Used Toyota bZ4X 2022-present review

The Toyota bZ4X: it might sound like something out of Star Wars – a droid akin to C-3PO or R2-D2, perhaps – but it's actually an electric SUV from the present day, rather than a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

In case you're curious, bZ refers to Toyota's eco-conscious Beyond Zero strategy. The 4, meanwhile, signifies the car's size – it's roughly as big as a Toyota RAV4 – and the X marks it out as an SUV.

Performance & Range: The single-motor, front-wheel drive bZ4X is plenty quick enough. In our tests, it managed to sprint from 0-60mph in 7.1sec – very slightly quicker than a Kia EV6 RWD.

The four-wheel-drive version is faster, but not by as much as you might imagine. It's more powerful, yes, but also heavier, and can officially do 0-62mph in 6.9sec. It doesn't deliver the neck-snapping acceleration of an EV6 AWD or Tesla Model Y Long Range, but certainly accelerates quicker than most petrol or diesel equivalents.

All models have the same 71.4kWh (usable capacity) battery, but the more efficient front-wheel-drive version can officially do up to 317 miles (depending on the trim). In our tests, efficiency was slightly behind the EV6 RWD and Ford Mustang Mach-E Standard Range RWD, suggesting a real-world range of around 250 miles.

The heavier four-wheel-drive model can officially manage a respectable 286 miles on a charge. We haven't had a chance to put this version through our real-world tests yet.

Ride & Handling: The suspension is noticeably softer than on the Model Y, giving the bZ4X a more supple ride. Indeed, comfort is roughly on a par with the EV6.

Fortunately, that hasn't come at the expense of handling, because the bZ4X goes round corners without too much lean and inspires plenty of confidence. Yes, the lower-riding EV6 is more agile but the bZ4X has the edge over many other rivals, including the VW ID.4.

The steering is also naturally weighted and builds weight progressively as you turn into corners, giving you confidence.

Interior & Practicality: The bZ4X has a relatively low roofline for an SUV, but the interior still feels open and airy thanks to the tall side windows. You also sit high up in the car, which not only helps give you a good view out to the front and sides but also makes you feel like you're driving a proper SUV.

Interior quality is a mixed bag. There are some suitably upmarket materials on show, including soft-touch plastic on the insides of the doors, fabric inserts on the dashboard and gloss 'piano' black across large swathes of the centre console. Less impressive are the low-rent door pulls. On balance, the EV6 feels a bit more upmarket inside.

Rear leg room is frankly ridiculous – and in a good way. Due to the bZ4X’s long wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels), you’ll have loads of knee room, even if you're tall and are sitting behind someone similarly lofty.

Head room isn't so great, and if you're more than six feet tall, you might find that your head hits the ceiling when you try to relax back in your seat and use the head rest. Mind you, the flat floor and broad interior mean it's not too much of a squeeze for three adults sitting in the back.

Some rivals have a bigger boot, but there's still plenty of room for a family holiday. You get a small underfloor storage area for the charging cables, which is handy because, unlike the EV6 and Tesla Model Y, the bZ4X has no extra storage under its bonnet.

Trims & Equipment: Even entry-level Pure models are fairly well equipped, with 18in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start and a pre-conditioning system for the interior. You also get a heat pump to improve range in colder conditions – something that's optional from new on most competitors, including the EV6.

Stepping up to mid-spec Motion trim adds some visual enhancements, including a rear spoiler plus some genuinely useful kit, including rain-sensing wipers, an eight-way electrically adjustable and heated driver’s seat, rear privacy glass and a powered tailgate.

Top-spec Vision gets larger, 20in alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, a hands-free powered tailgate and some other luxuries.

Interested in buying a used Toyota bZ4X? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

You can buy a used Toyota bZ4X for around £33,000. For the money, expect a 2022 model in Pure trim, most likely – Motion and Vision are more common if you budget for another £3000 or so, as are 2024 models, actually.

Check the value of a used bZ4X with What Car? Valuations

Find a used Toyota car for sale

Charging: The bZ4X’s maximum charging speed of 150kW is faster than the Skoda Enyaq iV and VW ID.4 can manage, but a lot slower than the EV6 and Tesla Model Y, which can both accept more than 200kW. In ideal conditions from a fast enough CCS charging point, a 10-80% charge in the bZ4X will take around 32 minutes. A full 0-100% charge from a 7kW home wall box will take just under 13 hours.

Insurance and servicing: Insurance groups range from 35 to 40 (depending on your chosen variant), which is roughly average for an electric SUV but a little higher than you can expect from your everyday petrol/hybrid/diesel SUV. For instance, the RAV4 should be cheaper to insure.

If you buy a Toyota Approved Used bZ4X that's less than a year old, you can buy a three-year service plan for £16.66 per month – a total of £599.76. It also gets you one MOT test.

Every new Toyota comes with a three-year manufacturer warranty (transferable), but you'll get an extra year (or 10,000 miles) of additional warranty with every Toyota-provided service: that can last up to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. It's currently the longest length of cover you'll get from a manufacturer.

For the bZ4X, Toyota also offers an extended care programme that guarantees the battery will still operate to 70% of its original capacity after up to 10 years of ownership (or 620,000 miles), subject to the owner taking their car to an authorised dealer for an annual EV health check.

Go for a front-wheel-drive bZ4X. It's almost as quick as the all-wheel-drive model, yet it can travel noticeably further on a charge (and, to the vast majority of buyers, that matters more).

Our recommended trim is Motion. It demands a premium, yes, but we consider it justifiable considering the added equipment it gets. Sure, top-spec Vision is similarly priced, so if you can find one, go for it. It'll be easier to find a Motion model, though, and we don't consider Vision's extra kit to include any must-haves.

Our favourite Toyota bZ4X: 71.4kWh Motion

The electric SUV class is booming, so you have plenty of options to choose from, even used.

The Kia EV6 is a great one – it's a former What Car? Car of the Year, after all. Used prices start at around £27,000, so you can pick up one for less money than you can a bZ4X. As we mentioned, it's available in a longer range, too.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 shares a lot of parts with the EV6. Sure, the 5 feels less upmarket inside, but it's still a great car and it's even cheaper to buy. Used prices start at around £22,000.

For around £30,000, you could buy a 2022 Jaguar I-Pace. It's more luxurious than the bZ4X and it's sharper to drive. The model has a poor reliability record, though.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

Interested in buying a used Toyota bZ4X? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.