I loved the electric Toyota bZ4X Touring’s extra space, but it’s range that really adds appeal

Introduction

The original Toyota bZ4X, which I first reviewed way back in 2022, got off to a bit of a rocky start; early models proved less than great on the range front. Those real world, sub-200-mile capabilities sapped my love for the first incarnation and, when I revisited it a while back, my feelings hadn’t changed all that much either. What’s more, based on Toyota’s eTNGA all-electric platform, the bZ4X has also been up against increasingly stiff competition.

And now? Well, there’s this, the Toyota bZ4X Touring, which is essentially the same car riding on the same platform but with a slightly bigger battery. However, the big gain is space, with a larger overhang behind the back wheels that delivers space and lots of it. Toyota has kept the options refreshingly simple too, with front-wheel drive Design trim or a four-wheel drive Excel model, both fitted with a 74.7kW battery with the former able to reach up to 366 miles on a charge.

While the AWD Excel model delivers slightly less range, it’s worth thinking about for its more than capable off-road performance, which benefits from Toyota’s impressive X-Mode and grip control systems. I’ve tried this dual motor powertrain setup in decidedly off-road situations, and it proved very useful for getting over a wide variety of tricky terrain. The all-wheel drive SUV also boasts beefier performance on the road too, but a consequence of all that is it’ll do less miles on a charge.

The styling

One of the obvious benefits of buying the Toyota bZ4X Touring over its standard format variant is the extra boot space. Although this car sits on the same wheelbase, the larger overhang at the rear means a 48% step up in capacity than the standard car. That means a whopping 669 litres with the seats up. Pop down the 60/40 rear seats and this rises to 1718 litres. The added bonus is the boot opening is pretty good all round too, even at the top, so the carrying capacity is versatile and very capable.

That’s the main headline here, although it’s worth noting that the room in the back seats feels better too because of the altered estate-style roofline. An added bonus. So, for anyone needing space and decent cargo-carrying capacity, the bZ4X Touring is a good alternative to, say, the less capacious (by 84 litres) Skoda Enyaq Edition 85. However, Toyota has had a stab at fizzing up the bZ4X Touring a bit too, with some cosmetic tweaks that bring a little more zing to the party.

Most notable items adding to the aesthetic appeal are roof rails that appear chunky enough to be useful rather than cosmetic, a bit of showy skidplate trim on the front bumper and lashings of black plastic around the wheel arches. The mood is definitely more rugged than that of the bog-standard bZ4X. I thought the interior of my test car felt quite premium as well, with the front-wheel drive Design trim packing enough to make it feel more than adequate on a run. Meanwhile, four-wheel drive variants only come in Excel trim while a basic Touring trim offers less frills.

The drive

I thought the Design trim car, with front-wheel drive, was more than adequate during my time behind the wheel. The AWD model felt a little too powerful for its own good really, so for the money I’d head for the Design edition every time. Besides, this car had 18in wheels and sensible rubber, which would also make it a good bet for driving on British roads. The somewhat racier edge to the four-wheel drive model seemed a tad excessive to me.

Considering the Toyota bZ4X Touring is basically the same car as the standard SUV design, I didn’t get too many surprises on the driving front. In fact, considering its additional 140mm of length is noticeable from the outside, the Toyota bZ4X Touring feels excellent to drive and not at all bulky. The view out the back wasn’t bad either, which was also impressive given the extra panelling that has been worked into the revised design.

I’m still not a major fan of the binnacle-style design of the dashboard in the Toyota bZ4X Touring but all the information was there to facilitate an easy drive. I liked the brake regen paddles in front of the steering wheel too, which felt like they were putting some goodness back into the battery on lengthier downhill treks. The front-wheel drive car was nicely balanced in the bends too, although on giving it some welly the Toyota bZ4X Touring started getting a little unsettled and, going up steep inclines, started scratching around for grip. Driven in a family-friendly manner, though, and it was perfectly docile.

The technology

There was a distinct whiff of Lexus with the infotainment system found in the Toyota bZ4X Touring. A 14in touchscreen that sits perkily on the top of the dashboard is definitely premium in its intentions, while the usability is a bit less impressive. I like the simple climate control dials at the foot of the screen and the ease of use of other core controls. The screen itself, though, feels less jazzy than other cars in this ballpark but it got the job done in workmanlike fashion.

As I mentioned, there is also the digital driver display that sticks up awkwardly at the front of the dash. There was some adjustment needed to get the wheel feeling comfortable while not obscuring the view of this design, which as I’ve said before, would appear to work best within a yoke steering wheel environment. Without that, it seems odd to me. Toyota has peppered the conventional wheel with some everyday button options, while other bits and bobs were located down on the centre console.

Elsewhere, there were a pair of wireless charging pads for phones plus a smattering of USB ports and, in the case of the snazzier trimmed cars, a very bass-heavy audio system. It’s also worth remembering Toyota’s impressive X-Mode tech for anyone keen on a bit of off-roading. Once engaged, this offers up comprehensive views of the outside, and underneath, via the screen that morphs into a so-called ‘Multi-Terrain Monitor’. What’s more, the Toyota bZ4X Touring can be driven through water up to 500mm deep, so it is quite handy for our increasingly unpredictable climate.

Toyota bZ4X Touring verdict

The bZ4X Touring feels like a much better car than the standard edition. Battery power is up slightly, and the range feels way better than those earlier cars. The main benefit, though, is the step up in cargo-carrying capacity, which makes this SUV an excellent option for folks with people and stuff to move around.

This is compounded by the prowess of the all-wheel drive mode, which has proved to be thoroughly capable when tested over unruly terrain. Anyone facing regular forays on standard tarmac, though, will find the two-wheel drive bZ4X Touring more than adequate and cheaper too.

Toyota bZ4X Touring technical specifications