Toyota bZ4X Touring review

Prices kick off at £44,495, or it's £50,195 for the all-wheel drive version. That includes £1.5k off via the Electric Car Grant discount, although the bZ4X doesn't qualify for the full £3,750 that some other cars receive.

On lease, think £570 and £700 a month respectively over a three-year repayment period and 10,000-mile yearly limit after a £5k deposit.

Just FYI, the regular bZ4X with entry-level battery is some six grand cheaper, although the bigger battery/same spec is more expensive than this Touring. So you're paying extra for something less practical. Logic? What logic?

At time of writing we’re still waiting for Subaru to confirm prices of the E-Outback, but our best guess (given it’s AWD only) is it will weigh in between £55-60k.

What’s the kit list like?

The Touring skips over the entry-level bZ4X Icon trim and comes in two equipment grades: Design and Excel.

The Design is home to the FWD/221bhp motor, and as standard you get 18in alloys, roof rails, 7in driver display, a 14.3in infotainment display, wireless smartphone charger, heated front seats, powered tailgate, ambient lighting, adaptive cruise control, and 360-degree and reversing cameras. And a heat pump – good for energy use in colder weather.

The Excel gets 376bhp courtesy of an additional motor on the rear for all-wheel drive. It’s also equipped with 20in alloy wheels, a panoramic roof, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a digital rearview mirror and an extended Toyota Safety Sense package. A JBL premium audio system is optionally available.

And if it was your money?

Honestly, we don’t think you need to look beyond Design trim unless you live in the middle of absolutely nowhere – you don’t need the extra rear motor and the range compromise it brings. Or the extra £6k in cost…

Oh, and Toyota also guarantees the battery will retain at least 70 per cent of its capacity up to eight years or 100,000 miles. Get it checked every year and that extends to 10 years and 650,000 miles.