Toyota says the flagship version of the bz5 EV can travel up to 392 miles on a single charge
June 11, 2025 at 06:36
- Chinese buyers can purchase a new bZ5 for less than half the price of a Tesla Model Y.
- The flagship versions of the bZ5 start at just 159,800 yuan or roughly $22,200.
- Toyota has fitted two versions of the BYD’s LFP Blade batteries to the sleek crossover.
If you’re shopping for a new car in the US and have a budget of $18,000, the Nissan Versa is your only option, unless you can find a 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage still sitting on a dealership lot. Over in China, however, your money goes a lot further, and Toyota’s new bZ5 EV has just hit the market for 129,800 yuan (~$18,100). That’s a remarkably low price for what seems like an intriguing electric vehicle equipped with a slew of technologies and boasting a sleek design.
First showcased last month but only recently launched in China, the bZ5 is the production version of the bZ3C that was presented 12 months ago in Beijing. It has been brought to life through the FAW-Toyota joint venture and will be offered in four variants. Toyota hasn’t done something sneaky by introducing a bargain-basement entry-level version and then jacking the prices up significantly for higher-end models. In fact, the flagship version starts at just 159,800 yuan, or roughly ~$22,200.
Read: The Tesla Model Y Has A New Rival From Toyota That’s Half The Price
Sitting at the base of the bZ5 family is the 550 Joy, priced from 129,800 yuan (~$18,100). Right aove it is the 550 Pro from 139,800 yuan (~$19,400), the 550 Pro Smart Edition starting at 159,800 yuan (~$22,200), and the 630 Pro, which is also available from 159,800 yuan (~$22,200). Both models use BYD’s Blade LFP battery packs.
The 550-branded models have a 65.28 kWh pack offering up 550 km (342 miles) of range, while the 630 Pro uses a 73.98 kWh pack good for 630 km (392 miles). Bear in mind, though, that these are figures from the generous CLTC cycle and probably won’t be quite as impressive in the real world.
Even so, for the money, there’s not much to complain about. Not only is the bZ5 cheap compared to what we pay here in the US for even the most basic of EVs, it also comfortably undercuts the Tesla Model Y in China. Despite being built locally, prices for it start at 263,500 yuan (~$36,700), meaning you could buy two bZ5s for the price of one Model Y.
It’s not as though the Toyota is lacking in features either. It includes a Navigation on Autopilot system that uses 33 sensors, including a LiDAR in high-end models. There’s also a 10-speaker JBL audio system and a 15.6-inch infotainment display. Unlike the Model Y, there’s also a digital instrument cluster.