2024 Toyota bZ4X Gains Standard Comfort, Convenience Tech

Toyota dragged its feet entering the electric-vehicle market due to well-chronicled insistence from top executives that hybrids and plug-in hybrids make more sense for most buyers and the environment. But good sense rarely prevails over strong marketing (and federal mandates), so the company rolled out the bZ4X for the 2023 model year. Co-developed alongside the Subaru Solterra, the fully electric SUV gets a few minor upgrades for its second year on sale.

Related: 2023 Toyota bZ4X Review: Normal Toyota, Natural Step Into EVs

What’s New?

Toyota sells the 2024 bZ4X in two trim levels: XLE and Limited. For 2024, the XLE gains an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and power liftgate, as well as a dual-voltage charging cable with switchable connectors, allowing drivers to connect to either 120-volt Level 1 or 240-volt Level 2 charging without needing to carry two separate cables. For the Limited trim, automated parking is now standard. New instrument-cluster graphics display additional information while charging, including estimated percentage charge, time to 80% (the point at which most EVs slow charging to preserve battery life) and range.

Powertrain Specs and Range

The bZ4X is available with front- or all-wheel drive. FWD versions make 201 horsepower and 196 pounds-feet of torque; AWD variants get 214 hp and pounds-feet. AWD bZ4Xs also have a slightly larger lithium-ion battery pack, with 72.8 kilowatt-hours versus 71.4 for FWD variants.

While the motors and battery pack are the same between the XLE and Limited trim levels, the latter’s higher weight and larger wheels extract a cost in range. Toyota estimates the XLE will go 252 miles on a charge with FWD and 228 miles with AWD. For the Limited, estimates are 236 and 222 miles, respectively (official EPA figures are not yet available for the 2024 model).

Availability and Pricing

The 2024 Toyota bZ4X will arrive at dealerships by February. The XLE starts at $44,420 and the Limited at $48,530 (all prices include destination). AWD adds $2,080 to the cost of admission of each.

Trim Levels and Safety Equipment

The 2024 bZ4X XLE rides on 18-inch wheels and uses LED exterior lighting all around. It gets a fixed panoramic glass moonroof, black exterior trim, and keyless entry and start. Inside, you’ll find seats trimmed in a blend of fabric and synthetic leather, dual-zone climate control, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, six speakers, and a 12.3-inch center touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on all bZ4Xs. It includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure steering assist, lane-centering steering, adaptive cruise control, road-sign recognition and automatic high beams. Not included under the Toyota Safety Sense umbrella but also standard across the bZ4X line are blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

From the outside, the Limited trim can be distinguished by its 20-inch wheels, chrome trim and distinct headlights. It gets full synthetic leather upholstery, as well as a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera system and automated parking. Heated rear seats and a nine-speaker JBL sound system are optional.

Versus the Competition

SUVs similar in size to the 2024 bZ4X are ground zero for mass-market electrification, and the class is quickly filling out with competitors. A base 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E starts at $45,295 with 247 miles of EPA-rated range. Hyundai’s excellent 2024 Ioniq 5 will go an EPA-rated 220 miles with its Standard Range battery pack and starts at $42,985; the closely related 2024 Kia EV6 starts at $43,925 with 232 miles of EPA-rated range. In its most affordable configuration, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 starts at $40,290 but will only go 209 miles, according to the EPA.

More From Cars.com:

• Is the 2023 Toyota bZ4X a Good EV? 6 Things We Like and 4 We Don’t
• Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
• 2023 Toyota bZ4X DC Fast-Charging Test: Don’t Rely On It
• How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2023 Toyota bZ4X?
• Toyota Unveils EV Incentive Calculator for Buyers

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