Does the introduction of more power and four-wheel drive help or hinder this electric SUV? On sale Now Price from £50,180
Neil Winn Neil.Winn@haymarket.com
LOOK UP THE phrase ‘fashionably late’ in the dictionary and you’ll see a picture of the Toyota bZ4X. We jest, but Toyota, while being late to the electric SUV party, has timed the launch of the bZ4X perfectly. The demand for SUVs like this is sky-high, and there are long waiting lists for some rivals, including the Audi Q4 e-tron, Genesis GV60 and Kia EV6.
Its closest rival, however, is the Subaru Solterra, which is the same as the bZ4X under the skin, having been jointly developed with Toyota. The main difference is that the Solterra gets two electric motors and four-wheel drive as standard, whereas the bZ4X offers the choice between that set-up and a cheaper version with a single motor and front-wheel drive (FWD).
We’ve already tested the bZ4X in FWD form and were impressed with its quiet cruising manners, plush ride and sprightly performance. So, is it worth stepping up to the four-wheel-drive (AWD) version? Well, let’s look at the facts, starting with performance.
The AWD bZ4X puts out 215bhp to the FWD model’s 201bhp, cutting the 0-62mph acceleration time from 7.7sec to 6.9sec. From behind the wheel, though, you can’t feel much difference. Neither version has the neck-snapping acceleration of a Kia EV6 AWD or Tesla Model Y, so even the FWD bZ4X doesn’t struggle for traction.
It’s only when you’re in a muddy field or on an icy road that the benefits of four-wheel drive become apparent. The system’s ability to find traction in treacherous conditions is truly impressive. We can confidently say that you’re not going to get stuck in your local National Trust car park any time soon.
Back on the road, you don’t particularly notice that the car is four-wheel drive. As with the FWD model, there’s plenty of grip through corners, the steering is accurate and the brakes are relatively smooth and feelsome. The ride, meanwhile, remains comfortable, being on a par with that of the EV6.
All versions of the bZ4X feature the same battery (with a 71.4kWh usable capacity), meaning the 286-mile official range of this heavier AWD model is 31 miles down on
