Watch: the best van you can buy today... based on extreme testing
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We test the UK's best-selling vans and put them to the test. A difficult test...
21 minutes 46 seconds
The UK is built by the van, but which is best? To find out, we took three of the best-selling, medium-sized ones and set them a series of vaguely relevant challenges to find out…
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The 2026 Toyota bZ (formally the BZ4X) has been improved in many ways; but is Toyota finally ready for primetime with their update? A worthy successor? Toyota's first attempt at an all-electric mass-market vehicle, the BZ4X, was almost a disaster. Technical problems plagued early examples, and the overall performance was disappointing. Many in the media complained about its polarizing design, unusual interior instrumentation layout, and odd ergonomics. For Toyota, this was an uncharacteristically poor beginning for its electrified ambitions. In time, some improvements were made, but the BZ4X wasn't the car many expected Toyota to make. Fortunately, Toyota listened to its critics and made a lot of changes, including the name. The question is: Does the 2026 Toyota bZ make up for the lackluster BZ4X? 2026 Toyota bZ Reason to love it #1: Improved batteries and better range Two batteries were used in the previous BZ4X: a 63.4 kWh battery for the single-motor model and a 65.5 kWh battery for the dual-motor model. Single motor BZ4Xs had an estimated range of 252 miles, while the dual motor dropped to 222 miles. In almost all testing, including my own, getting anywhere near that mileage was doubtful. The new batteries on the 2026 Toyota bZ start with a 57.7 kWh battery for the base model or a 74.4 kWh battery. Both feature new technology, and the larger battery is rated for up to 314 miles of range in the XLE FWD Plus and the XLE FWD. The range for the Limited FWD is 299 miles, while the XLE AWD is listed at 288 miles. The Limited AWD comes in at 278 miles, and the off-road-ish bZ Woodland (AWD only) sits at 260 miles. The base model XLE FWD, equipped with a 57.7 kWh battery, achieves a range of 236 miles. Reason to love it #2: More power and better (promised) driving dynamics I didn't mind the base-level performance of the old BZ4X, but it wasn't what I would call 'exhilarating.' Toyota promises better performance, and that starts with new powertrains. The base FWD Toyota bZ makes 221 horsepower from a single electric motor. With a bigger battery and AWD, the bZ makes 338 horsepower combined, and at the top of the heap, the bZ Woodland, which only comes with AWD, makes 375 hp. All numbers are significantly higher than those of the previous model. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Reason to love it #3: Charging improvements in more ways than one Toyota is moving from CCS to NACS (Tesla fast charging), which will help expand the charging options for new owners. There is also an 11 kW on-board AC charger this time around, which is an improvement as well. A 1,500-watt outlet is available, which should be a welcome addition for those who wish to power something beefier than a laptop. Inside, there is a standard dual-wireless charging pad, only adding to the things you can charge with the new bZ. Lastly, the charge port has been relocated to a more convenient spot on the passenger-side front fender. Reason to love it #4: Exterior and interior improvements Once again, I was fine with some of the design decisions Toyota made with the older BZ4X, but many complained about the black cladding, as it resembled a vehicle that had been in an accident. Toyota updated the exterior, rearranging the lights (similar to the Prius and Camry now) and making the formerly black trim all body-color. Toyota also simplified the interior layout with a slightly more usable instrumentation screen ahead of the driver. Reason to think twice #1: Screen setup may not be for everyone All 2026 Toyota bZs will have a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the touchscreen has grown, the 7.0-inch cluster seems a bit small. That's especially true for those who may be concerned about its placement, which is far ahead of the steering column, about three feet in front of the driver. Time will tell if this works out for some consumers. Reason to think twice #2: Catches up to, but may not surpass, the competition The E-TNG platform on which all 2026 Toyota bZ EVs are based is a solid start, and so is the new tech. 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