Soon you will be able to get your hands on the brand new Toyota bZ4X. This is exciting because it’s the first mass-produced electric vehicle for the United States by Toyota. However, the 2023 Toyota bZ4X may already fall short compared to rivals. 

The 2023 Toyota bZ4X doesn’t have enough range 

The 2023 Toyota bZ4X serves as the first official bZ model on the way. There are six more on the way. However, limited about these new electric vehicles is currently limited. As more details emerge, we’ve realized that the Toyota bZ4X may have a problem. 

It has a limited range. The Toyota bZ4X only has 250 miles of range. This might not be enough to entice people to buy the electric SUV. For example, it has the same range as the Chevy EV Bolt, which is a compact car. 

The standard drivetrain is front-wheel drive. But you can upgrade to all-wheel drive. But adding AWD will make the bZ4X heavier, and it could have an even lower range.

 With the Mustang Mach-E, you have 305 miles of EPA-estimated range. Adding AWD knocks it down to 270 miles of range. But that’s still an extra 20 miles compared to the standard bZ4X. 

Also, the Tesla Model Y Long Range model comes with standard AWD and has an EPA-estimated range of 326 miles. The cheapest Model Y, known as the Standard Range model, provides 244 miles per charge. 

While 250 miles is more than enough range for daily driving, it could make road trips a bit tricky. Be sure to map out your route according to charging locations. 

How much power does the bZ4X have? 

The FWD Toyota bZ4X model has 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Upgrading to AWD adds a second electric motor and increases the power to 215 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. At first glance, these numbers seem OK. 

With AWD, Toyota estimated that the bZ4X can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.7 seconds. This time is adequate for an SUV. The FWD model might have faster acceleration. However, the Long Range AWD Tesla Model Y can reach 60 mph in about 4.4 seconds. The Ford Mustang Mach-E with AWD can reach 60 mph in about 5.2 seconds. 

When properly equipped, the Telsa Model Y can tow up to 3,500 lbs. The Mustang Mach-E also tows up to 3,500 lbs. The towing capacity for the bZ4X hasn’t been released yet. 

What else do we know about the bZ4X? 

The 2023 Toyota bZ4X comes with a 64.0-kWh battery pack, and fast charging is standard. About 80 percent of the battery will be replenished within an hour. Also, solar panels integrated into the bZ4X should capture enough energy to provide about 1,000 miles of driving range per year. 

Toyota hasn’t released pricing information, but the Toyota bZ4X is expected to begin around $30,000 while higher-end models may start above $40,000. Models should reach dealerships by the middle of 2022. 

The bZ4X has a digital gauge display and a large infotainment unit. We hope that wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. Upgrades will probably include a wireless phone charger. 

We will keep you updated as we learn more about the Toyota bZ4X. We hope that a model with more range is in the mix.