Toyota bZ4X Touring AWD 2026 Review

At $69,990, the 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring is positioned somewhere in the middle of the mid-size all-electric SUV pack, and at the very top of Toyota’s bZ4X family tree.

Against its rivals, it boasts a more usable cabin than a $68,900 Tesla Model Y Premium AWD Long Range, but less power and less single-charge range.

Other China-built EVs like the BYD Sealion 7 Premium AWD ($63,990) and Leapmotor C10 Sports+ ($53,888) monster the bZ4X Touring for sheer value for money.

But line it up against the existing $67,990 bZ4X AWD SUV, and the bZ4X Touring represents a significant upgrade for just $2000 more.

Not only do you get the added practically of a long-bum wagon body, but the power output from its dual-motor configuration rises to a stout 280kW versus the non-Touring’s 252kW.

That delivers a remarkable 4.4-second 0-100km/h time, but what family buyers might care more about is the increase in boot capacity the Touring also brings.

Courtesy of a 140mm floorpan stretch behind the rear axle (the Touring’s wheelbase is identical to the regular bZ4X), the addition of a D-pillar and a change in tailgate geometry that eliminates the regular model’s shallowly-sloping rear glass, cargo volume rises by 151 litres to sit at a very useful 603 litres.

Standard equipment is almost identical to that of the standard bZ4X AWD, and includes 20-inch alloys, LED headlamps, a panoramic glass roof, a powered tailgate, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, a 7.0-inch digital instrument panel, a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen with sat-nav, a pair of wireless phone chargers, 360-degree parking camera, adaptive cruise control, four USB-C ports, wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, and Toyota Connect+ telematics.

Roof rails are standard and can take up to an 80kg dynamic load, while towing capacity maxes out at 1500kg on a braked trailer.

Toyota touts the Touring as being “purpose built for long distance touring”, but with its 74.7kWh battery supplying enough energy for 488km on the WLTP cycle, it’s actually got the shortest legs of any bZ4X variant.

If you’re caught short of electrons while away from home, the Touring supports DC fast charging at up to 150kW, allowing a 28-minute 10-80 per cent recharge.

Toyota’s five-year unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty applies, though the standard battery warranty only lasts for five years rather than the eight years that’s the industry norm (though it can be extended to 10 years if you submit to an annual inspection at a Toyota dealer).

For a family wagon, it’s real zippy thanks to that 280kW dual-motor setup, which puts a 167kW/269Nm electric motor on both the front and rear axles, forgoing the weaker 165kW front/187kW rear arrangement of the regular bZ4X AWD.

But the driving experience isn’t just about straight-link stonk. The steering meshes well with the rest of the chassis, and the 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring never really feels overwhelmed by its muscle – though its near-instantaneous thrust is addictive, it’s not a frantic experience like a Tesla Model Y.

Its handling and ride comfort achieve a pleasing balance, and the small-diameter steering wheel even makes it feel a little bit go kart-like when you get an opportunity to weave your way along a mountain road.

But naturally, the typical family car buyer is probably going to be more impressed with how well the bZ4X Touring carries stuff.

Not only are the boot dimensions bigger than its fast-backed sibling’s, but the bZ4X Touring’s boot also takes care of other pragmatic considerations like the provision of shopping bag hooks and rear seat release handles.

You don’t get that stuff in a regular bZ4X. There’s also a 220V/1500W household power outlet in the boot (though for some reason the plug is upside down), and there’s even a smidgin of under-floor storage and space to stow the retractable cargo blind.

Forward of the C-pillar, it’s a virtually-identical experience to the standard bZ4X, with a ginormous 14-inch touchscreen, good long-distance seat comfort up front, decent accommodation in the back, and good cabin storage options thanks to the bridge-style centre console, twin wireless charging pads, and capacious door bins.

The biggest criticisms are also the most obvious – the range is limited, and in more ways than one.

With the same 74.7kWh battery as its less-powerful siblings but pushing more power and torque to each wheel, the 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring’s 488km single-charge range is compromised.

Now, that’s a respectable number for an EV, but with the cheaper bZ4X 2WD giving up little in the way of equipment but able to travel for 591km before needing a charge, long road trips might be the Touring’s Achilles heel – bit ironic given the name…

That could be solved if a lower-powered, two-wheel drive Touring existed, but this is where the car’s range limitation manifests itself in a different form: a 280kW AWD, high-spec variant is the only one available.

Greater diversity in the range structure would surely broaden the bZ4X Touring’s appeal, as well as bring its price down to more accessible levels.

There are some day-to-day shortcomings too. Like a lot of modern cars, the bZ4X Touring makes the mistake of putting too many controls on the touchscreen, which is not only an ergonomic frustration, but with climate control functions needing to occupy a certain percentage of screen real estate, they also effective reduce the usable area of the screen as well.

And some drivers are bound to despise the driving position. With the steering wheel shrunken down to an almost toy-like diameter and the instrument panel positioned so you look over the top of – rather than through – the steering wheel to view it, it’s something of an acquired taste.

The 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring undoubtedly has the right ingredients to get on the shortlist of any EV shopper.

It drives well, boasts a respectable range, has an abundance of power, and a comfy cabin. However, with just one grade available – and an expensive one at that – it’s not going to be cleaving big slices of market share for itself.

The fix, however, seems easy. Replicate the offerings already available in the standard bZ4X, with a range-maximising 2WD variant at a more affordable price point, and a less powerful all-wheel drive variant to sit in the middle. If Toyota can do that, the bZ4X should definitely find a healthy audience.

2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring at a glance:
Price: $69,990 plus on-road costs
Available: Now
Powertrain: Two permanent magnet synchronous motors
Output: 280kW combined, 167kW/269Nm per motor
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear, electronically-controlled multi-mode AWD
Battery: 74.7kWh lithium ion
Range: 488km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 16.8kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2025)

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