2023 Toyota BZ4x main header

For over half a decade, Dan Heyman has written professionally about cars and car culture, specializing in luxury/performance vehicles, 4 x 4s and pickup trucks, with a micro city car or two thrown in for good measure. If he's not striking a spacebar, he's likely out photographing cars on the twists and turns of the Coast Mountain roads outside his hometown of Vancouver, BC, or cutting a line on a racetrack.

SAN DIEGO, CA - Believe it or not, when it arrives in showrooms in just a few months, the Toyota bZ4X is really the first full EV (or BEV for “battery-electric vehicle”) that the Japanese giant has made widely available to the public. Yes; there was a very limited run of EV-powered RAV4 crossover in the late-‘90s and early-2010s, but their range was as limited as their availability.

Indeed, Toyota’s heavily invested in the hybrid space – for everything from luxury sedans, to SUVs, to taxicabs – and since the battery tech and materials required for those types of vehicles is very similar to that which is required for a much more limited-use BEV, Toyota had to choose in which basket to put its eggs. Until now, that’s mainly been that of hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_1508.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167316" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_1508.jpg" alt="2023 Toyota bZ4X" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>

Enter the bZ4X (BZ = “Beyond Zero”, and it will be part of the nomenclature for other Toyota EVs going forward), a full-range BEV and while they won’t build as many of these as they will the similarly-sized RAV4 (obviously), we’ll be seeing far more of the bZ4X on North American roads than we ever saw of the RAV4 EV. They will be limited to BC and Quebec in Canada in their first year, however.

Styling-wise, you have to look pretty close to make a connection with other areas of the Toyota/Lexus line-up; if you look reeeal close at the rear fascia, for instance, you’ll see some elements of the current Prius, the previous-generation Mirai sedan and even – believe it or not – the LFA supercar. Yes, it’s a bit of a stretch, but it’s there.

The front end, however, is completely unique and ultra slippery for increased range. It’s low on clutter, but I think that perhaps there could have been a few added contrast-colour details there to be better in keeping with the very present contrast-colour wheel wells. Those, however, are an XLE-only option; single-tone paint is standard fare.

Size-wise, the bZ4X is longer and has a longer wheelbase than the RAV4. It’s wider and sits a little lower and considering that you don’t have as much running gear here as you would in the RAV, interior space is generous.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/toyota-bz4x-ev-interior.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167297" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/toyota-bz4x-ev-interior.jpg" alt="2023 Toyota BZ4x" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>

Styling-wise, the interior is a nicely futuristic spot with two main focal points: the optional 12-inch infotainment display (an 8-incher is standard) and the steering wheel whose mounting geometry reminds me a little of classic Citroëns whose steering column doubles as a spoke.

In the bZ4X, it appears this way because the gauge cluster is mounted so far back and high on the dash—basically nullifying the need for a head-up display—that the steering column appears that much longer. Speaking of a HUD; I don’t mind them, but not having to worry about my polarized lenses hiding the image is a nice bonus. I do worry, however, that the high gauge position could make it tough to see out for some drivers.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-toyota-bz4x-ev-screen.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167298" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-toyota-bz4x-ev-screen.jpg" alt="2023 Toyota bZ4X" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>

The central display, though, especially in the extra-large size seen here, will never have that concern. It is massive, the graphics are ultra-sharp and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard. It can also respond to voice commands from either the front passenger or driver.

It’s mostly a comfortable place to sit, although as a taller driver, I found the footwell to be a little snug as I tend to have to splay my legs out a little more as I drive, and that’s made tougher here. The tall centre console brings controls like the transmission control joystick (bit awkward, that) and drive mode select closer to hand. It’s also where the wireless charger is located, which you can keep hidden under a windowed door to reduce driver distraction.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-toyota-bz4x-ev-cargo.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167299" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-toyota-bz4x-ev-cargo.jpg" alt="2023 Toyota BZ4x" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>

Power on the single-motor FWD model ($44,990) is rated at 201 horsepower, while the dual-motor AWD model ($54,990) gets a 13 hp boost to 214. The FWD vehicle has the better claimed range – 406 km – to the AWD’s 367 km. During my test of the FWD model, however, I actually started on a full charge with 485 km and as I drove, my remaining range accurately reflected my km driven, which is always a good sign. The AWD vehicle gets the larger battery, but the difference isn’t huge as its 72.8 kWh offering is only 1.4 kWh larger than that which is found in the FWD car.

Charging on a DC fast charger in optimal conditions should return 80% of the charge in about one hour; that’s fine, but it is on the slower side (maxing out at either 100 or 150kW, dependent on battery supplier) when you consider the competition from the likes of the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/first-drive-2022-hyundai-ioniq-5">Hyundai Ioniq5</a>. This all comes with a bit of an asterisk, of course, because charge times vary wildly as conditions get colder, which they often do in Canada.

As is the way when it comes to EVs, the power delivery on the bZ4X is instantaneous, which makes getting away from stoplights and zipping in and out of traffic that much easier. I’ll always love that about an EV although the bZ4X makes less power than the Ioniq5 and you can feel the deficiency as speeds increase. You will feel a little more “zip” from the AWD model, of course, but I didn’t find the differences to be all that marked.

AWD cars get a version of Subaru’s X-Mode AWD system (the bZ4X shares its platform with <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/news/subaru-goes-electric-launches-2023-solterra-with-354-km-range">Subaru’s upcoming Solterra</a>), which adds snow/dirt and snow/mud modes that can brake certain wheels for a limited-slip effect, or automatically angle the front wheels to help clear away snow or mud.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-toyota-bz4x-ev-wing.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-167300" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2023-toyota-bz4x-ev-wing.jpg" alt="2023 Toyota BZ4x" width="2000" height="1333" /></a>

Of course, the bZ4X isn’t supposed to be a performance vehicle, so they’ve made sure to get the important bits right, and that’s the ride and handling. Handling is improved thanks to all that heavy running gear sitting nice and low in the chassis to reduce body roll, while the ride is a smooth, comfortable and quiet affair thanks to great damper settings and smart use of sound deadening materials and glass.

Of course, the roads in Southern California in perfect conditions where we were testing these are a far cry from some of the stuff we deal with in Canada, but what I experienced there does bode well.

I do wonder, however, if the fairly average range figures and that slightly slow fast-charge time will be a sticking point for some buyers who are considering this against <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/first-drive-2022-hyundai-ioniq-5">the Ioniq5</a>, for example. That being said: if that is the case, the bZ4X’s interior space and amenities, as well as its excellent on-road dynamics will surely win it back some points.
<h3>2023 Toyota bZ4X</h3>
BODY STYLE: five-door compact CUV

DRIVE METHOD: rear- or all-wheel-drive, single or dual EV motor
BATTERY: 71.5 kWh (FWD), 72.8 kWh (AWD)

FUEL ECONOMY CITY/HIGHWAY/COMBINED: 1.8/2.2/2.0 Le/100 km (FWD); 2.1/2.5/2.3 Le/100 km (AWD)
TRANSMISSION: 1-speed direct drive

MIN. CARGO CAPACITY: 784 L

TOWING CAPACITY: N/A

Base MSRP: $44,990 (FWD), $54,990 (AWD)

WEBSITE:  <a href="https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/register-for-bz4x-updates">Toyota bZ4X</a>

The vehicle was provided to the writer by the automaker. Content and vehicle evaluations were not subject to approval.

2023 Toyota bZ4X First Drive

RAV4 PRIME Exterior Front

Lesley is a 20 year veteran automotive writer and illustrator whose work has appeared in major publications across Canada and the U.S. She’s a member of the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) jury, and a longtime AJAC (Automobile journalists association of Canada) member.

The RAV4 has long been my go-to recommendation for friends and family on the hunt for a reliable vehicle and safe bet on which to spend their hard-earned cash. Hardy, practical, and best of all, drama-free, Toyota’s RAV4 is not only the best-selling compact crossover in Canada, it’s the top non-truck passenger vehicle in North America, period.

And now Toyota has upped the ante by introducing what will surely be the most sought-after new hybrid in the country. The 2021 RAV4 Prime is a plug-in version of its popular crossover offering 68 km of electric-only driving.
But Toyota already offers a RAV4 hybrid capable of 2 km of pure electric driving, and what’s more, it starts at only $32,350 – compared to the new Prime whose base price is $44,900 and tops out at $51,900 - $57,300 if you opt for the tech package.
Unlike the existing RAV4 Hybrid, which tops up its stored electricity with regenerated energy derived from braking, the RAV4 Prime has an 18.1 kWh battery that can be fully recharged in 2.5 hours using a 240 volt home or public charger, or 12 hours on a 120 volt household current. The RAV4 hybrid can travel up to 2 km on electric power only, but the engine kicks in under hard acceleration and it generally runs on a combination of both. Its total range is 767 km combined, using 7.3L/100 km.
<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RAV4-Prime-Exterior-Driver-Side.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-154541" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RAV4-Prime-Exterior-Driver-Side.jpg" alt="First Drive 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime" width="1280" height="853" /></a>

By comparison, the RAV4 Prime’s 68 km of pure EV travel is available up to 135 km/hour and has a total combined range of 979 km while averaging 6.0L 100/km of fuel consumption.

Why then, are we predicting such a high demand for the new RAV4 Prime? Aside from it being such a compelling package (more on that later), it’s all in the numbers. There are fewer than 1,000 vehicles allotted to Canada this year, and most of those have been allocated to Quebec, where it’s on sale now. The rest will arrive in British Columbia before the end of the year.

Which means most of us won’t see the RAV4 Prime in local dealerships until 2021, and even then, their limited numbers, probably between 3,000-4,000, means they’ll be snapped up quickly. This is largely due to a lag in battery production. A joint venture between Toyota and a supplier they’re reluctant to name, the 18.1 kWh battery is a new technology hamstrung by current manufacturing constraints. Then there’s the vehicle itself, which is produced solely in Japan. Gasoline and hybrid versions of the RAV4 are already being built here at the Cambridge and Woodstock plants, but they’re already operating at capacity and would require enormous investment to add the RAV4 Prime to their output.

Whether that happens depends entirely on demand. And that demand depends on an entirely different set of numbers. The RAV4 Prime’s base price of $44,900 squeaks in just under the $45,000 limit for the $5,000 federal electric vehicle incentive. Add Quebec’s whopping $8,000 rebate for a combined total of $13,000, and you can see why most of the available vehicles will be heading Quebec. That means you could conceivably pick up a plug-in Prime for only $3,000 more than a regular, base RAV4. The Prime gets you nearly 1,000 km of range at 6.0L average fuel cost. It also boasts a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of under six-seconds – making it the second fastest Toyota off the line after the BMW-powered Toyota Supra.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RAV4-Prime-Interior.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-154542" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RAV4-Prime-Interior.jpg" alt="First Drive 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime" width="1280" height="880" /></a>

We spent a day behind the wheel of a RAV4 Prime XSE, starting out from Kingston’s historic limestone district waterfront, and cruising the vineyards of Prince Edward County.

The RAV4 Prime’s default drive mode is EV mode, or electric-only, which it can maintain up to 135 km/hr. The driver can also select hybrid-only mode to conserve battery power for later or Auto EV to maximize electric range with the gas motor kicking in under hard acceleration. Bridging the gap between Kingston and Belleville were several kilometres of 401 highway, where I was able to confirm the electric powertrain’s upper limit.  Exiting the highway and gliding to a stop at the first set of lights, I can also sheepishly attest that the RAV4 Prime will chirp its tires off the line with an over exuberant application of the throttle.

The 1,920 kg Prime feels a lot more powerful than its 2.5L, 177 hp 4-cylinder engine would suggest, thanks to a trio of electric motors – two in the front transaxle and one in the rear – that bring the total power up to 302 horsepower. The rear electric motor also drives the on-demand all-wheel-drive – another item in the RAV4 Prime’s plus column over some of its front-wheel-drive only competitors.

To differentiate the RAV4 Prime from its conventionally powered siblings, Toyota has given it a unique grille and chrome metallic lip, vertical driving lights, blue trimmed badging and a painted diffuser. For the first time on a RAV4, the Prime introduces adaptive headlights.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RAV4-Prime-Infotainment-Screen.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-154543" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RAV4-Prime-Infotainment-Screen.jpg" alt="First Drive 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime" width="1280" height="960" /></a>

While $44,900 SE models come with cloth upholstery, 18-inch wheels and choice of three colours, the XSE offers 5 two-tone paint schemes with black roof, new 19” black rims, height adjustable power lift gated and faux leather upholstery with unique red stitching and ventilated front seating.

Standard for the first time is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on an 8-inch touchscreen, or optional 9-inch screen on upper trims. Also new for RAV4 is an adjustable head-up display, and a one-year free trial of Toyota’s $9.99/monthly connected services that use a smartphone app to monitor charging, set climate controls for remote start, or find information about available local charging stations.

The RAV4 Prime is a comfortable place to spend the day, with nicely bolstered, eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, great visibility, and simple ergonomics that feature prominent, easy-to use control knobs instead of needlessly complex graphics. It offers plenty of head and leg room for all four passengers, although cargo space drops from 1,064 litres to 949 litres thanks to the battery pack.

Like the rest of Toyota’s lineup, the RAV4 Prime comes with the now standard safety suite of driver’s aids, which includes dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert, pre-collision system with Pedestrian detection, and Lane Tracing assist. Also available are full-speed range radar cruise control, steering assist and road edge detection, and a digital display rear view mirror and bird’s eye view monitor.

<a href="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RAV4-Prime-Rear-Seats.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-154544" src="https://d3odfdcwc42kff.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RAV4-Prime-Rear-Seats.jpg" alt="First Drive 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime" width="1280" height="960" /></a>

In EV mode only the RAV4 Prime is of course, very quiet and helps showcase the optional JBL sound system. When the 4-cylinder engine eventually kicks in, it does so fairly smoothly. The driver can opt to gear down using the paddle shifters, or just let the continuously variable transmission handle it. Under gasoline power, I regularly saw 4.9L of fuel consumption on the highway and finished with an average of 6.2L /100 km overall. Electric only travel slightly exceeded the claimed 68 km at nearly 70 km, and a more careful driver could conceivably do a lot better. Of course, those numbers will change during the winter, where cold weather seriously compromises overall battery range. Then there’s the additional drain of cabin heat, though a frugal driver could extend range using seat and steering wheel heaters with only minimal draw.

With incentives, the Toyota RAV4 Prime is an extremely compelling offering with only the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/first-drive-2020-ford-escape-hybrid/">Ford Escape</a>, <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/review-2020-mitsubishi-outlander-phev/">Mitsubishi Outlander</a>, and <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/review-2020-subaru-crosstrek-limited/">Subaru Crosstrek</a> its only plug-in competitors. Its closest rival is the Escape PHEV, offered in front-wheel-drive only.

Going strictly by the numbers, the RAV4 Prime is one of the most impressive new vehicles on the market today, and one of the most frustratingly unobtainable– unless you’re one of the lucky buyers able to snap up one of the first available models.

Tags

2023 Toyota bZ4X First Drive

First Drive: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime