When introducing competitive battery-electric vehicles to the market, Toyota is going to go slowly but surely. A significant redesign, a few new features, and a higher price mark await the bZ4X, the company’s first and so far only BEV, as it moves into its second model year.
Some of you may recall that media sources reported on the bZ4X’s delayed charging in cold weather just one month after the product’s 2022 introduction. A mix-up with PR language didn’t help matters, the company ultimately adding, “As temperatures dip below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), charging time will rise dramatically. In low-temperature environments, the bZ4X AWD model may experience slower charging than other models, and it may not be able to charge at all when it gets as low as -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit). Thanks to the addition of a water-to-water heat exchanger and a heating adjustment valve, Toyota claims that future customers would have shorter wait times during cold weather and faster DC charging. However, we lack quantitative data to assess the possible shift, e.g., whether a hard limit exists below -4 degrees.
There will also be more informed and less fussy charging. Both XLE and Limited trims will come with a portable charging cord equipped to handle 120-volt Level 1 and 240-volt Level 2 charging. The cable that came with the 2023 model was only suitable for Level 1. All purchasers and tenants will receive a year of complimentary EVgo charging when they are out and about. Additionally, the multi-information display’s charging information screen was added by UI designers. It provides information on the state-of-charge percentage, the projected time to an 80% charge, and the estimated range while charging. Owners of the 2023 bZ4X will have access to this final function, but downloading it will need a dealer visit.
After that, it’s frills. Power liftgate and eight-way driver’s seat adjustment are included on the base XLE. In order to park the bZ4X in a parallel or perpendicular spot, Advance Park is included as standard equipment on the Limited.
MSRPs after the $1,350 destination fee, and their differences from 2023, are:
- XLE: $44,420 ($1,070)
- Limited: $48,430 ($480)
They are for drivetrains with front-wheel drive. The cost of the AWD models, which come in two trim levels, is $2,080. EPA ratings for the front-driver XLE and AWD variants respectively are up to 252 and 228 miles on a single charge. Those are, respectively, 236 and 222 miles for the Limited.