A significant update for the Toyota bZ4X electric SUV has been revealed just months ahead of its arrival in Ireland. Though exact Irish-market details have yet to be confirmed, it appears that buyers of the bZ4X will have more choice, possibly bringing the price down, while at the other end of the scale there will be more power and longer range available. Interior and exterior tweaks have also been made to bring the bZ4X in line with Toyota's other new models, including the all-electric C-HR+ crossover.
More choice, did you say?
Toyota is adding an additional battery to the lineup, a smaller-capacity one, which you'd hope will mean a lower price for the entry-level bZ4X. It's a 57.7kWh unit (54kWh of which is usable) and it sends its energy to a 167hp electric motor driving the front wheels. No range or efficiency figures have been released for this configuration as yet.
The existing 73.1kWh (71kWh usable) can be paired with a front-mounted motor as well, though that one makes up to 224hp, or there's a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive option producing a hefty 343hp - considerably more powerful than the outgoing bZ4X. That version can tow double the weight as well, now up to 1,500kg.
Toyota says the WLTP range will be up to 573 kilometres, which is presumably for the front-wheel-drive variant using the larger battery, while peak charging speeds are 150kW on DC or up to 11kW on three-phase AC chargers (though some models will come with 22kW AC charging). To further speed up charging, there's a new pre-conditioning function that can be activated manually, or automatically when you navigate to a charging station.
Anyone worrying about the life of an EV's battery should be reassured by Toyota's generous warranty. It's eight years/160,000km for starters, but once you bring the car in for an annual EV health check at a Toyota dealership it can be extended out to as long as 10 years and up to one million kilometres.
Nice, though does the 2025 car look any different?
The exterior changes are relatively subtle, admittedly, but if you put the new bZ4X next to the old you'll spot the new lights right away, fitting in with Toyota's 'hammerhead' design language first introduced in the Prius. The new car is also said to be more aerodynamic, reducing drag - to the benefit of range - and wind noise.
What about the bZ4X's cabin?
There's a substantial redesign for the bZ4X's interior, especially for the dashboard and centre console. The circular drive selector has been relocated to behind a new dual wireless charger while the 14-inch touchscreen now stands apart - though still thankfully includes physical controls for the heating and ventilation. On the subject of which, a sleeker air vent design tidies up the dashboard design, which has been notably slimmed back.
When does it arrive in Ireland?
The updated Toyota bZ4X is expected in the second half of 2025, though Irish pricing has yet to be confirmed.