Battery size: 74.7 kWh
Range: 297 - 366 miles
Max charge rate: 150 kW
E-Rating: A
Introduction and model history
Toyota's first pure electric car, the password-like-named bZ4X, didn't exactly set the EV world on fire when it arrived in 2022. Nice to drive – yes, well put together – yes, but efficient? No.
An update in late 2025 saw Toyota's Renault Scenic E-Tech rival gain a new dashboard, improved tech, and, thankfully new batteries and better efficiency. Trouble is, in the time it took Toyota to carry out these vital updates, the family electric SUV class has exploded with more interesting alternatives.
Toyota is looking to remedy this and wants to put the bZ4X back on customers' shortlist – and it's doing this by creating an electric estate car. No, that's not a typo – the bZ4X Touring is a more practical, rugged wagon version of the normal bZ4X, and its arrival might well be the first example of an SUV being turned into an estate car.
The Touring is 140mm longer and 20mm taller than the standard car, and comes as standard with roof rails. The rear end is boxier, there are some unpainted plastic panels to hint at its rugged character, and there's even a larger battery compared with the normal bZ4X.
Range, battery and charging
You might think that the bZ4X would come with the same new 54kWh and 69kWh (usable) batteries as the standard car, but no. Puzzlingly, Toyota has fitted a larger 74.7kWh (gross, no usable figure has been given) battery, but it still has the distinctly average 150kW maximum DC charging speed. Top spec cars get 22kW AC charging, while the entry-level car gets 11kW.
The battery is mated to either a front-wheel-drive or a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system, giving up to 366 miles WLTP range in the former and 297 miles in the latter. That's a little more than the standard car, which, in its most efficient form, can manage a claimed 352 miles. As for how efficient the Touring is, well, you'll have to wait until we drive it.
But expectations are high as the updated 2025/6 bZ4X was far more efficient compared to the original version when we drove it, thanks to its larger batteries and new eAxles that sap less juice. For comparison, when I drove the updated standard car on a chilly winter's day, I averaged 3.7 miles/kWh compared to the 4.0 that Toyota claims.
A heat pump comes as standard in the Touring but there's no vehicle to load (V2L), which I think is a shame when you remember that Toyota is aiming the Touring at families with active lifestyles.
Practicality and boot space
Of course, the Touring's main party trick over the standard car is its increased practicality. Boot space has swelled by 148 litres to an enormous 669 litres – that's bigger than a Skoda Enyaq's boot, along with a whole host of other family-sized electric SUVs. Toyota hasn't given a figure for how much space is on offer once the 60:40 split/fold rear seats are lowered, but it's enormous.
The rear seats also fold down almost completely flat, giving a very large and practical loading area. There's some underfloor storage, plus the tonneau cover can be stored here too, and there are various hooks and a three-pin socket.
The Touring carries over the standard car's enormous legroom that allows tall adults to get very comfortable. The back seats also recline slightly, and occupants can push their feet under the seats for greater comfort. There is space to carry a middle passenger, but the rather flat seat between the two outer seats means it's probably better suited for occasional use.
All Tourings get roof rails as standard, which can carry weights of up to 80kg when the car is on the move, or up to 300kg when stationary – that's ideal for pop-up tents. Meanwhile, the Touring can also tow up to 1,500kg braked, so smaller, lightweight caravans or trailers can be towed with ease.
Interior, design/styling and technology
The Touring carries over the same updated-for-2026 front design changes, with new 'Hammerhead' day-running lights and headlights placed lower down in the bumper.
While the standard car has swapped its unpainted wheel arch trim for body coloured ones, the Touring keeps the unpainted trims in a nod to its more rugged character. There are similarly unpainted side sill extensions, but it's at the rear where the design differs most from the standard car. It has a completely different rear-end – squarer in shape, and there's a different light design.
In side profile, with its elongated roofline and squared-off tailgate, there's no denying the Touring has a more estate car-like appearance. It kind of reminds me of an old Volvo XC70 or a Subaru Outback – the latter is pertinent, actually, as there will be a Subaru version of this car called the E-Outback.
The interior is carried over from the new-for-2026 bZ4X, so there's a new dashboard compared to the original 2022 car. There's a revised digital driver's display, a more horizontal design to the dashboard, and a new 'floating' console that features dual wireless charging pads. The tech has also been upgraded with a large new touchscreen with knobs for the climate control, new EV-specific info in the satnav such as public chargers and battery pre-conditioning.
The Touring does get one change from the standard car, however, and that's upholstery. The car was revealed with a smart looking brown interior option, and it's expected UK cars will feature this.
Motors, performance and handling
While there's only one battery on offer, there's a choice of front- and all-wheel drive. Go for the front-driven option and you'll get a 224hp motor, while the all-wheel drive gets twin motors to give a total of 380hp, making the all-wheel-drive model the most powerful EV Toyota has ever made. No performance figures have been revealed yet, but I would expect the all-wheel-drive model to get to 62mph in around five seconds.
The AWD model also gets Toyota's 'XMODE' drive control technology and Grip Control for better off-road performance, and, judging by how this system works in the standard car, it means the Touring will be surprisingly adept at tackling slippery terrain compared to most other family SUVs.
As Toyota hasn't allowed me to drive the Touring yet, I can't comment on how it drives. But it's likely to ride and handle in a similar fashion to the standard car, so that means a surprisingly engaging driving experience, with sharp steering and a well-judged power delivery.
Running costs and pricing
Toyota is still around a month away from releasing full pricing information for the Touring, but we've been told that we can expect prices to kick off at just under £50,000 for the entry-level Design. This trim only comes with the front-wheel drive, 224hp motor option, and is expected to get the 14-inch touchscreen with in-built satnav, wireless Apple CarPlay, ambient lighting, 18-inch alloys and a whole host of safety equipment.
The Excel trim gets the all-wheel drive set-up, plus it should add some extra luxuries like 20-inch wheels, heated, ventilated and power adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, a digital rearview mirror. Prices for this should be around £52,000.
The Touring will come with Toyota's 10-year battery warranty, and a 10-year service-activated warranty.
Verdict
I don’t know about you but I’m liking this thing of turning SUVs into rugged estate cars. This bZ4X Touring could be a really good option for a lot of people – it has all the things we like about the regular car, but has more practicality, and dare I say, looks better, too. We'll update you with full pricing information and, of course, driving impressions when we can.
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