I'm excited about the 2026 Toyota bZ and what it means for EVs

Summary

Toyota may finally be getting serious about electric cars with the much-improved 2026 bZ, a follow-up to the beleaguered (and badly-named) bZ4X.
The new bZ offers increased range at higher trims, as well as more horsepower, and compatibility with NACS fast-charging stations like Tesla Superchargers.
If the bZ is a success, it could make Toyota a major player in the EV market at last, although the SUV’s high price point might be a concern.

Toyota, if you weren’t aware, has been pretty lethargic about embracing

electric cars
. While it was the first to popularize hybrids by way of the

Prius
— first launched in 1997 — the company has largely avoided full EVs. Before the

bZ4X
, its first major attempt was an electric RAV4, which premiered in 1996. That was way ahead of its time, and conspicuously killed off by a patent infringement lawsuit from Chevron. The oil and gas industry has often sought to undermine the spread and appeal of electric cars, and sadly, that’s a pretty well-known fact.

Things could be about to change with Toyota’s next EV, the 2026 bZ. The vehicle itself is attractive, but more than that, it could nudge the auto industry closer to the goal of an all-electric market. Its impact will be subtle, I think, assuming anyone notices it at all. It won’t be as splashy as something from Tesla or Rivian, that much I can guarantee.

Will anyone use Tesla’s robotaxis when they come to Austin? Probably not

The company has several serious obstacles in its way, even if the tech is perfect.

What’s the big deal with the Toyota bZ?

Getting Toyota’s act together

Toyota

On a basic level, it represents a better branding of Toyota’s EV efforts. It’s not just about simplifying naming, though for something so short, “bZ4X” is certainly a mouthful. The original 2022 bZ4X was problematic to own — when it reached the US, it was beset by recalls and even buybacks, which wasn’t a recipe for trust in Toyota’s electrification. The company is trying to signal a clean break without completely jettisoning the old platform, much like Marvel’s new Fantastic Four movie.

More importantly, the bZ demonstrates that Toyota is making a genuine effort to fit into the modern EV landscape. While the XLE FWD trim will have as little as 236 miles (380 kilometers) of range, the XLE FWD Plus trim will get 314 miles (505 kilometers), finally making Toyota’s offerings comparable to rivals like the Chevy Equinox EV. The top range for the bZ4X was just 252 miles (406 kilometers) — functional, but a hard sell given the other options out there.

300 miles and up is typically considered the gold standard these days, especially for people wanting to drive cross-country or keep a reasonable charge in freezing weather. Here in Alberta, I can’t imagine trying to drive from Edmonton to Calgary in a bZ4X. In winter, you might not make it one way on a full battery.

The bZ demonstrates that Toyota is making a genuine effort to fit into the modern EV landscape.

Another adaptation is that Toyota is including an NACS (North American Charging Standard) outlet. If you’re not familiar, that format was originally developed by Tesla, but is now universal and poised to gradually replace CCS and CHAdeMO. bZ owners will not only be able to use Tesla Superchargers if they like, among other charging networks, but power up at relatively high speeds — for instance going from 10 to 80% in 30 minutes. That may not hold a candle next to BYD’s five-minute technology, but I’ll take what I can until Western automakers get their act together.

For people who actually intend to take an SUV on rough terrain — or more likely, survive rush hour in a major American city — Toyota is boosting horsepower. Front-wheel-drive models are getting an extra 20hp, while all-wheel-drive models are leaping ahead to 338hp, 50% better than the bZ4X. You’ll be able to hit 60mph in 4.9 seconds, which is nothing to sneeze at. That’s a tenth of a second better than a Subaru WRX.

A pre-production Rivian R3 parked in the mountains.

I hope the Rivian R3 will be the vehicle to topple Tesla

Tesla won’t shrink and vanish in a day, naturally.

How is the bZ going to change the industry, though?

A deft touch

Toyota

Toyota is, needless to say, an absolutely gigantic automaker. In fact, it was the world’s biggest in 2024, at least measured by the number of vehicles it sold, beating the second-place Volkswagen Group with over 10 million units. You’ll find Toyotas in places where other automakers are rare, like Chad and Nigeria.

Because of the company’s might, a lot of people have probably glanced at the bZ4X but turned away, whether because of technical problems, comparative specs, or just its name. The 2026 bZ has the potential to become a hit (in wealthy countries), particularly if Toyota’s other polishing efforts pay off. I haven’t even mentioned upgrades like a modernized interior, and new battery safety and preconditioning tech. Preconditioning is a big deal for anyone used to seeing snow out the window in December.

Even if price does prove a hurdle, Toyota is at least finally heading in the right direction.

Assuming the bZ is reasonably successful — along with the all-electric version of the 2026 C-HR — Toyota could finally become a major player in EVs. That might not only convert more car owners away from gas, but intensify competition in the EV space, which is sorely needed. While EV technology is improving every year, the balance between price and range is still an uncomfortable space for a lot of shoppers.

Consider the

Nissan Leaf
— while you can get the 2025 base trim for less than $30,000, the tradeoff is a measly 149 miles (240 kilometers) of range, which isn’t even enough to make it from Austin to San Antonio and back on a single plug-in. The

2026 model
is going to fix this, thankfully.

Cost is actually my primary concern with the bZ. When it ships in the second half of 2025, its price is expected to range between $37,000 and $42,000, depending on the trim you choose. That’ll make it competitive with vehicles like the Tesla Model Y, yet that’s still a lot to ask from the average American. You can get Chevy’s Equinox EV for as little as $33,600. And, of course, you’ll have to upgrade your bZ to the XLE FWD Plus trim to get that 314-mile range. On the gas side, Toyota itself sells the Corolla Cross for less than $25,000, never mind any used vehicles you might find.

Even if price does prove a hurdle, however, Toyota is at least finally heading in the right direction. I wouldn’t be surprised to see full electric versions of better-known models in the near future, like the Tacoma and Corolla. Maybe we’ll even see another RAV4 EV in a few years, assuming the company isn’t gun shy from its run-in with Chevron.