2026 Toyota bZ4x Loses Dumb Name, Gains A Whole Lot Of Range

• The Toyota bZ4x finally gets some much-needed upgrades for 2026. That starts with a newer and simpler name: bZ.
• The 2026 Toyota bZ will come with a larger battery, more driving range and more powerful motors.
• It also gets a heat pump, battery preconditioning, route planning and a factory-fitted NACS charging port. 

If you were yearning for an improved Toyota bZ4x, the automaker has just answered your prayers. After showcasing the upgraded electric crossover in Europe early this year, Toyota has confirmed that those changes are also headed to the U.S.

Toyota is starting by dumping the alphanumeric name for a new and simple moniker: bZ. The bZ is now a bonafide road-tripper with 25% more range than the bZ4x, more power, sharper styling and several meaningful feature additions that should make it genuinely competitive in the hot electric crossover market.

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Source: Toyota

The outgoing model wasn’t terrible, but ask any New York City cab driver who ended up driving a bZ4x (because they just know and trust the brand) what they think about the car, and the response is typically the same: they want improved range and charging. The bZ4x left a lot to be desired, with only 252 miles of maximum range, no route-planning and slow charging speeds.

But Toyota has finally listened to its customers. The 2026 bZ no longer is no longer just a ride-hailing car, but also a compelling option some EV buyers may choose to own over its rivals.

Toyota is now offering two new battery options. The entry-level front-wheel-drive bZ can be had with a smaller 57.7 kilowatt-hour battery pack good for 236 miles of Toyota-estimated range. All other trims get the larger 74.7 kWh pack, with a maximum range of 314 miles on the XLE FWD Plus.

It also gets the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) port right from the factory. That means owners can access thousands of Tesla Superchargers across the country without an adapter. The charging port has been moved from front left to front right, so owners will no longer have to worry about occupying two spots at Superchargers. Maximum fast charging speed is still the same at 150 kilowatts, but it seems like it may have a better charging curve, which should help it charge from 10-80% in 30 minutes.

The bZ now also supports plug and charge, meaning once owners do the initial payment set-up while registering their account, they won’t have to fiddle with credit cards or payment systems for every charging session. They can just plug in and walk away—the system will handle the rest. Although Toyota didn’t mention if plug and charge is coming to specific charging networks or all major ones.

Another welcome addition is the option of automatic or manual battery preconditioning, which brings the battery to an optimal temperature before charging. This helps save time and improves charging speeds, and was one of many EV-specific features the bZ4x lacked. New owners will also appreciate the heat pump, which improves the vehicle’s charging speeds and overall thermal efficiency in colder temperatures.

That said, the bZ should also be enjoyable from behind the wheel. Thanks to silicon carbide semiconductors, the electric motors produce more than 100 extra horsepower compared to the bZ4x. The AWD trim’s 214 horsepower is now bumped up to 338 hp. This 50% bump in power will result in a 0-60 miles per hour time of just 4.9 seconds, which is delightful for what’s just a regular electric crossover for the masses. The FWD versions are also more sprightly, going from 201 hp to 221 hp.

On the design front, the bZ4x gets subtle changes, but they make the EV look sleeker, smarter and more cohesive. The full-width front LED DRL is now separate from the actual headlamps which are just below and they’re both more neatly integrated into the fascia.

Photo by: Toyota

Inside, the changes are more noticeable, with a redesigned dashboard and center console. There's also a larger 14-inch infotainment screen, an upgrade over the 12.3-inch screen before. There are now two wireless charging pads on the center console. And the dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch materials, making it look more premium than before, at least in pictures.

The 2026 bZ will begin arriving at Toyota dealerships in the U.S. in the second half of the year. Pricing will be announced at a later date. We'll be reviewing the EV soon, so stay tuned for that.

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