Toyota bZ4X Touring review

You may have landed on this review without realising the Toyota bZ4X Touring is a pretty rare type of car nowadays. You see, there aren’t many electric estate cars around and there certainly aren’t any that look as rugged as this one.

If it reminds you of the days of Audi giving its A4 and A6 estate cars the jacked-up ‘Allroad’ treatment, or the Cross Country versions of the Volvo V60 and V90, you’re not far off. Is Toyota about to revive this combination?

Well, it uses the same underpinnings as the ‘regular’ Toyota bZ4X, but there’s an extra 140mm added onto the back to create an estate bodystyle. That means it’s got a bigger boot with a taller roofline above it. Meanwhile, a slightly raised ride height, chunky roof rails and a bit more extra body cladding for the rear bumper means it’s a bit more rough and ready to deal with the school run.

Oh, and if you’re looking at the bZ4X Touring from the side and think it reminds you of a Subaru, your eyes are not deceiving you. This is a joint venture with that brand and a Subaru e-Outback version is on the way.

So, what electric estates does the bZ4X Touring compete against? Well, at this price, there’s the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, while the VW ID 7 Tourer costs slightly more. 

What’s new?

- July 2026: Deliveries for Toyota bZ4X Touring start in the UK

How fast is it and which motor is best?

There are two versions of the bZ4X to choose from and how powerful it is depends on whether you want front or four-wheel drive. 

With 221bhp, the entry-level front-wheel-drive version is powerful enough for most.  It has a respectable 0-62mph time of 7.3sec – about the same as the Mercedes CLA 200 Shooting Brake (7.6sec), but slightly slower than the entry-level VW ID 7 Tourer Pro (6.6sec). It may not pin you back into your seat when setting off from stationary, but it still builds up speed swiftly enough once you’re on the move.

The four-wheel drive version (badged AWD) produces 376bhp with the help of an additional electric motor on the rear axle. It feels far more lively and cuts the 0-62mph time to 4.5secs, beating the quicker and much more expensive Mercedes CLA 350 4matic Shooting Brake (5.0sec) and the ID 7 Tourer in GTX form (5.5sec).

The AWD model benefits from an X-Mode terrain control system, which allows it to meter its power delivery to maximise traction at low speeds on challenging surfaces, such as snow or mud. The closely-related Subaru e-Outback (due to arrive later) will also benefit from this. 

We’ve yet to fully challenge the bZ4X Touring on an off-road course, but the four-wheel drive system had no problem delivering its power on a loose gravel surface on our test route. The front-wheel drive version coped well provided you’re gentle with the accelerator pedal; if driving spiritedly, the traction control cuts power abruptly. 

The Touring’s raised suspension results in slightly better ground clearance than the regular Toyota bZ4X (at 212mm for Design trim, versus 177mm for the regular model). That said, the wading depth of 500mm remains the same, and because of the longer rear boot, the Touring has a more compromised departure angle of 21.2 degrees against 25.6 for the regular hatch.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

You’d be right in thinking the bZ4X Touring isn’t quite as agile as its lower-riding estate rivals, but don’t dismiss it thinking it’s cumbersome to drive. True, its slightly raised ride height does result in a bit more body lean when cornering, but it’s still well controlled and avoids swaying violently.

Similarly, the steering doesn’t have the sharpest response and it could do with additional weight building up at higher speeds to inspire more confidence, but the nose of the car turns into corners accurately. 

So yes, the Touring is best enjoyed at a more moderate pace, but it suits the car’s more laidback setup. The suspension is supple enough to isolate occupants from the harshest of potholes and there’s plenty of travel to soak up larger bumps. The biggest compromise is found on the AWD version, which is only available in Excel trim and comes equipped with larger 20in wheels (rather than 18in items on Design). This results in a firmer ride and a mild level of fidgeting at low speeds. 

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

Wind noise is low (helped by laminated front windows) and there’s barely any noise from the suspension or tyres when dealing with potholes. Generally speaking, the bZ4X Touring is a comfortable car to cruise in on the motorway, it’s just that a relatively moderate level of road noise means it’s not quite as hushed as the VW ID 7 Tourer. 

Slowing down smoothly can be a little tricky. Most of the time, the brake pedal feels positive and naturally weighted, making it easy to judge your inputs. However, there are times, such as when creeping in traffic or stopping at high speed, when the pedal initially feels light before the brakes start to bite, resulting in a slightly grabby response. 

Usefully, there is regenerative braking that can recoup some electric energy while slowing the car down. It activates smoothly and you can choose from three levels of strength by pulling paddles on the back of the steering wheel. Alternatively, there’s an Automatic mode that applies the braking force to maintain a distance from the vehicle in front. 

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

The bZ4X Touring is powered by a 71kWh (usable capacity) battery that’s good for an official range of up to 366 miles for the front-wheel drive model, and 297 miles for the four-wheel drive version. The front wheel drive model beats the Mercedes CLA 200 Shooting Brake (around 320 miles) and is a match for the entry-level VW ID 7 Pro (360 miles).

However, both rivals are available with long-range versions that can cover more than 400 miles. Unlike the regular Toyota bZ4X, there isn’t a smaller battery option that keeps buying costs down, and while the Touring’s battery is slightly bigger than the bZ4X’s 69kWh one, we wouldn’t expect it to have a hugely noticeable difference in real-world range.

The bZ4X’s maximum charging speed of 150kW equates to a 10-80% charge time of around half an hour, which is about the same as the VW ID 7 Tourer. The Mercedes CLA 200 is more impressive, taking around 20 minutes for the same top-up with a maximum charging rate of 200kW. 

Excel trim comes with a 22kW charger (rather than an 11kW one) for faster AC charging, but it’s irrelevant for home chargers in the UK, since they’re capped at 7kW.

All versions come with a pre-conditioning system for the battery to help it achieve its maximum charging rate, while an EV heat pump is standard to warm up the interior more efficiently in colder conditions.

"The AWD version of the bZ4X Touring is quite good fun on a loose gravel surface. You can sense it has a rear-biased power delivery that gives this rather sensible-looking family car a more playful side when powering out of corners" – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

The Toyota bZ4X Touring’s interior is the same as what you get in the regular hatchback version. It has a simple layout and there’s a good range of materials used inside. Design trim gets part-faux leather upholstery, while Excel gets full leather seats.

It doesn’t have the colourful ambient lighting or visual wow factor of the Mercedes CLA, but there are more upmarket materials on show, including soft-touch plastic on the insides of the doors, fabric inserts on the dashboard and robust feeling trim finishers on top of the dash. 

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

Even with the driver’s seat set to its lowest position, you sit high up in the bZ4X Touring. Not only does this give you a good view ahead over the bonnet, but also makes you feel like you're driving a proper SUV. Most rivals for the bZ4X Touring are executive cars with a more low slung seating position, including the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake and VW ID 7 Tourer.  

Apart from the chunky front pillars that can partially obscure your view out at junctions, visibility is good all round. It’s easy to see out the large side windows, and the tall rear windscreen helps when looking out behind you.

All versions get a rear-view camera as standard to help out with parking, as well as front and rear parking sensors.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

With a 7.0in digital instrument display mounted nice and high up, you don’t have to glance your eyes far away from the road to read it. The screen is also taller and shows more information than the VW ID 7’s slimmer display, although it’s not as impressive as the Mercedes CLA’s colourful 10.25in unit. 

While we’re on the topic of screens, the 14.0in infotainment touchscreen is placed within close reach and has sharp graphics, but suffers from the same fundamental issues as the regular Toyota bZ4X. It can be slightly sluggish to respond to your inputs and the awkward menu layout means it can be difficult to find certain functions. 

More positively, adjusting the climate control temperature is easy thanks to a pair of physical rotary dials, while there are big shortcut icons permanently displayed at the bottom of the screen for other settings, including for the heated seats. 

There’s wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring so you can use your preferred sat-nav and music apps on your device instead.

"The Toyota bZ4X Touring doesn’t get the latest software you’d find in the RAV4 for its infotainment system. It’s a shame because this version is still a bit clunky to use" – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

How much space does it have for people?

The Toyota bZ4X Touring is effectively the same size as the regular bZ4X but with a longer boot, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s similarly spacious inside for occupants. There’s plenty of leg and shoulder room for a pair of six footers, with a generous amount of clearance above their heads. Even the panoramic sunroof fitted in Excel trim doesn’t eat into head room by much.

There's plenty of storage space on the two-tier centre console, including a large cubby under the centre armrest, two wireless phone chargers ahead the gear selector and an open storage tray on the lower section underneath. The door bins are capable of holding a 500ml drinks bottle in each, but, like in the regular bZ4X, the Touring doesn't have a glovebox. 

There’s plenty of clearance above a six footer’s head for anyone sitting in the back seats, while the bZ4X Touring’s long wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) matches the regular car and provides loads of knee room for rear occupants to stretch out their legs. The floor is slightly raised and there isn’t much space to tuck your feet under the front seats, but it likely won’t be a problem over a long journey.

It shouldn’t prove to be uncomfortable for a middle passenger, either. The floor isn’t completely flat, but the step in the centre is low so it’s not something you have to awkwardly straddle your legs either side of. 

How much room does it have for luggage?

With the rear seats in place, the bZ4X Touring’s 669-litre boot capacity is significantly larger than the regular bZ4X’s 452-litre one. That beats all other electric estates on sale, including the VW ID 7 (605-litres) and 455 litres for the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake. It’s also bigger than the significantly more expensive Audi A6 Avant e-tron (502 litres) and BMW i5 Touring (507 litres). We managed to fit in eight carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf of the regular bZ4X, so we have no doubt the Touring is equally capable of swallowing the same amount as a minimum.

A powered tailgate is standard on all versions and it opens up to a long load area. It’s not quite as uniform in shape as the VW ID 7’s (there’s some intrusion from the wheel arches at each side), but there's still plenty of room for a family holiday’s worth of luggage and plenty of height up to the tonneau cover. 

You get a height adjustable floor as standard and while the difference in height isn’t huge, there’s enough space to create a storage area for the charging cables underneath when the floor is positioned at its highest setting. It goes some way to make up for the absence of a storage area under the bonnet, which you do get in the A6 Avant e-tron.

You can adjust the angle of the bZ4X’s Touring’s seatbacks – a handy feature that frees up some luggage space behind, but if you need to lug around a bigger load, you can fold down the 60/40 split rear backrests. You can do this remotely by pulling a lever in the boot and they sit flush with the boot floor (when it’s set to its highest position). That said, they’re less versatile than the 40/20/40 format you get in a Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, Audi A6 Avant e-tron or BMW i5 Touring and even the smaller Peugeot e-308 SW. You also don’t get a centre ski hatch, like you do in the ID 7.

"There’s plenty of storage space inside, but I still find it a bit odd that you don’t get a glovebox to stow items away in" – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

As a cash purchase, the Toyota bZ4X Touring doesn’t cost a lot more to buy over an equivalent version of the regular Toyota bZ4X (think hundreds of pounds, rather than thousands). It’s just worth noting the Touring’s range starts with mid-level Design trim, so the entry point is higher; the regular bZ4X is available with a more affordable Icon trim.

There are more affordable electric estate cars available, but they are also smaller, including the Peugeot e-308 SW and Vauxhall Astra Electric Estate. The Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake is the closest rival in terms of price and size, offering a long range 250+ version if a 460+ mile range is more important to you than outright boot capacity. Meanwhile, in top-level Excel trim, the bZ4X Touring undercuts the cheapest VW ID 7 Tourer.

For private buyers, we’ll have to see how quickly the bZ4X Touring loses its value, which can also have an effect on the car’s monthly PCP finance costs.

As an electric car the bZ4X Touring attracts a very low BIK tax rate, so it's cheaper to run as a company car than a petrol or hybrid estate. 

As mentioned above, the bZ4X Touring is limited to higher-spec Design and Excel trims. Design comes with 18in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, ambient lighting and rear privacy glass. It’s worth noting this is limited to the front-wheel drive version.

Stepping up to top-spec Excel adds all-wheel drive and also comes with 20in alloy wheels, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, front leg heaters.

Apart from the JBL stereo upgrade on Excel trim there isn’t much in the way of optional extras. 

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

We’ll have to wait a while before the bZ4X Touring will feature in the What Car? Reliability Survey, but Toyota finished in an excellent fourth place out of 30 brands in the latest round of results. Plus, you can extend the warranty up to 10 years if you service your car at an official centre.

You also get an extended care programme that guarantees the battery will operate to 70% of its original capacity until up to 10 years of ownership, subject to the owner taking their car to an authorised dealer for an annual EV health check.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

The bZ4X Touring has not yet been crash tested by safety experts, Euro NCAP. We’ll have to see if it performs similarly to the regular car, which managed to achieve the full five star rating when it was retested in 2025.

All versions come with plenty of safety tech, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, speed-limit sign recognition, driver attention monitor and blind-spot monitoring. An alarm and immobiliser are also fitted as standard.

"I think the Touring’s list price being so close to the regular bz4X makes it a very tempting choice." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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