2026 Toyota bZ Gets Key Upgrades Beyond Simpler Name
The Toyota bZ4X is no more. With the 2026 model on the way, the company has renamed its electric crossover for the North American market. From now on, it’ll simply be known as… bZ.
Initially announced in March, the mid-cycle update is similar but also different from the 2026 Subaru Solterra’s. Toyota Canada today released the juicy details we were waiting for ahead of customer deliveries in the second half of 2025.
- Also: Toyota bZ4X to Get Much-Needed Power, Range Boost
- Also: Top 10 Most Affordable Electric Vehicles in 2025
Subtly Refreshed Inside and Out
The exterior design has evolved, with new headlamps matching those of recent Toyota products, revisions on each side of the front bumper and newly available body-coloured trim on the wheel arches. Amen to that. Toyota has also incorporated an NACS connector giving direct access to Tesla’s Superchargers.
Inside, the redesigned centre console offers two wireless phone chargers, while the touchscreen interface is detached from it, emphasizing the new, slimmed down dashboard. Screen size is increased from 12.3 to 14 inches, similar to Lexus displays. Also noteworthy is the 64-colour, customizable ambient lighting throughout the cabin.
The steering wheel is still round, unlike the Solterra’s, which means the digital instrument panel at the base of the windshield will remain partially obstructed depending on one’s driving position. Bummer. At least it gets paddle shifters to activate and adjust regenerative braking on demand.
Longer Range, More or Less Power
In Canada, the 2026 Toyota bZ will be available in three trim levels and with two new batteries providing longer range than the 71.4kWh and 72.8kWh packs of the outgoing 2025 bZ4X (367-406 km):
- XLE: 57.7 kWh, 378 km
- XLE AWD: 77 kWh, 460 km
- Limited AWD: 77 kWh, 430 km
Keep in mind that these range figures are manufacturer's estimates. Official Natural Resources Canada ratings will be announced at a later date.
Although maximum DC fast-charging capacity is unchanged at 150 kW (the bZ can charge from 10-80 percent in about 30 minutes under ideal conditions), a new battery preconditioning system is expected to speed up charging sessions in cold weather. What's more, thanks to a new 11kW on-board AC charger (replacing the 7kW unit), Level 2 charging will be faster, too.
Last but not least, the single-motor XLE FWD model sees output drop from 201 hp to 168 hp, which is hardly good news. On the other hand, the dual-motor, AWD-equipped models get a huge boost, going from 215 hp to 338 hp and improving their 0-100 km/h acceleration time from 6.9 to 5.1 seconds. They can even tow up to 3,500 lbs. Now we're talking!
Pricing for the 2026 Toyota bZ will be announced closer to its on-sale date later this year. Remember, the 2025 bZ4X carries a base MSRP of $46,515.
