A Major Step to Compete with the Best
Toyota re-entered the electric vehicle world in 2023 with the BZ4X small SUV (after two earlier limited edition RAV4 EVs). It never really caught the eye of EV-savvy consumers who had many options to choose from. Toyota, the largest auto manufacture in the world, didn’t stand pat; hence, this announcement of the vastly improved 2026 BZ (no longer called BZ4X) that can now compete with the field.
Toyota brought automotive journalists to its Plano, Texas, headquarters for the HQC (for Head Quarters Confidential) event to lay-out its product plans for the coming year.
This Flash Drive review highlights the 2026 BZ. Clean Fleet Report will write a more detailed Road Test review in the coming months when we have more seat time in the EV. Until then, here are some notes to get started.
- Standard front-wheel drive (FWD), optional all-wheel drive (AWD)
- Designed with the American driver in mind
- Three different BZ trim levels: XLE, Limited and Woodland
- NACS charging standard
- Wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto
Power and Range
The 2026 BZ has either one or two electric motors.
Front-Wheel Drive
- Single motor
- Horsepower: XLE: 168; XLE Plus and Limited: 221
- 0-60 mph: 8.0 seconds
- Battery: XLE: 57.7 kWh; XLE Plus and Limited: 74.7 kWh
- 11 kW onboard charger
- Curb Weight: 4,376-4,453 pounds
- All-Electric Driving Range (AER): XLE: 256 miles; XLE Plus: 314; Limited 299
All-Wheel Drive
- Dual motors
- Horsepower: XLE and Limited: 338; Woodland: 375
- 0-60 mph: 4.9 seconds
- Battery: XLE, Limited and Woodland: 74.7 kWh
- 11 kW onboard charger
- Curb Weight: 4,057-4,233 pounds
- AER: XLE: 288; Limited 278; Woodland: 260
Hitting the Road
Smooth and instant acceleration and torque available at any speed are what makes driving an electric vehicle so wonderful. There is no engine or transmission lag, just seamless power when needed. The reimagined 2026 BZ more than competently delivers all those.
The BZ shines in town and on the open road. My drive partner and I drove the BZ single motor FWD and the dual motor AWD in sunny and hot weather on city streets, parkways and freeways in the area outside of Dallas. These two offer a significantly different feel in their performance as the AWD has an additional 170 horsepower. But even with the lower horsepower the BZ single motor FWD was a major improvement over the outgoing BZ4X, with acceleration more than adequate for entering freeways and passing big rigs. The ride was smooth and provided confidence whatever we tackled.
The BZ dual motor AWD was what we were hoping for when the BZ4X was released in 2023. We now have spirited acceleration from a stop or, when on the freeway at 60 mph and needing to pass traffic, jumping up to 70 mph quickly. The initial rush of power was linear and didn’t drop off until well past 65 mph.
There are two drive modes of Normal (default) and Eco. The former is where we kept the BZ all the time as Eco is meant for long-range cruising on the open road, something we did not experience. Most EVs we test have an additional Sport drive mode, which would have been interesting to use on the larger battery BZ AWD.
The first generation BZ4X (2023 and 2024) had a button to increase the amount of brake regeneration (which replenishes the battery by converting kinetic energy into electricity when braking or coasting). The updated and redesigned BZ has paddles on the backside of the steering wheel where the regeneration can be increased three levels by the left paddle or decreased with the right paddle. BZ regeneration levels are not as strong as we have tested elsewhere and could have been set higher, which we hope happens before the BZ is on sale later this year.
Handling in either the FWD or AWD was solid with a low center of gravity as the batteries are placed under the floor. The 18-inch all-season tires are standard on the XLE, with 20-inch on the Limited. MacPherson struts up front, a multi-link rear suspension and stabilizer bars allowed for corners to be taken briskly with little-to-no body roll.
Slowing and Stopping
The BZ does not have full one pedal driving, where it would come to a complete stop through regenerative braking, where the propulsion motor is reversed. The BZ slows to 4 mph, what is known as creep mode, so it is necessary to apply the brake pedal to come to a complete stop. Toyota did include a “brake hold” button. When engaged and the brake pedal is depressed, it holds the BZ at a stop, eliminating the need to continue to press on the brake pedal. This is a welcome feature for anyone that has commuted as it relieves pressure on the driver’s right leg.
The ventilated front and rear anti-lock disc brakes, with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, stopped the BZ straight without pedal fade.
Charging
The BZ comes with a pre-conditioner that brings the battery to an optimum charging temperature when DC fast charging. The battery can be trickle charged with a 120V common wall plug, but expect replenish times to be long and slow. The best bet for owners will be to install a Level 2 240V home charger that will deliver a full charge overnight while sleeping.
The 2026 BZ is equipped with a North American Charging System (NACS) charging port, giving it access to thousands of high-speed Tesla Supercharger stations nationwide. DC fast charging, at a 150 kW maximum, will go take the battery from 10-80% capacity in around 30 minutes.
New for 2026, the BZ has Plug & Charge that allows automatic identification, authentication and authorization at selected charging networks, reducing the need for multiple mobile charging applications. Plug & Charge is accessed through the Toyota App.
Sleeker Exterior
The 2026 BZ exterior design has an updated, sleeker front end with changes to the fascia and lighting. Some trims have the option of color-matched fenders arches. The hammerhead shark-like shape consists of a flat nose, curved bumper corners with a slim grille. Narrow multi-LED projector head lights and daytime running lights complete the look. Unnecessary cladding has been abandoned while sculpting on the doors and rear quarter panels has been added.
The front and rear overhangs are short, with low profile roof rails framing the optional power sunroof. The foot-activated power lift gate has an interesting dual-wing ducktail top spoiler with a more conventional lip spoiler at the bottom of the steeply sloped glass. Narrow LED tail lights, with a connecting light strip, take-up little space on the rear.
Updated Interior
Driver visibility is very good with thin A-pillars, a sloping hood, and tall windows. The front seats are supportive, with power for the driver and passenger in the Limited trim, driver only in the XLE model. The rear seat holds two comfortably, three in a pinch. The cargo space behind the rear seats increases when the 60:40 second row split seat is laid flat.
The XLE seats are covered in fabric with SofTex trim, while the Limited seats get full SofTex, a synthetic leather. The Limited front seats are heated and ventilated, with heated rear seats standard. The XLE has heated but not ventilated front seats, and no rear seat heat option. The pattern here is—move up from XLE to Limited to bring more comfort and convenience.
The standard multimedia system on both XLE and Limited has a 14.0-inch touchscreen (up from 12.3-inches) with a 6-speaker audio unit. Available on the Limited trim is a 9-speaker JBL premium audio system with a subwoofer and amplifier. Both systems get navigation, SiriusXM (90-day trial) AM/FM radio with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. USB-C ports (4), 1,500-watt AC outlet and wireless phone charging are standard. Adding a channel tuning knob would have assisted in keeping the driver’s eyes on the road, as would a head-up display.
Convenience
The BZ comes with a dual-zone automatic climate system with dust and pollen filters, rear passenger vents, power door locks and windows with auto up/down, digital key, Wi-Fi, tilt and telescoping steering column, soft touch dash and armrests, rain sensing windshield wipers, 64-color ambient lighting and an auto-dimming rear view mirror with Homelink. A nice, unique feature for the front occupants on the Limited is radiant foot-and-leg heaters.
Wi-Fi Connect includes an AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot with compatibility for streaming for Apple Music and Amazon Music. A subscription is required after the trial for the 4G network dependent system.
Safety
Safety Connect is standard as are systems, including backup and Bird’s Eye View cameras, child protector rear door locks and power window lockout, a tire pressure monitoring system, and an anti-theft system with engine immobilizer. Active and passive advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) include eight airbags and the Toyota Safety Sense technology. Also standard is a pre-collision system that includes pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist and full-speed adaptive cruise control.
Pricing and Availability
Prices will be announced just prior to the 2026 Toyota BZ arriving in dealers in the fall of 2025. The BZ Woodland trim is expected in early 2026.
Warranties
- Battery – Eight years/100,000 miles
- Comprehensive – Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain – Five years/60,000
- Corrosion Perforation – Five year/Unlimited miles
- Complimentary Maintenance – Two years/25,000 miles
- Roadside Assistance – Two years/25,000 miles
Observations: 2026 Toyota BZ EV
David Christ, group vice president and general manager Toyota Division, told the assembled journalists: “There will be 11 new models from Toyota in 2025 and 50% of all Toyota sales will be from electrified models.” Ed. note: This includes hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.
To amplify this, Mark Templin, executive vice president and COO, Toyota Motor North America, said: “Between Toyota and Lexus there will be 24 new or updated models introduced in 2025.”
We came away impressed with the bullish outlook shown by Toyota in the unknown and unsettling era of trade tariffs. It is hard enough for an auto manufacturer to forecast consumer interest in a specific type of vehicle without external forces creating havoc in the planning process.
Toyota and Lexus are playing catch-up in the world of electric vehicles, and the importance of the revamped Toyota BZ, the all-new C-HR and the updated Lexus RZ EVs cannot be overstated. Consumers are aware Toyota is an environmentally friendly company, with its leadership in hybrid models a badge of honor, so continued advancements in zero-emission vehicles is what consumers now expect.
That leads us to the question of the trucks and SUVs that are a major part of the Toyota and Lexus line-ups. What will power the next generation Toyota 4Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, Tacoma and Tundra—or the Lexus UX, NX, RX, GX, TX or LX? It is doubtful they will be discontinued, so maybe HQC 2026 will be equally eventful with more announcements. Stay tuned!
Make sure to opt-in to the Clean Fleet Report newsletter (top right of page) to be notified of all new stories and vehicle reviews, including when we get the chance to drive the BZ with a full report on its performance, charging speed, and driving range.
Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Toyota.
Disclosure
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and other efficient powertrains. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at [email protected].
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