The Toyota bZ4X may have an unusual exterior design and some interior quirks, but it’s a good, practical vehicle that reinforces the Japanese manufacturer’s vast car-making experience. However, by equipping it with a relatively small battery that doesn’t provide competitive range numbers, Toyota has negated all of the vehicle’s good points and made it unattractive for buyers for whom range is the most important metric when buying a new EV.
Toyota says a front-wheel bZ4X like the one Marques tested should be able to do 252 miles on one charge of its 71.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack, whose usable capacity is 64 kWh. The EPA-estimated range drops to 228 miles for the dual-motor all-wheel drive version. These numbers are achievable in warmer weather, but the bZ4X is just like any other EV and has a lower range in the cold. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily.