- The 2026 Toyota bZ (formerly bZ4X) gets a mid-cycle refresh that brings styling changes and powertrain improvements.
- The bZ now makes up to 338 horsepower (a 124-hp increase), and its estimated range now peaks at 314 miles (up from an EPA-estimated 252 miles).
- Toyota’s electric compact SUV now features a NACS charging port, and its interior has a revised dashboard and reconfigured center console.
What was once known as the Toyota bZ4X will now be known as simply the Toyota bZ. We think that name change is a good move, and it’s one of several notable changes that Toyota makes to its electric compact SUV for the 2026 model year.bZ Ch-Ch-Ch-ChangesIf you’re feeling like this story is giving you déjà vu, that’s likely because earlier this year, we already detailed the changes to the Europe-spec bZ4X. While that provided a preview for most of the major updates that are included in the mid-cycle refresh, the SUV’s U.S. debut has a few surprises in store—namely, the bZ’s new name, but also the introduction of an NACS charging port, which allows the Toyota to replenish its battery at Tesla’s vast Supercharger network. Toyota’s EV SUV is also now available with fender sections that match its body color. The bZ’s face has been nipped and tucked to introduce new daytime running lights that are now connected by an illuminated bar.For 2026, the Toyota bZ also gets a new pair of batteries that offer greater differentiation. The standard pack now has an estimated 52-kWh capacity, while the larger battery has an estimated 67 kWh. The smaller pack is exclusive to the front-wheel-drive XLE trim, which makes 168 horsepower and will be the least expensive model; Toyota estimates a driving range of 236 miles. Every other 2026 Toyota bZ has the bigger battery, with the XLE FWD Plus model making 221 hp and boosting the range estimate to a lineup-leading 314 miles. That’s 62 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X’s EPA range estimate (252 miles). The FWD Limited has larger 20-inch wheels, helping drop its estimated range to 299 miles. Those who opt for the dual-motor all-wheel-drive bZ will see power peak at 338 horsepower—a substantial 124 more than its predecessor. The mightiest models can hit 60 mph in an estimated 4.9 seconds, but their estimated ranges are capped at 278 miles (Limited AWD) and 288 miles (XLE AWD).The outgoing bZ4X had a 7.6-kW onboard charger, but its successor adopts a standard 11-kW charger, which means a Level 2 connection will now replenish the battery’s state of charge faster than before. Hooked up to a DC fast-charger, the bZ’s peak charging speed is still capped at 150 kW. Toyota claims this will allow the battery to go from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes.Inside, the bZ’s updated interior is a little less funky. The dashboard itself has a simpler design, with remapped HVAC vents and a new center stack. The latter brings a larger 14.0-inch touchscreen (up from 12.3 inches), and the physical controls now include knobs. Bonus points: Toyota ditched the weird plastic framing around the digital gauge cluster. The center console has also been reconfigured to incorporate dual wireless charging pads. The rotary gear selector and surrounding buttons have also been relocated. Toyota hasn’t yet released pricing for the 2026 bZ, which is slated to reach dealerships sometime in the second half of this year. We expect the base model to start at around $39K, and the fancier Limited should start at around $44K.Related StoriesEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
Source: caranddriver.com
