Toyota bZ4X Review 2026: Has Toyota Cracked It?
All images in this article have been sourced from Toyota UK’s Media Site unless stated otherwise
Toyota's first dedicated EV launched in 2022 to a lukewarm reception. The 2026 update is Toyota's attempt to put that right: bigger batteries, faster charging and a substantially different range picture. This review covers what's changed, whether Toyota's reliability reputation holds up, and what it costs to run through The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice once tax relief and Benefit-in-Kind are factored in.
If you're weighing the bZ4X against Toyota's wider range, it's worth knowing where this update sits within Toyota's broader UK EV launch, since the same battery and charging improvements filter through to other models.
Has Toyota Cracked The bZ4X?
Not entirely, but it's a lot closer than the outgoing car managed. The 2026 bZ4X, reviewed by Top Gear, fixes the two biggest complaints against the original: range and charging speed.
What's Changed for 2026?
A 73.1kWh battery option now stretches to 352 miles WLTP, up from around 314 miles previously
Peak DC charging climbs to 150kW, down to roughly 30 minutes for a 10-80% top-up
A reshaped front end and new suspension tuning target comfort and efficiency over outright handling sharpness
The cabin gains a 14-inch touchscreen as standard
What Hasn't Changed?
The positioning of the bZ4X. It’s still a practical family SUV rather than a performance statement, and buyers looking for the best driving dynamics would do better looking elsewhere.
Toyota’s reputation for reliability helps the bZ4X earn its place. It has an unusually generous battery warranty, and a decent running cost (which improves if you choose to salary sacrifice it).
Is The Toyota bZ4X Being Renamed To bZ?
Toyota is simplifying its electric naming strategy globally, dropping the "4X" suffix for a simpler "bZ" badge in several markets, a shift covered by InsideEVs and other outlets tracking the US launch.
It's worth being precise: at the time of writing, Toyota UK still markets the 2026 model as the bZ4X, with "bZ" used as the umbrella name for Toyota's wider electric range rather than a confirmed UK rebadge.
What's New On The 2026 Toyota bZ4X?
Beyond the naming question, the substance of the update is where Toyota has put its effort:
Two battery options: a 57.7kWh pack exclusive to front-wheel drive, and a 73.1kWh pack available on FWD and AWD, replacing the outgoing single-battery lineup
Silicon carbide semiconductors in the new eAxles, improving efficiency and power delivery
Battery pre-conditioning as standard, warming the pack ahead of a rapid charge
A redesigned centre console and 14-inch multimedia screen
How Much Does The New bZ4X Cost In The UK?
Trims and starting prices for the 2026 model year:
Icon (FWD, 57.7kWh): from £39,995
Design (FWD, 73.1kWh): around £45,795
Excel (FWD, 73.1kWh): around £48,995
Excel (AWD, 73.1kWh): around £51,545
How Far Can The Toyota bZ4X Go?
Range was the outgoing bZ4X's weakest point, and it's the area Toyota has worked hardest on.
Toyota bZ4X Range By Battery:
57.7kWh (FWD): up to 275 miles WLTP
73.1kWh (FWD): up to 352 miles WLTP
73.1kWh (AWD): up to 314 miles WLTP
Independent long-term testing by Electrifying put real-world efficiency on the outgoing car at 2.4-2.9 miles per kWh depending on season, pointing to a realistic range below the WLTP figure in cold weather. The new eAxles and standard heat pump should narrow that gap on the 2026 car.
Toyota bZ4X Charging Speeds
Charging has improved alongside range:
Peak DC charging rises to 150kW, cutting a 10-80% top-up to around 30 minutes
Excel-grade cars can be specified with a 22kW AC onboard charger instead of the standard 11kW unit
Battery pre-conditioning comes as standard, helping maintain charging speed in cold weather, a detail that matters more in the UK than the WLTP number on the spec sheet
Is The Toyota bZ4X Reliable?
Toyota's official warranty terms lean heavily on the brand's reliability reputation, built over 25 years of hybrid production [Insert internal link to: /blog/toyota-electric-cars-uk-bz4x-lexus-guide-2026].
Toyota bZ4X Reliability: The 10-Year Battery Warranty
Up to 10-years/100,000-mile manufacturer's warranty on the traction battery as standard
Extendable to 10 years or 1 million miles through Toyota's Battery Care Warranty, provided the car attends a qualifying dealer service each year
Toyota guarantees at least 70% of original battery capacity within that period
How Does The Warranty Compare To Competitors?
Toyota's cover is competitive against rivals.
Nissan's own warranty page confirms the Ariya carries a 3-year/60,000-mile standard warranty, extendable to 6 years/100,000 miles through a new Service Activated Warranty programme launched in July 2026, on top of a separate 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.
Toyota's 10-year battery cover still runs longer than Nissan's extended terms. The cover depends on keeping up with qualifying services, and it protects against capacity dropping below the stated threshold rather than guaranteeing zero degradation.
What Does The Toyota bZ4X Cost On Salary Sacrifice?
This is where the bZ4X's case strengthens for UK company car drivers. As a pure EV, every trim qualifies for the 4% Benefit-in-Kind rate for 2026/27, rising to 5% in 2027/28 and 7% in 2028/29, against up to 37% for an equivalent petrol or diesel model. Through The Electric Car Scheme, the vehicle cost comes from gross salary before tax and National Insurance, narrowing the gap between the bZ4X and its list price.
| Trim | Icon 58kWh (123kW) | Design 73kWh (165kW) | Excel 73kWh (165kW) | Excel 73kWh AWD (252kW) | GT 91kWh AWD Heat Pump (358kW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly salary sacrifice (inc VAT) | £1,084 | £684 | £739 | £684 | £796 |
| Employee income tax saving | -£433 | -£274 | -£296 | -£274 | -£319 |
| Employee NI saving | -£22 | -£14 | -£15 | -£14 | -£16 |
| Average BiK tax over term | £81 | £93 | £99 | £93 | £204 |
| Net monthly cost | £709 | £490 | £528 | £490 | £566 |
Figures shown assume a 40% taxpayer, 36-month term, 10,000 miles a year and a flat payment profile inclusive of insurance and maintenance. Individual costs depend on personal tax position and vehicle specification, and this does not constitute tax advice. Employees can run their own numbers through the quote tool before committing to a specific trim.
Does The Toyota bZ4X Have Reliability Problems?
The bZ4X's early years weren't trouble-free, and pretending otherwise would undermine the reliability case Toyota is trying to make.
Toyota bZ4X Problems: What's Been Reported
A June 2022 recall addressed a wheel hub bolt fault that could allow a wheel to loosen while driving. Only one UK car had been delivered at the time, so the practical impact was minimal, per DrivingElectric
A later software recall affecting the multi-information display and warning lights has been issued across some 2023-2026 model years, resolved via a dealer software update
Owner reports collated by Recharged point mostly to software quirks rather than mechanical faults: infotainment reboots, occasional driver-assistance errors that clear after a restart, and cold-weather range shortfalls on early cars
None of this points to a systemic mechanical issue, and the 2026 update's heat pump and battery pre-conditioning directly target the cold-weather complaint. Buyers considering a used early bZ4X should check recall completion status with a Toyota dealer, since neither recall carries a cost.
How Does The Toyota bZ4X Compare To Rivals?
The bZ4X's closest rivals sit across a fairly wide price band. Tesla's Model Y leads on charging speed and Supercharger access, the Nissan Ariya undercuts on entry price, and the Skoda Enyaq offers the biggest boot of the three.
| Model | Entry price | Max WLTP range | Battery warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota bZ4X | £39,995 | 352 miles | Up to 10yr / 1m miles, 70% capacity |
| Tesla Model Y | From around £41,990 | Up to 383 miles | 8yr / 120,000 miles, 70% capacity |
| Nissan Ariya | From £37,000 | Up to 330 miles | 8yr / 100,000 miles |
| Skoda Enyaq | Under £40,000 | Up to 359 miles | 8yr / 100,000 miles |
On price, the bZ4X sits close to the Enyaq and below the Model Y, though the Ariya undercuts all three. On range, Toyota's 352-mile figure trails the Model Y's longest variant but beats the Ariya and sits close to the Enyaq's top spec. Where the bZ4X pulls clear is warranty length: Toyota's 10-year cover exceeds the 8-year terms offered by every rival here.
How Do You Get A bZ4X Through The Electric Car Scheme?
Getting a bZ4X through salary sacrifice works the same way as any other EV on the scheme. Your employer needs to offer The Electric Car Scheme as a benefit. You choose your trim and battery combination, agree a term and mileage allowance, and the monthly cost is deducted from gross salary before tax and National Insurance are applied. Our salary sacrifice resource hub covers this in full, and insurance, servicing, maintenance and breakdown cover are included as standard.
The Electric Car Scheme was named EV Salary Sacrifice Provider of the Year 2026 by SME News and Best Salary Sacrifice Broker at the Broker News Awards 2026, holds B Corp certification, and is rated Excellent on Trustpilot with a 4.8 TrustScore. To see your own numbers, use the calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is The Toyota bZ4X Not Selling?
Early cars were held back by below-average range and slow charging against newer rivals, plus a wheel hub recall shortly after its UK launch. Toyota also entered the EV market later than most competitors, launching into an already crowded segment. The 2026 update directly targets the complaints that drove the early hesitation.
Is The bZ4X Worth The Money?
It's worth the money if you value Toyota's warranty coverage and reliability reputation over the sharpest spec sheet in the class. On salary sacrifice, the 4% Benefit-in-Kind rate and included maintenance package narrow the running-cost gap against buying or personally leasing the same car. Buyers chasing the fastest charging or longest range should compare it against the Model Y first.
What Are the Common Problems With The bZ4X?
The most notable issue was a 2022 wheel hub bolt recall, alongside a later software recall affecting the multi-information display on some model years. Beyond the recalls, owner reports point mainly to infotainment reboots and driver-assistance glitches rather than mechanical faults, both resolved free through a Toyota dealer.
Why Did The bZ4X Fail?
"Fail" overstates it. The bZ4X sold in lower numbers than Toyota likely hoped, held back by a modest original range, slower charging than key rivals, and a launch-year recall, but it wasn't withdrawn from sale. The 2026 update is Toyota's direct response to the complaints that limited early demand.
Is The 2026 bZ4X Better Than the 2025?
Yes, on the two measures that mattered most. The 2026 car's 352-mile range is a meaningful step up from around 314 miles previously, and 150kW peak charging improves on the outgoing car. The core positioning as a practical, reliability-focused family SUV hasn't changed.
Toyota has addressed the two complaints that held the original car back. A 352-mile range and 150kW charging bring it into line with the segment, and the 10-year battery warranty remains a genuine point of difference against every rival covered here. Whether the bZ4X beats a Model Y, Ariya or Enyaq comes down to how much warranty length and Toyota's track record matter against a longer spec sheet, and that's a personal call rather than an obvious one.
Find out how much it’d cost you to salary sacrifice the bZ4X by visiting our quote tool.
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Last updated: 20.08.26
Our pricing is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme quote tool. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 10,000 miles pa, 36 months, and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover. The Electric Car Scheme’s terms and conditions apply. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions; England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The above prices were calculated using a flat payment profile. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of your salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608), is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender or insurance provider.
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