Toyota bZ4X Touring review: good things take time

Toyota calling the bZ4X Touring an SUV is a bit like calling a Labrador a wolf: technically, you can make an argument for it on a genetic level, but anyone with eyes is going to have a few questions. This is a wagon. A big, slightly elevated, plastic-clad electric wagon, admittedly, but a wagon all the same. And frankly, that’s a good thing. The world could do with more practical wagons and fewer SUVs pretending they’ve never heard of a station wagon.

The Touring also arrives with some history to overcome. The original bZ4X was Toyota’s first serious crack at a dedicated, mass-market electric SUV, launched in New Zealand in 2022.

Late to the electric segment, it was a perfectly respectable effort, but it faced criticism over its price, range and charging performance at a time when EV rivals were getting increasingly competitive.

Toyota subsequently sharpened the pencil considerably, with substantial price cuts in New Zealand turning the bZ4X from a rather expensive proposition into a much more tempting one.

The scale of that price correction is worth spelling out: when the bZ4X arrived, the front-drive Pure cost $72,990 and the all-wheel-drive Motion $82,990. The updated 2026 range now starts at $58,990, with the AWD Motion at $68,990.

That’s a big reduction for the entry model compared with its original price, alongside a bigger battery, more range and various other improvements. And now Toyota has given us something considerably more interesting to fill the upper brackets of the bZ4X range in the form of the Touring.

The Touring, which takes the same basic electric recipe as the bZ4X and stretches the back end into something that looks much more like the sort of wagon Subaru has been quietly perfecting for decades (spoiler alert: there’s a Subaru version too…).

It also happens to be the fastest and most powerful bZ4X the company has ever offered, weighing in with a hefty 280kW and 536Nm on tap that sees it scamper to 100km/h in just 4.4 seconds.

Toyota might insist it’s an SUV, but with its longer roofline, upright tailgate and decidedly estate-car proportions, the Touring is about as SUV-like as a pair of gumboots is formal footwear.

And, at $71,990, it makes a rather more convincing case for itself than the original bZ4X did. And looks cool.

On the outside: what are the Toyota bZ4X Touring's main design features?

The Touring is arguably a considerably better-looking vehicle than the standard bZ4X, adopting a raised estate-car stance that brings to mind the Subaru Outback.

It packs a dual-motor electric powertrain that delivers strong, immediate acceleration and effortless performance in everyday driving.

And those proportions work particularly well, with an extended roofline and longer rear body giving it the appearance of a proper wagon, while it has enough ground clearance and rugged detailing to look adventurous without pretending to be a serious off-roader.

One particularly welcome detail is the retention of matte-black cladding around the wheel arches, rather than the gloss-black finish found on the standard bZ4X variants - it not only suits the Touring's purposeful character but also looks considerably less naff than gloss black plastic on the outside of cars does.

The overall design is clean and cohesive, avoiding the temptation to make the Touring look like an ultra-sleek shooting brake. Which, to be honest, would be awesome, but instead, Toyota has delivered a handsome, practical wagon that stands apart from the sea of increasingly similar electric SUVs. And looks cool.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Toyota bZ4X Touring's cabin like?

The cabin carries over the updated bZ4X's dashboard and centre console, with solid assembly and a mix of soft-touch surfaces and durable plastics that feels appropriately substantial.

The bZ4X Touring favours a slow in/fast out approach, and you can make the most of its prodigious 280kW and 536Nm by waiting until the nose creeps past the apex and then just nailing the throttle.

There are harder materials if you go looking for them, but the overall impression is one of quality rather than unnecessary extravagance. The layout is modern without being overly complicated, and the controls are sensibly arranged.

The Touring's biggest advantage is behind the rear seats. Its extended roofline and estate bodywork provide a considerably more practical luggage area than the standard bZ4X, making it better suited to family holidays, bulky shopping and all the miscellaneous cargo that comes with everyday life.

The result is a comfortable, well-built cabin with the added practicality of a proper wagon boot. For anyone who has been resisting the industry's relentless shift towards SUVs, it's a welcome reminder that the estate car still makes a lot of sense. And looks cool.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Toyota bZ4X Touring like to drive?

The bZ4X Touring retains the familiar, settled driving character of the standard model, with the longer body doing little to disturb its comfortable and composed manners.

It packs a dual-motor electric powertrain that delivers strong, immediate acceleration and effortless performance in everyday driving - there's plenty of punch for overtaking, while the instant response makes pulling into traffic and accelerating out of corners effortless. And fun.

The bZ4X Touring favours a slow in/fast out approach, and you can make the most of its prodigious 280kW and 536Nm by waiting until the nose creeps past the apex and then just nailing the throttle, which will see the Touring hunker down and belt out of the corner with an addictive enthusiasm.

Handling is tidy, too. The steering is accurate, the front end responds predictably and the car remains stable through bends - it doesn't pretend to be a sports car, but it feels planted and reassuring on winding roads, with a comfortable suspension setup that absorbs bumps without becoming unsettled.

The Toyota bZ4X Touring is arguably the most appealing version of the bZ4X formula, combining comfortable driving manners and strong all-wheel-drive performance with the practicality of a proper estate.

For everyday use, the Touring is punchy, planted and remarkably composed. Its low-mounted battery helps provide a stable foundation, while the dual motors deliver effortless traction. Most importantly, the longer body adds practicality without fundamentally compromising the driving experience. And looks cool.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Toyota bZ4X Touring's warranty and servicing situation?

The bZ4X Touring comes with Toyota's standard 3-year/100,000 kilometre warranty that can be extended up to 5 years and 150,000km if servicing is carried out at an authorised outlet. The same extension applies to 24/7 roadside assist, capped price surviving and WoF coverage. Servicing is every 12 months or 15,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the Toyota bZ4X Touring?

The Toyota bZ4X Touring is arguably the most appealing version of the bZ4X formula, combining comfortable driving manners and strong all-wheel-drive performance with the practicality of a proper estate.

It looks good, rides well and offers substantially more useful luggage space than the standard SUV. The cabin is solidly built, while the electric powertrain delivers the smooth, effortless performance you'd expect.

The biggest frustration is Toyota New Zealand's decision to offer the Touring in a single, highly specified configuration priced above $70,000, rather than providing a more affordable entry-level version.

Even so, the Touring makes a compelling case for itself. It demonstrates that an electric family car doesn't have to be another SUV, and that the traditional wagon still has plenty to offer. Even if Toyota won’t admit that’s what it is.

For buyers wanting an electric vehicle with genuine luggage-carrying ability, comfortable road manners and all-wheel-drive confidence, the bZ4X Touring is an excellent option.

Toyota may have been late to the dedicated EV party, but this is a rather good reminder that arriving late isn't necessarily a problem if you bring a really good present, and with the bZ4X Touring Toyota has a very good present indeed. While they might have falter with the first go, sometimes good things take time, and the bZ4X Touring is proof of that. And it looks cool too - did I mention that?

Toyota bZ4X Touring FAQs

What kind of car is the Toyota bZ4X Touring?

Toyota says it's a medium-sized family SUV. We say it's a much cooler station wagon.

Does the Toyota bZ4X Touring have hybrid or EV technology?

Yes, the bZ4X Touring is fully electric, with a 74.7kWh battery and dual electric motors.

What’s the energy economy of the Toyota bZ4X Touring?

The bZ4X Touring has a WLTP combined economy figure of 16.8kWh/100km, which seemed pretty easily achievable during our time with it. With more considered driving it would probably be quite easy to better that too.

Is the Toyota bZ4X Touring safe?

The Touring shares the standard bZ4X's 5 Star ANCAP safety rating and packs a total of 8 airbags, with dual front, side and curtain airbags complimented by a driver's knee airbag and front centre airbag.

What safety and assistance features does the Toyota bZ4X Touring have?

What are the Toyota bZ4X Touring's main rivals?

• Subaru Trailseeker AWD Touring ($72,490): The obvious competitor, perhaps slightly cooler?
• BYD Seal 6 Touring ($55,990): A PHEV rather than a full EV, but more of a traditional wagon.
• Zeekr 7GT ($TBC): A sporty wagon alternative, pricing likely to be similar.
• Skoda Enyaq 85 ($93,000): Skoda says this is an SUV too; it's not. More expensive.
• Toyota RAV4 GR Sport PHEV ($67,990): Toyota says the bZ4X is the electric RAV4, we still say it's a wagon though...