2025 Toyota bZ4X FWD long-term review part one

While the future of the motoring world is very clearly moving to electric power, with more choice than ever before in Australia, taking the leap and moving on from petrol or diesel power can be a daunting one.

Forget the added stress of range anxiety or the annoyance of prolonged downtime due to lengthy recharge times, electric vehicles (EVs) are just outright more expensive.

Maybe this is why Toyota – the country’s (and the world’s) biggest car brand by volume – has been fashionably late to the electric car party. But wait no longer – the brand kicked things off with the bZ4X mid-size SUV just over 12 months ago.

By studying the market and being a fast follower, maybe Toyota has addressed these concerns and delivered a standout EV that is actually worth the upgrade.

Luckily, the bZ4X has joined the Drive garage for the next three months so we can determine whether this is the model that will make you switch, or whether EV technology – even in a big-name brand like Toyota – is still far from maturity.

To begin, the bZ4X we have is the entry-level front-wheel-drive (FWD) version priced from $66,000 before on-road costs.

With most EV use cases being in inner-city environments and mostly driven in the daily commute and on school runs, it makes sense to save the $8900 premium you would pay for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant.

However, there are some key specification differences, aside from the traction advantage too.

For starters, the bZ4X FWD features a single electric motor that outputs 150kW/266Nm, whereas the AWD version adds a rear electric motor for a combined output of 160kW/337Nm.

As an EV that delivers torque instantaneously, though, the more affordable bZ4X feels plenty spritely when coming away from a standstill and can accelerate from 0–100km/h in a claimed 7.5 seconds.

This makes it faster than almost any other mainstream family SUV, despite not quite outmuscling the 170kW/420Nm Mazda CX-5 and its 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine.

With a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery, Toyota touts a claimed 436km driving range when tested on the WLTP standard, although a full charge shows closer to 410km on the dashboard in my experience.

The bZ4X AWD cuts that claimed range down to 411km, but either way, potential buyers should not be dissuaded by the driving range as 400km is plenty for about a week’s worth of commuting – at least for me.

You also have to keep in mind that EVs like this bZ4X should not be run to zero per cent, and that after a day or two of driving, you need to top it up to ensure you do not get caught out in a moment where you need to travel vast distances without sufficient charge.

While not a unique bZ4X problem, it affects all EV owners alike. The analogy I like to use is your phone’s battery – you put it on charge after a day’s worth of usage, and even though you come home and it might dip to 30–40 per cent, you know you can charge right then and there.

Other differences between the two bZ4X models are largely superficial, with the top-spec variant gaining cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, a surround-view monitor, premium JBL sound system, a panoramic sunroof, and a rear roof spoiler.

The only egregious piece of equipment missing on the entry-level car is blind-spot monitoring, which should be included as standard in a tech-forward model like the bZ4X. My car also misses out on a wireless smartphone charger, but MY25 bZ4X FWD variants now equip this handy feature.

And besides, the bZ4X FWD still comes well equipped with features such as LED headlights, 20-inch wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, power-operated tailgate, rear privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, and a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster.

As expected of any Toyota model, and a boon for family buyers, a wide assortment of safety features is also on offer, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with lane centring, speed sign recognition, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Handling infotainment is a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, in-built satellite navigation, and digital radio.

After a month behind the wheel, the bZ4X feels a bit… lacklustre, but in a good way.

Whereas rival EVs like the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5, BYD Sealion 7, and Leapmotor C10 try and dazzle with a minimalist interior, funky styling, a rotating infotainment screen, and massive boot respectively, the bZ4X just feels like a Toyota.

From the well-thought-out driving position to the interior controls' ease of use, there is no learning curve with the bZ4X.

Everything just works and functions how you’d expect it to, so if you’ve been in a Toyota before (and let’s be honest, everyone has been), you will feel right at home in the brand’s first mass-market EV.

Like all the brand’s models, from the pint-sized Yaris through to the Corolla and Camry, and up to the RAV4s, Prados, and LandCruisers, the bZ4X just works how and when you want it to. With that point, for a subset of buyers that might think moving to an EV is intimidating enough, the familiarity of a Toyota could be comforting.

Still, I’m looking forward to the next two months with the bZ4X, wherein I’ll test the physical practicality with my family of four, as well as take it on extended trips to see what lifestyle changes (if any) need to be accommodated when living with an EV.

As first impressions go, though, the Toyota bZ4X might not ‘wow’ like other EVs, but there is a certain charm to it akin to tucking into your favourite home-cooked meal from mum.

Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.

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