Toyota’s first ever pure EV, the BZ4X diversified the manufacturer’s previously hybrid-focused approach to greener motoring when it was launched in 2022. Now, it has received some minor updates for the 2024 model year, including changes to the battery heating system, designed to reduce charging times in cold conditions. In addition, automatic flashing rear hazard lights have been added to the mid-range Motion and top-spec Vision equipment grades (Vision cars now also comes with radiant foot heaters). With Business Car having previously sampled the BZ4X in Vision and entry-level Pure forms, here we’re completing the set with the Motion grade.
Performance and drive
The BZ4X is available with a choice of 204hp FWD or 218hp AWD powertrains, and we think the former, tested here, offers a level of acceleration that will be fine for most drivers, while bringing as an added bonus an official range increase of 26 miles compared with AWD. At 312 miles the range offered with our test car is only five miles off the best in the BZ4X range, provided by the FWD Pure.
As for the rest of the driving experience, although you can feel the BZ4X’s SUV height and weight in corners, it actually changes direction fairly responsively, while ride comfort is reasonably good.
Interior tech
The BZ4X’s control set-up, with a low-mounted steering wheel which you look over the top of at the driver display, makes for very good visibility out of the windscreen, and the lower-than-usual dashboard it allows brings a good sense of airiness to the cabin. The driver display itself is also well laid out, with the info it presents to the driver at any given moment well selected. From the Motion grade up the BZ4X also features a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen, which looks impressive and gives a bit of a premium feel, as well as boasting useful shortcut ventilation controls (entry-level cars make do with an 8in screen).
There’s a nice plush feel to a lot of the surfaces around the cabin, with synthetic leather on the armrests, and a sort of bathmat material on the dashboard which is at least interesting, if slightly strange.
Addressing one of our complaints about the entry-level Pure BZ4X, the Motion grade does feature electric driver’s seat adjustment.
Rear seat passengers benefit from their own USB ports and air vents. Legroom back there is ostensibly good, but the footwells are fairly shallow, which we fear might cause comfort issues for adults on long trips. This shallowness also extends to the boot, although this is of a decent size.
In our previous reviews of the BZ4X, we’ve criticised the model for looking pricey compared with alternatives. Prices have since come down, and the model now looks more in line with rivals such as the Skoda Enyaq and Hyundai Ioniq 5 – although those cars still offer a more impressive EV range. At any rate, we would argue that the Motion represents the sweet spot in the BZ4X line-up, taking into consideration battery range, price, and equipment levels.
Positive: Good visibility, sense of interior space, Motion grade addresses Pure spec shortcomings
Negative: Rivals offer more EV range, shallow rear footwells
Standard equipment on Motion: 18in alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, power tailgate, smart entry and start, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, climate control with heat pump, ambient lighting, 12.3in infotainment touchscreen, wireless charger, 7in driver display, reversing camera, parking sensors.
Engines: Electric: 204hp, 218hp
Equipment grades: Pure, Motion, Vision
Transmissions: Single-speed automatic
| Model | Toyota BZ4X Motion FWD 11kW |
| P11D | £45,155 |
| Residual value | 37.6% |
| Depreciation | £27,704 |
| Fuel | £3,743 |
| Service, maintenance and repair | £2,114 |
| Cost per mile | 55.93p |
| Range | 312 miles |
| CO2 (BIK%) | 0g/km (2%) |
| BIK 20/40% a month | £15/£30 |
| Luggage capacity | 452 litres |
| Battery size/power | 71.4kWh/204hp |
| Score | 7/10 |
