Toyota bZ4X Touring: The Best Toyota EV Yet, Blending SUV and Estate Charm

Toyota's latest electric offering, the bZ4X Touring, is making waves with its unique design and impressive capabilities. This new model successfully merges the practicality of an estate car with the rugged appeal of an SUV, offering a compelling option for EV buyers seeking something a little different.

Key Takeaways

• The bZ4X Touring offers a distinctive "jacked-up estate car" aesthetic.
• It boasts a longer body and bluff rear end compared to the standard bZ4X.
• A single-motor, front-wheel-drive version provides superior range and efficiency.
• The ride comfort is a standout feature, absorbing road imperfections exceptionally well.
• It offers a cavernous 633-litre boot, enhancing its practicality.

A Unique Design Approach

The bZ4X Touring challenges traditional vehicle categorizations. While the standard bZ4X leans towards a coupé-crossover SUV, the Touring variant adopts the persona of a raised estate car. It shares the same wheelbase as its sibling but is extended by 140mm, resulting in a more pronounced wagon-like rear overhang and a squared-off tail. Accents like chunky roof rails and faux skid plates further solidify its adventurous stance.

Performance and Range

Developed in collaboration with Subaru, the bZ4X Touring offers a choice of powertrains. While Subaru's E-Outback exclusively features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, Toyota provides a more accessible single-motor, front-wheel-drive option. This configuration is particularly advantageous, offering an impressive 366 miles of range and an efficiency of 4.4mpkWh, surpassing the dual-motor variant's 298 miles and 3.9mpkWh. Although the dual-motor version delivers a potent 376bhp, the 221bhp from the single-motor setup is more than adequate for everyday driving, even at highway speeds.

Comfort and Handling

This vehicle prioritizes comfort over sportiness. The suspension is tuned to be unashamedly soft, exhibiting a degree of body roll when pushed through corners, though it never feels uncontrolled. The plush springs effectively soak up road imperfections, while well-judged damping prevents excessive wallowing. Toyota has achieved a level of ride comfort that rivals, and arguably surpasses, that of some established competitors.

Interior and Practicality

The interior largely mirrors the standard bZ4X, featuring a spacious cabin with ample legroom and additional headroom in the Touring model. A significant highlight is the enormous 633-litre boot, complete with a useful 36-litre underfloor storage compartment. While the rear bench splits into only two sections and the cabin's ambiance is somewhat subdued, the abundance of physical buttons for essential functions, an easily adjustable driving position, and a responsive 14-inch infotainment touchscreen contribute to a user-friendly experience.