In-depth reviews

Toyota bZ4X range, battery & charging

The bZ4X doesn't set any range or charging records, but gets impressively close to its claimed numbers in real-world driving

Overall rating

4.0 out of 5

Range, battery & charge rating

4.0 out of 5

ModelRangeWallbox charging timeRapid charging time
FWD277-317 miles12hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW)32mins (10-80%, 150kW)
AWD257-286 miles12hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW)32mins (10-80%, 150kW)

The Toyota bZ4X is about on par with rivals like the Volkswagen ID.4, Nissan Ariya and Ford Mustang Mach-E when it comes to claimed ranges, topping out at just over 300 miles in its most efficient form. But based on our initial time at the wheel, it’s one of the better EVs around when it comes to matching those on-paper numbers in the real world. Charging speed is also solid but not game-changing.

Toyota bZ4X range

All bZ4Xs in the initial range, both front and four-wheel-drive, use the same 71.4kWh battery. Claimed official range varies slightly depending on which version and trim level you go for, with the front-drive version seeing a maximum of 317 miles in entry-level ‘Pure’ spec and the four-wheel drive topping out at 286 miles in ‘Motion’ trim. Higher-spec models will return less range due to their larger wheels and slightly higher weight.

We saw 3.4 miles per kilowatt-hour efficiency from the top-of-the-range four-wheel drive model we drove. That works out at 243 miles of real-world range on a full battery – which is impressively close to the claimed 257-mile figure for this particular version.

Charge time

The bZ4X has a maximum rapid-charging rate of 150kW. Many public rapid chargers in the UK can now deliver that speed, so a 10-80% top-up in around 30 minutes while out and about should be regularly achievable. For home charging, the bZ4X initially gets a 6.6kW on-board charger, which is close to the speed most standard home wallboxes can achieve. This will allow for a full overnight top-up in around 13 hours. An optional 11kW on-board charger is available, allowing faster overnight charging at homes or premises with a three-phase electricity supply.

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