Toyota has stretched the bZ4X – with Subaru DNA – to create the roomier Touring, due here next year as the brand's second battery-electric car.
Electric Cars
The second Toyota electric car announced for Australia will be a stretched version of its first – the 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring – due in local showrooms in the first half of next year.
The Touring is a longer, roomier version of the Tesla Model Y-rivalling bZ4X mid-size SUV launched locally last year, with a larger boot, more interior headroom and standard all-wheel drive.
Prices will be confirmed closer to the bZ4X Touring's local launch in the first half of 2026, but Toyota has indicated it will cost more than the standard bZ4X.
It remains to be seen if it goes up in price from the all-wheel-drive model's current $74,900 plus on-road costs RRP, or if it becomes more affordable to boost its sales beyond last year's modest tally of 977.
The Touring is 140mm longer than the regular bZ4X, all behind the rear axle, which combines with a more upright tailgate and a 20mm-taller body for a circa-30 per cent increase in luggage space, to 521L in Australian cars, or 600L in Europe.
It's said to offer more headroom for rear passengers, which sit in the second row of seats, as despite appearances, it is not a seven-seater with a third row.
Styling differences between the bZ4X Touring and Trailseeker are limited to each vehicle's unique front end – shared with their regular equivalents – a tweaked rear bumper, and a small Toyota badge under the tail-light bar, rather than 'SUBARU' script.
Roof rails capable of carrying up to 70kg are fitted, as well as grained black wheel-arch trims, in place of the latest bZ4X's gloss black.
The front of the cabin is shared with the 2026 bZ4X – now named bZ in the US, but not planned for Australia – meaning a 14-inch touchscreen derived from Lexus cars, with air-temperature dials that intersect with the display, and touch fan speed controls.
A 7.0-inch digital instrument display sits ahead of the driver – high up, so the driver views it over the steering wheel, rather than through it – and there are two wireless phone charging pads on offer.
Australian models will be offered as standard with dual-motor all-wheel drive, as Toyota executives say they think it is "more appealing" to the Touring's intended customer.
It develops 280kW – more than any other Toyota SUV sold, even greater than the regular 2026 bZ4X's 252kW – which is likely to translate to a zero to 100km/h acceleration claim of less than five seconds, or quicker than a GR Corolla hot hatch.
The motors are connected to the 74.7kWh battery from the 2026 bZ4X.
In Europe, Toyota claims up to 560km of driving range under European WLTP protocols, but that is believed to apply to the front-wheel-drive variant not planned for Australia.
There is a battery pre-conditioning function that heats or cools the pack for fast charging, for a claimed "rapid charging time" between unspecified percentage markers of about 30 minutes, at up to 150kW DC.
AC charging at 11kW or 22kW, depending on model, is also offered.
The 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring is due in Australia in the first half of next year, pending any delays.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
