By Otsile Kadiege

Toyota is no stranger in making highly efficient hybrid vehicles offering the hybrid trio of Prius, RAV4 and Corolla in Mzansi. However, the Japanese automaker has been behind its competitors on the all-electric front until now. Pictured here is the all-new bZ4X SUV. It is the first of hopefully many electric vehicles to come in the bZ series.

The bZ4X is built on a new battery-electric vehicle dedicated platform and boasts a bold exterior design and a “home-like” interior. Toyota promises an SUV with exceptional performance, ample range and short charging times. 

Exterior design 

The bZ4X’s exterior design is bold, futuristic and somewhat sporty thanks to sharp body lines, slim headlights, large contrasting wheel arches, a split rear roof spoiler, wrap around tail lights and a prominent contrasting rear bumper. 

When it comes to exterior measurements, the bZ4X is 4,690mm in length, 1,860mm wide, 1,650mm high and has a wheelbase of 2,850mm.

Interior design and technology 

The theme for the interior is “lagom” – the Swedish word that expresses something that is “just right.” Toyota promises a spacious quiet and relaxing space with home-like comfort and an extra wide cabin space thanks to the BEV-dedicated platform. High soundproofing glass and wind-noise reduction in the bZ4X provides a quiet cabin. 

The bZ4X features a large touch display with a multimedia system which adopts cloud navigation and OTA wireless updates. 

Safety

When it comes to safety the bZ4X is equipped Toyota’s latest Safety Sense like adaptive cruise control, lane keep and blind spot monitor, to name a few. Toyota says they have enhanced the performance of each function and added new functions to assist on ordinary roads with the aim being to prevent accidents, further reduce traffic fatalities and injuries, and ease the burden on drivers.

Performance

As mentioned above, the bZ4X is based on a new e-TNGA platform which was co-developed with Subaru. The bZ4X is front-wheel drive and powered by a high-response 150 kW / 265 Nm electric motor enabling 0-100 km/h acceleration in 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h. The all-wheel drive model produces 160 kW / 336 Nm. It sprints from 0-100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 160 km/h. 

The new bZ4X is equipped with a high-density lithium-ion battery has a 71.4 kWh capacity that is expected to deliver a driving range of more than 450 km (applying to WLTP metrics). An 80% charge can be achieved in around 30 minutes with a 150 kW fast-charging system. From Q4 2022, a new 11 kW three-phase on-board charger will be available. 

The bZ4X is scheduled for launch in all regions from mid-2022.