Toyota bZ4X review

The bZ4X isn't quite as roomy as a VW ID.4 but it's space-efficient for the overall length. As is typical for an EV, the centre console features a big open dual phone charging pad, plus a rotary drive selector and a smattering of buttons. The rest of the cabin has storage bins and power outputs aplenty, critical for conflict-free family life.

The boot itself is a decent 452 litres and its hatch is broad, to make loading easy. Toyota designed the rear motor to be wide and slim (the front one is short and fat, for a good turning circle).

Is the touchscreen any good?

We've got mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it's not overloaded because lots of functions – climate, volume, drive modes and more – have dedicated switches or permanent screen space. But on the other hand, there's precious little for it to do. So it feels like wasted real estate.

The layout is logical and the graphics are decent, but some of the menus are so sparse they might as well not be there - think of Pam decrying "is that it?!" in Gavin & Stacey. Yeah, that. It's a recurring theme with Toyota at the moment.

Connected sat-nav will actively route maps for both traffic and convenient charging, and anyway, you can choose to run phone mirroring if you want. Again, only a recent thing for Toyota.

Meanwhile the driver's screen is high up on the dash, so you view it over the top of the steering wheel almost like an HUD. That works fine unless you have the wheel set high or the seat backrest strongly reclined. The graphics are clear and it doesn't distract... unlike the many, many warning bongs.

Toyota has cut back on the shiny black plastic that was such a good canvas for grubby fingerprints, but there's very little to lift the mood in here. It all feels well screwed together, at least. And the front seats are supportive, though you'll feel very elevated to begin with.

OK, and what about the tech?

There’s a tonne of stuff. Toyota's 'T-Mate' safety system adds external cameras and radar systems, everything from pre-collision to intersection turn assistance, emergency steering assist, front cross traffic alert and safe exit assist that stops you opening a door into traffic.

‘Safety Sense’ monitors the driver’s posture to make sure that they’re not feeling sleepy or unwell - and it’ll trigger a warning if it thinks you’re not awake enough. There’s a tonne of stuff, in other words.