The bZ3X is powered by a single electric motor with 221 hp (165 kW) and is available in three variants
December 10, 2024 at 05:37
- The SUV has been designed exclusively for the Chinese market and will be built with GAC.
- Powering entry-level models is a 50 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack.
- Despite the SUV’s bargain price, it comes loaded with driver assistance systems.
Toyota has kicked off sales of the bZ3X in China, and like many other BEVs from the Far East, it’s an absolute bargain. Available in three guises, the electric SUV starts at just 100,000 yuan or ~$13,800 and tops out at 200,000 yuan (~$27,500). It’s been brought to life with Toyota’s GAC joint venture and the first deliveries have been scheduled for March next year.
The entry-level model, known as the 430 Air+, comes equipped with a 50.03 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack. That’s quite a small pack for an SUV of this size, but Toyota says it’s good for 430 km (267 miles) of range on a single charge. However, this is under the CLTC cycle, which is known to be quite generous. This battery powers a single electric motor with a quoted 221 hp (165 kW).
Read: Toyota bZ3C And bZ3X To Join China’s Crowded EV Market
According to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the bZ3X is 4,600 mm (181.1 inches) long, 1,875 mm (73.8 inches) wide, and 1,645 mm (64.7 inches) tall with a 2,765 mm (108.8-inch) wheelbase. It weighs in at 1,835 kg (4,045 lbs). In addition to the 430 Air+, the SUV will also be available in 520 Pro+ and 620 Max forms, although limited details about these variants are known. If the naming strategy is any indication, they could have 520 km (323 miles) and 620 km (385 miles) of range respectively, which might necessitate a larger battery pack.
Toyota has been working on the bZ3X for quite some time and previewed it earlier in the year alongside the smaller bZ3C crossover. The cabin of the bZ3X seems to be quite well-equipped and as standard, includes a 14.6-inch infotainment display and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. It also rocks a two-spoke steering wheel, a wireless phone charger, and a split center console. An 11-speaker Yamaha audio system comes standard.
Perhaps most impressive is all the safety technologies that Toyota has crammed into its new EV. It’s equipped with no less than 11 high-definition cameras, three millimeter-wave radars, a lidar, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, enabling a raft of driver-assistance systems.
