2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring AWD Review

Toyota’s only all-electric vehicle gains new-found utility, and it’s all the better for it. There’s just one problem.

By carsales.com.au

Remember the Brad Pitt blockbuster called Benjamin Button about the old man that ages in reverse?

Well, the Toyota bZ4X is the automotive equivalent. The Japanese car maker has added a Touring version to the model line-up of its only dedicated electric vehicle which – surprisingly for a station wagon - makes it feel less fuddy-duddy and appeals to a younger audience.

With the arrival of the bZ4X Touring, the nameplate has grown from a single body style to a family of them, and its new wagon-shaped silhouette suits it very well indeed.

Is this the all-electric RAV4 equivalent you’ve been waiting for? Our first spin seems to suggest Toyota’s new upscaled electric SUV is its best yet.

How much does the Toyota bZ4X Touring cost?

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 driving 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 Touring represents a significant upgrade for just $2000 more.

Not only do you get the added practicality of a long-bum wagon body, but also more power.

What standard equipment does the Toyota bZ4X Touring feature?

Standard equipment is almost identical to that of the standard bZ4X AWD, and includes:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights and taillights
• Panoramic sunroof
• Power operated tailgate
• Keyless entry and push button start
• Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
• Power adjustable driver’s seats
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated rear outboard seats
• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 14.0-inch infotainment display
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Embedded sat nav
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Nine-speaker JBL audio system
• Twin wireless phone chargers
• Over-the-air software updates
• 12-months Toyota Connect+ services

What safety features does the Toyota bZ4X Touring have?

Similarly, the Touring version offers the same comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids and semi-autonomous crash avoidance functions, including:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Forward collision alert
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane keeping assistance
• Traffic sign recognition
• Blind spot detection
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Driver attention monitoring
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360-degree parking display

What is the Toyota bZ4X Touring like inside?

Naturally, the biggest difference between the regular bZ4X and the Touring happens behind the rear seats.

Not only are the boot dimensions bigger than its fast-backed sibling, 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 smidge 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.

There are some day-to-day shortcomings. 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 effectively 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.

What is under the bonnet of the Toyota bZ4X Touring?

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.

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 10-80 per cent recharge in less than half-an-hour.

What is the Toyota bZ4X Touring like to drive?

But the driving experience isn’t just about straight-line 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.

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.

How much does the Toyota bZ4X Touring cost to maintain?

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).

Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) and costs just $190 per year for the first five years.

Should I lease a Toyota bZ4X Touring?

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:

Editor’s Rating: 7.7/10

^{Disclaimer: Images supplied by carsales}