Extended time with the Toyota bZ4X Pure EV this year created as many questions as answers for us.
When the model was launched internationally back in 2022, the extreme pessimism of the displayed range (but with the addition of around 80km with the air-con switched off) created headlines and prompted Toyota to update the model's software to show more realistic numbers.
We won't go over that in much more detail (you can read about it here in our first long-term report), except to say that when we spent two months with a pre-production bZ4X earlier this year we became quite confused. We were assured our car had received the updates and it did indeed have the "BEV" exterior badge and instrument-panel battery-percentage indicator applied to update models.
But our car still only showed 300-330km on a full charge, despite a WLTP figure of 516km for our FWD Pure. And switching the air-con off still added 80-100km to that number.
We were even more confused when we got the chance to drive the Subaru Solterra sister model, which consistently showed 430km-plus and varied little with the air-con on or off, in exactly the same kind of driving we had done in the Toyota.
We even went as far as undertaking a real-world 300km-plus range test/recharge with the bZ4X, during which we discovered the bZ4X performed really well in terms of actual km-per-charge. Still confused.
Toyota New Zealand's official media launch for the bZ4X this month was more exciting for us than most, then: a chance to quiz chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama and drive some finished models.
We explained our issues to Uchiyama-san during the pre-drive conference. His response: that aspect of the cars should be almost identical. "I am very confused", he said. Not just us then. But the TNZ team were still pretty sure our long-lead car had been updated.
Later in the day, when we came to to drive the production bZ4X, guess what? Similar 400km-plus range to the Subaru, confirmed when we took a Pure FWD (same specification as our long-term car) home for the weekend after the event.
So apologies for the long explanation, but we've devoted a lot of time and space to this issue already and this is the bit where we set the record straight: the production bZ4X does indeed have a much more accurate range indicator. For whatever reason, our particular car obviously hadn't absorbed its updates properly.
Our earlier range-test trip to Taupo wasn't totally futile, as it cemented our opinion of the car as a great day-to-day drive and Uchiyama-san was also able to confirm our calculation of 6-7 per cent remaining in the battery when the indicator reads zero (enough for 30-50km in an emergency) seemed about right.
We also got some lovely pictures and video of the bZ4X on a road trip. Watch it all here.
Toyota bZ4X is now official for NZ
Uchiyama-san says the focus of the bZ4X project was to design an electric Toyota that would put driver and passenger comfort and safety at its core: a "people centric approach".
The bZ4X is now available in NZ in two variants – the $72,990 Pure FWD and $82,990 Motion AWD. Both have the same 7.14kWh battery.
He was complimentary about Subaru's role in the project, confirming that hundreds of Subaru engineers came to Toyota to work on the co-development, playing a huge role in the "breakthrough" all-electric AWD system and of course applying Subaru's X-Mode drive-setting to the brace of electric SUVs.
"This was truly a joint development. We had conflict with Subaru, but because of the conflict we could see the vehicle from many different aspects. I believe that made this vehicle better.
"This off-road ability is important to me because before bZ4X, I was in charge of the new Land Cruiser Prado," says Uchiyama-san. "In fact, on the same off-road course in Japan, the bZ4X was truly impressive. Sometimes I think the precise motor-control of bZ4X delivers greater peace of mind on rough roads than Prado.
The bZ4X Pre-Collision System includes vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcycle detection, Intersection Collision Avoidance Support and Emergency Steering Assist.
The Motion variant comes with additional parking assistance including Panoramic View Monitor, Blind Spot Monitor with safe exit assist, Toyota teammate advanced parking system, and a Driver Monitor Camera. The Motion variant includes additional exterior features including a panoramic roof and power shade, and a larger split rear spoiler.
The Pure rides on 18-inch alloy wheels with a silver and black metallic full resin cover to aid aerodynamics, with the Motion increases in size to 20in black and machined finished alloys with resin accents.
The Pure features fabric and synthetic interior trim with power adjustment for the driver’s seat and manual adjustment for the front passenger seat, with front seat heaters, stepping up to synthetic leather-like trim in the Motion with driver's seat memory, steering wheel heater and front seat ventilation.
There's a 12.3in touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via USB or wireless. The Pure has a six-speaker system, with Motion adopting a nine-speaker JBL setup including subwoofer. Colour options include Frosted White, Silver Rush, Precious Metal, Ebony, Emotional Red and Dynamic Blue. The all-wheel drive Motion is also available in two-tone with an Ebony roof.
The bZ4X is the first Toyota to have eAxle technology integrating the transaxle, motor generator, and inverter. The FWD model produces 150kW while the AWD is 160kW (80kW front, 80kW rear). It can charge at up to 150kW, with the much-talked-about (at least by us) updates improving speed between 80-100 per cent. The car can be DC fast-charged up to 4 times per day.
Toyota New Zealand is offering BEV battery capacity warranty coverage for 8 years or 160,000km. It protects against "abnormal loss of capacity", providing for a minimum of 70 per cent of original BEV battery capacity.
Customers purchasing a bZ4X at Toyota Driveaway Pricing or "Bronze" fleet pricing this year will also receive a free Wallbox Pulsar Max charger valued at $2250 (including GST, excluding installation).