Among many updates, the new model will offer a massive bump in the towing capacity
The 2026 Toyota bZ4X has been updated for the European market and will soon be available in the U.S. too. Note that the sales of the compact SUV doubled Stateside last year. Therefore, even though the Tesla Model Y rival might not have been as successful as the Japanese car marque would’ve ideally wanted, the customers are still embracing it. As a consequence, the 2026 model comes bearing useful upgrades.
You might also like: Toyota Plans First Its Independent Plant In China To Sell Lexus EV
2026 Toyota bZ4X
To make the entire proposition more affordable and accessible to a wider range of potential customers, the 2026 Toyota bZ4X now gets a new entry-level model with a smaller 57.7 kWh battery pack. This battery will be on offer in the front-wheel-drive variant of the electric SUV. It is the same lithium-ion battery which you see on the C-HR+.
This results in a decent maximum power of 165 hp (123 kW). Toyota claims a range of 276 miles (445 km) on a single charge on the WLTP cycle. The higher trims utilize the larger 73.1 kWh battery pack. With this battery, the lower version is good for 221 hp (165 kW) and has a range of 356 miles (573 km) on a single charge.
However, the performance enthusiasts would prefer the top-of-the-line all-wheel-drive avatar where the power figure reaches a remarkable 338 hp (252 kW) with a range of 323 miles (520 km). In fact, this configuration propels the electric SUV from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in a mere 5.1 seconds. Interestingly, Toyota claims that the energy density of the batteries and the number of cells have been increased. Also, there are improvements to the electric motors which now include silicon carbide semiconductors.
Yet another key addition to the 2026 model is the battery pre-conditioning function which allows a more efficient high-speed charging in cold conditions. Also, the on-board AC charger on high-spec trims is now 22 kW instead of 11 kW. Furthermore, the towing capacity has been doubled to 3,306 lbs (1,500 kg) which is a welcome change. On the inside, the EV now sports a simplified digital instrument cluster and a new 14-inch screen. The latter ditches the separate climate control switches. Finally, there are some minor design tweaks on the outside for improved aerodynamics.
You might also like: Toyota Urban Cruiser EV Revealed, It’s A Suzuki e Vitara Underneath
Learn Electric Cars Says
Toyota might have been a bit late to the whole EV party, but it is slowly making its way to the masses. We know that the Japanese auto marque believes in a multi-energy approach, which is why it continues to develop hybrid and hydrogen technologies alongside EVs and ICE cars. It will be interesting how the coming years turn out and whether Toyota will be able to establish itself in the electric era.