Toyota’s little-loved electric SUV, the bZ4X, is getting a do-over for 2026. It’s not a ground-up redesign. But the compact electric vehicle (EV) will get a new name and a few upgrades meant to solve its biggest problems.
Toyota is the world’s largest automaker and enjoys a stellar reputation in the U.S., so its misfires are rare. But it has them. And, to its credit, it can recognize one.
Time for a Restart
The Toyota bZ4X premiered in 2023. It wasn’t technically Toyota’s first electric vehicle (EV) in the U.S.; the company leased a RAV4 EV in California as far back as 1997. But the bZ4X was meant to launch a sub-brand of “beyond zero” EVs.
The press beat it up for slow charging times and short range. The government recalled it because the wheels could fall off. And consumers largely ignored it, leaving it Toyota’s slowest-selling SUV.
For 2026, it gets a new look, a new charging system, more range, and more power. It’s now called the Toyota bZ.
Toyota hasn’t revealed pricing. The 2025 model starts at $38,465, including the destination fee, and does not qualify for the federal government’s $7,500 EV tax credit. The new 2026 Toyota bZ is set to go on sale in the second half of 2025.
Mechanical Updates
A new battery and new motors make an almost entirely new car, under the skin.
Range jumps from a maximum of 252 miles in the 2025 model to 314 in the 2026 version. Surveys show that most Americans want at least 300, so that change alone could make the bZ4x appealing to more shoppers.
Power is up, too. New motors push all-wheel-drive (AWD) models from 214 horsepower in the 2025 model to 338 hp in the 2026 version.
A switch to the Tesla-style North American Charging System (NACS) port gives drivers access to America’s largest charging network, too.
Toyota says it has fixed the charging speed problem, too. The 2026 bZ will charge from 10% to 80% in “around 30 minutes” when connected to the fastest kind of public charger, a DC fast charger.
New Plug & Charge capability lets owners plug into many public chargers and walk away without initiating a charging session through their phone — an often-slow, frustrating process.
Cosmetic Updates
Exterior updates for 2026 aren’t huge, but one change makes a dramatic visual difference. The 2025 edition was offered only with big black fender surrounds. You can choose them in 2026, or you can get those panels in body color. The change makes the car look very different, even if it’s just paint.
A wide light bar now connects the daytime running lights.
Inside, a new minimalist dash includes a larger 14-inch touchscreen (up from 12.3 inches) and air vents now nearly concealed in a horizontal trim line in the dashboard. Dual wireless charging pads are now standard.
The changes may not be enough to make the bZ a great option for many buyers. Competition in the small electric SUV space is intense. The segment-leading Tesla Model Y has seen its sales slip, but the Chevrolet Equinox EV, with tax credit eligibility, seems to benefit more than Toyota’s compact crossover.
But if the bZ is meant to pave the way for a lineup of EVs, a more credible initial offering should help Toyota’s reputation.
