging and provides ample storage space, although there is no glovebox.
In the Limited model, an optional feature is a radiant heating element in the lower dashboard, which warms the legs of the front-seat occupants. Additionally, the bZ4X lacks a frunk, and the maximum cargo capacity of the rear compartment is 26 or 28 cubic feet, depending on the model (compared to 38 cubic feet for the RAV4).

Infotainment and Connectivity.

All BZ4X models feature a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Additionally, they come equipped with a 7.0-inch digital gauge display. The system is fully integrated with cloud-based navigation, onboard Wi-Fi, and wireless smartphone charging.
The standard audio system includes a six-speaker stereo with SiriusXM satellite radio. However, customers can upgrade to a nine-speaker JBL stereo system on the Limited trim.
The audio system lacks physical buttons or knobs for adjusting the volume, which we find to be a drawback. Instead, the volume is controlled by small up/down buttons. The satellite radio interface is also somewhat confusing.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features.

Like many other Toyota models, the bZ4X comes equipped with a range of driver-assistance features, including pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic emergency braking. For more details about the bZ4X's crash test results, please visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).Key safety features include:
Standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Standard lane departure warning with lane-keeping assistance
Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage.

Toyota offers comparable services to its competitors, but it goes above and beyond in terms of complimentary maintenance. Additionally, its warranty for electrical components is in line with industry standards.
The limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles.
The powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles.
The warranty for electrical components covers eight years or 100,000 miles.
Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles.