The Toyota bZ4X—now the bZ—has come a good distance. What began as a mediocre taxi-spec electrical car has now grown up into one thing you may truly need to personal. I drove it in Texas this week and almost each side of it felt improved: It now has extra vary, extra options and even a Tesla-style charging port proper from the manufacturing facility.
Nevertheless, in a single key space, it is nonetheless the identical because the outgoing model: most charging pace, which remains to be capped at 150 kilowatts. Gradual charging speeds have been one of many greatest complaints for present bZ4X homeowners. For cabbies in cities like New York who drive the bZ4X all day, spending 45 minutes to an hour at a charging station can imply shedding cash and passengers.
So why hasn’t Toyota pushed the brand new bZ right into a fast-charging EV like a few of its rivals? All of it comes right down to manufacturing prices, Toyota stated.
Photograph by: Suvrat Kothari
“If we wish a shorter charging time, we’ve got to improve to an 800-volt system,” Daisuke Ido, the chief engineer of bZ Woodland and C-HR advised InsideEVs in an interview. The bZ nonetheless runs on a 400-volt electrical structure, which limits charging speeds. In easy phrases, decrease pack voltage equals decrease charging speeds.
Toyota has some catching as much as do right here. Hyundai, At any time when and Common Motors have already embraced 800-volt architectures, unlocking quicker charging and higher roadtripping capabilities for a few of their autos. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 expenses shortly and doesn’t price way more than the Toyota. Even Tesla, which additionally sticks with 400 volts on the Mannequin andmanages quicker charging speeds due to extra optimized techniques.
“From a buyer viewpoint, that may be expensive,” Ido stated. “The query is will the client pay (further) for it?”
Making EVs is capital intensive. Tesla is the one massive identify turning a revenue on EVs right here, and price issues in an setting the place EV incentives are being rolled again and tariffs are actually in place. Toyota, regardless of its scale and monetary muscle, isn’t speeding to eat these further bills—not less than not but.
Nonetheless, Toyota stated the charging curve on the upgraded bZ is healthier, so it ought to maintain greater charging speeds for longer durations. That ought to get the bZ from 10 to 80% state of cost in half-hour. That is not blazing quick, however it ought to be higher than earlier than. (We haven’t executed a full charging take a look at but, however it’s on our to-do listing.)
Photograph by: Suvrat Kothari
“The precise buyer would not watch for half-hour,” Ido stated, implying that many shoppers do shorter charging classes like 30-80% or 50-90%, and that’s one thing the bZ is now theoretically higher at. It’s additionally value noting that the all-wheel-drive model beforehand maxed out at simply 100 kW. For the 2024 mannequin 12 months, Toyota bumped that to 150 kW.
For 2026, issues get even higher. The bZ now helps battery preconditioning to optimize pack temperature for quicker charging and, crucially, comes commonplace with the North American Charging Commonplace (NACS) plug. Meaning seamless entry to Tesla’s sprawling Supercharger community, which is a serious improve to the day-to-day EV expertise.
On the Superchargers, Toyota confirmed to InsideEVs that it’ll get plug and cost, which implies you received’t need to fiddle with bank cards and smartphone apps after the preliminary cost account is set-up. Simply plug in and stroll away. Another networks will even get plug and cost, and people might be disclosed at a later date.
Toyota’s NACS to CCS adapter for present and older mannequin 12 months autos to cost at Tesla Superchargers.
Photograph by: Suvrat Kothari
Toyota’s CCS to NACS adapter for the 2026 mannequin 12 months autos to cost at non-Tesla stations.
Photograph by: Suvrat Kothari
Then there are different massive upgrades. The front-wheel-drive XSE Plus trim now affords as much as 314 miles of vary. Toyota’s app-based route-planning will assist find charging stations on the fly. And inside, the cabin lastly feels premium and tech-forward.
We’ll see the way it performs underneath real-world circumstances—particularly as soon as Northeast winter hits—however based mostly on first impressions, the bZ has grown right into a extra full car. It will not be the fastest-charging EV in the marketplace, however don’t let that overshadow the larger image.
Have a tip? Contact the writer: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
