Toyota BZ4X features new battery, more power supply and better range

The Toyota BZ4X was supposed to be the brand’s answer to the Tesla model, and other electric SUVs of similar sizes on the market aren’t really out of the way Toyota (although sales in the U.S. doubled last year). Instead of discouraging, Toyota has updated it in Europe’s 2026 model and is expected to get better in all areas. The new model will also be available in the United States.

The most important change in the front of the battery occurs. The new product of the BZ4X series is the entry-level 57.7 kWh battery pack. This lithium-ion package is available in the new C-HR+ and is only available in the basic front-wheel drive model. This version of the motor has 165 hp (123 kW) and promises a WLTP range of 276 miles (445 km).

Read: Toyota and Subaru’s next joint electric SUV to launch in 2026

Two other versions of the BZ4X are announced, both with a new 73.1 kWh battery pack. The smaller models of these models pack 221 hp (165 kW) and can charge 356 miles (573 km), while the flagship all-wheel drive model has 338 hp (252 kW) and 323 miles (520 km) quotes. Perhaps most impressive, this version takes only 5.1 seconds to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) – not bad for the modest Toyota SUV.

Toyota says it has increased the energy density of both packages and also increased the number of cells per package. The motors have also been improved, now including silicon carbide semiconductors.

Charging improvements

There are some other improvements. For example, the new BZ4X comes with battery pretreatment, which can charge at high speed more efficiently in cold conditions. The onboard AC charger on the high-spec model now has 22 kW instead of 11 kW, but the DC charging speed is still limited to 150 kW, which is less than some competitors. Toyota’s goal is to charge 10-80% of the fee in about 30 minutes. Shoppers will also be happy to hear that the BZ4X’s towing capacity has doubled to 3,306 pounds (1,500 kg).

Apart from some minor tweaks to improve front-end aerodynamics, few changes have been made to the exterior of the electric vehicle. The cabin has undergone a lot of changes. Key upgrades include a simplified digital instrument cluster and a new 14-inch screen that discards different climate control switches from the old model.