Toyota bZ4X Touring review

It’s the estate version of Toyota’s mid-sized SUV, the bZ4X. That car was notable for being the Japanese carmaker’s first go at an EV, but, er, not much beyond that. Competent enough, just no real USP.

Of course, everyone knows that estate cars are cooler than SUVs – that’s simply a fact – so this bZ4X Touring already has that going for it. It’s also closely related to the Subaru E-Outback, itself a wagon version of the Solterra.

So how exactly does this differ to the bZ4X?

Well, it’s 140mm longer and 25mm higher overall. Minor differences really, and given it sits on the same eTNGA platform, no real surprise either.

The biggest improvement is in the boot space, which increases by almost 50 per cent to 669 litres. It’s also a more conventional shape – none of this coupe SUV nonsense – with a more practical (bigger) load opening too.

Are the powertrains the same?

It’s available in 221bhp front- or 376bhp all-wheel drive variants (whereas the Subaru E-Outback is AWD only) mated to a 71kWh (usable) battery. That makes it slightly cheaper, and in turn, more accessible.

Weirdly, the battery in the Touring is marginally bigger than the one in the bZ4X. Toyota says that's “due to using different battery suppliers to balance global supply”. So now you know. You’re welcome.

Anyway, driving range is up to 366 miles (FWD) – 14 more than the regular bZ4X – or 297 miles (AWD). Expect around half an hour to charge from 10 to 80 per cent on a 150kW DC charger.

Interesting. What's it like to drive?

A bit like Michael Carrick back in his playing days. Which is a roundabout way of saying pretty good, but it won't get you off your seat. It feels fit for purpose and entirely dependable, but not enthralling.

Performance is adequate (0-62mph is seen off in 7.3s in FWD, 4.5s in AWD), while it steers and rides tidily. This isn’t some low slung estate remember, and the mid-sized SUV underpinnings do shine through.

Not necessarily a bad thing on our terrible roads, mind. And if you do live out in the sticks it’ll comfortably deal with anything you throw at it, with various off-road modes and a wading depth of half a metre. This thing will handle flash floods better than most.

Any other electric estates worth my time?

There aren't many, actually. At least not affordable ones. There's an estate version of the Peugeot E-308 and Vauxhall Astra Electric, and in 2028 we'll see an electric Skoda Octavia. But beyond those, your estate options are limited to petrols and hybrids.

Will it leave a big hole in my bank account?

It's £44,495 OTR for front-wheel drive, which includes a discount of £1.5k courtesy of the UK's Electric Car Grant. It's actually less expensive than the SUV, unless you opt for the smaller battery that this Touring doesn't get.

If you want all-wheel drive, you'll need to cough up in excess of £50,000. Feels pretty steep, but then so does everything these days. Head over to the Buying tab for the full lowdown.

Like the bZ4X? Then you’ll like this, because it’s exactly the same. Only bigger booted. And rangier. And cheaper like-for-like. Making it a no-brainer, right?

Much like the coupe SUV, it’s also decent to drive, very roomy inside, and impressively efficient. It’ll fit so effortlessly into family life that you probably won't notice it.

Of course, it’s not perfect – the cabin and touchscreen feel a little tired already, and rivals offer more convenience by charging faster. But overall, a pretty solid effort from Toyota in a segment that's been roundly ignored by almost everyone else.