2025 Toyota bZ4X long-term review part three: Final summary

So, you want to buy an electric car.

Well, your options include the Tesla Model Y or Model 3, the BYD Dolphin, Seal or Sealion 7, the Kia EV3, EV5, EV6 or EV9, the Hyundai Inster, Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 or Ioniq 9, the Fiat 500e, the GWM Ora, the Volkswagen ID.4, ID.5 or ID.Buzz, the Cupra Born, the Skoda Enyaq or Elroq, the Leapmotor C10, the Deepal S07, the Chery E5, the MG4, MG S5, IM5 or IM6, the Mini Cooper, and that isn’t even mentioning  all the models offered by the premium brands.

But what if you want an electric car that just feels like a real car? No gimmicks, no all-touchscreen controls, no hidden door handles, no NFC key card, no ludicrously fast acceleration.

Enter the Toyota bZ4X, which might be the best EV for those that already struggling coming to terms with new technology.

After three months with this car, I truly believe it should be in the EV conversation, but for reasons that mind not immediately spring to mind.

I’ve covered the basics in my earlier long-term instalments, but essentially the base bZ4X serves 150kW/266Nm from a single electric motor driving the front wheels.

And backing that all up is a 71kWh battery, good for a claimed driving range of about 436km when tested on the WLTP standard.

In reality, a full charge got me about 420km, but even that was plenty to cover my weekly commute from home to childcare to work and back again.

Of course, your situation will be different, and I’m lucky enough to have charging options at home and work, so before you jump onto the bandwagon make sure an EV will be the right fit for you.

With up to 150kW fast charger, the bZ4X can recoup 10-80 percent of its battery in as little as 30 minutes, but a standard home charger will take significantly longer – so keep that in mind before a long trip.

In terms of efficiency, after three months I averaged 16.4kWh per 100km – not the best, but not the worst I’ve seen in an EV.

This actually betters Toyota’s 16.9kWh/100km claim, so at least the bZ4X is efficient.

But it’s not the battery, performance, or driving range that will convince people – all those things are bettered by competitors for less.

Like the old adage says, it’s what on the inside that counts – and in the bZ4X’s case, it has to make up for quite a few shortcomings.

The bZ4X has mechanical door handles that can be locked/unlocked via a keyfob.

The keyless entry system works as expected, opening and closing without any issues or faults.

Inside, there are physical controls for the side mirror adjustment and the seat controls are right where you expect them to be.

Front and centre of the dashboard is a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, as well as native satellite navigation and digital radio.

There are also physical buttons for climate controls, and physical buttons for other various functions, but none of this makes the bZ4X a good car, does it?

Well, actually, I’d argue this stuff is exactly what does make the bZ4X so appealing – it’s vanilla and boring, but completely familiar and even comforting to anyone who has driven a car from the last 20 years.

Look, electric cars already face a steep climb in convincing the masses, you have to change your driving behaviour after all and always keep an eye on battery percentage and charging opportunities to plan ahead.

On top of that, so many of these new models, or at least the ones stealing headlines, throw gimmicks and novelty into the package too.

BYD? It has a rotating centre screen.

Tesla? Every function from adjusting the steering wheel, to even shifting gear, is now relegated to the central touchscreen.

Deepal S07, Leapmotor C10, and Kia EV9? Power-operated pop-out door handles.

Volvo? There’s no button to turn the car on and off, and nowhere on the key to lock and unlock the doors.

And this Toyota EV has none of those gimmicks!

I know that doesn’t make the bZ4X Instagram or TikTok worthy, but it all just works exactly how you expect it to – no software glitches or gremlins messing with the experience.

In typical Toyota fashion, the bZ4X shows restraint in its driver interface, and while some might say that’s dull and conversative, I say it’s good news for buyers that want to go electric without a steep learning curve.

This Toyota-ness also permeates the bZ4X’s driving experience. But to its credit, not detriment.

It seems like every other electric car brand wants to do a performance version with bonkers 0-100km/h times, meaning a very sensitive throttle calibration.

But Toyota, in showing restraint, has delivered a very easy to drive and very easy to live with model.

Even pinning the throttle doesn’t throw you to the back of your seat. Instead, acceleration comes on predictably, controllably, but briskly.

The brakes are also calibrated in such a way where they don’t grab immediately, and offer the driver a familiar driving feel.

Even with its ‘one-pedal’ driving mode activated, the bZ4X doesn’t slam on the brakes as soon as you lift your right foot.

You can get in this car and instantly feel like a confident driver – and that’s not something that can be said with other EVs on the market.

The steering also offers plenty of feedback without feeling too heavy, further instilling confidence and making cornering a pleasant experience.

Yes, the car is heavy, tipping the scales at just under two tonnes, which can lead to understeer when pushing the front-drive model hard, but you shouldn’t ever get to that point with the thick 235-section tyres.

The suspension also leans towards the firmer side, meaning speed bumps and potholes can jostle occupants about when they catch you off guard, but the trade-off is less body roll.

Because this is an EV, the cabin remains serene, quiet, and comfortable for all passengers.

I get that the bZ4X isn’t quick and flashy like others, but, like with most Toyotas, it just gets on with the job of getting you and yours to the next destination with no muss, and no fuss.

In a word, the Toyota bZ4X is kind of boring, but that should be seen as a strength, not a weakness.

Not everyone wants or needs all the whizz-bang technology crammed into EVs these days; some just want to ease into all-electric motoring, and this is where the bZ4X slots in.

It’s not the cheapest, it doesn’t have the longest range, it’s not the quickest or best-equipped, but it’s a Toyota, and it works and feels like a Toyota.

They say there’s comfort in familiarity, and, well, the bZ4X is both comfortable and familiar, and it just happens to also be an electric car.

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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