Glad you commented on the aircon. In a hot country like Australia, it's way more important than the number of cupholders, sound of the horn, or stuff like that.
You can tell Toyota isn't serious about a rechargeable EV. This overpriced heap won't sell. Their hybrids are too good to consider a vehicle that needs recharging. 😊
Exactly! The "Forward-backward" is a 4-way knob, up and down for the front and the rear parts of the seat. I am 170cm. And the issue with the missing glove box which I have seen being a mystery in other test videos as well, is really due to it now (since February in Norway) comes with IR-heather panel on both sides for the leg room. I ordered a blue Executive yesterday and getting it this month, and so looking forward to it. 😍
Just to confirm, the 10 year battery warranty does come with a caveat, The battery is warrantied for five years, plus an additional five provided the vehicle is subjected to an annual battery health check. Toyota guarantees the battery for eight years to 70 per cent of its initial capacity.
The Australian launch delay was a result of the wheels not staying on issue in the overseas model. Toyota was baffled and it took them the best part of a year to resolve.
The reason it wasn't released earlier in Aus was there some issues in the US market (eg the wheels were coming loose). Toyota Australia did not want to release the car until those issues had been resolved.
Says 258 recalled in USA But models before a certain production date was told to stop driving their vehicle I read aswell that Toyota was buying back the vehicles It took Toyota 6+months to resolve
They have stated multiple times they have no interest in battery garbage. That takes away from the Toyota longivity mindset. Battery stuff is just more to go wrong
Took one for a drive at my local Toyota dealer yesterday, the first thing I found was the same as you, couldn't see the screen. I tried moving the steering wheel into different positions but ended up moving my seat into a higher position so I could see my speed. I couldn't fault it in any other way, I could easily live with it, but not at $70k.
Paul, totally agree about the piano black, it looks great but shows fingerprints and any amount of dust. That speedometer location appears to be a real design flaw .... hope they take note of that .... but maybe they won't, because you've been mentioning piano black issues for some time now. Another great review!
Well, to me it seems he was just pretending the speedometer location was a problem because you do have the height adjustment on the seat as well ;-) Totally agree on the piano black!
Paul is the only honest Toyota reviewer in Australia. Every other journalist is linked to the big news corp companies that receives millions in advertising from Toyota.. thus don't dare critisis the hand that feeds you.
as much as I love toyota, i just couldnt justify buying an electric from them, they even said themselves they dont see electric as being the answer. i ended up getting a nx350h as I really wanted that more premium feel and I didnt feel like waiitng 12-24 months for a rav 4
No joke, the release of this Toyota EV in Australia will possibly push the sales of Chinese EV and Tesla higher, after customers are shopping around and comparing. Why not holding your Hybrid strength, Toyota?
And PHEVs which they've made since 2012, but still refuse to bring to Australia, despite the cost of batteries getting to US$50/kWh this year, so including a 10kWh PHEV battery would cost an extra $500 US or $750 AUD.
@@yggdrasil9039yeah if only there were vehicle emissions standards that incentivised bringing in those models that have been available in other regions for years 🤔
@@yggdrasil9039that’s because Toyota lobbied FCAI to prevent the government enforcing an emission standard here for decades. The US has one and Toyota had to actually put in effort there towards drivetrain development and engine tech. So in truth, Toyota are the reason we get the scraps.
Not really. Most Chinese I know prefer Japanese car because of higher quality. They are rich and prefer to pay extra to "show off" to their friends and family.
Maybe he tested already and just describing his experience lol. Toyota didn’t really try with this one, they just wanted to comply with the pressure from policymakers. Toyota is putting all its money in hybrids and ICE newer models 😀
Thanks for including the Driver Aids test section with all your reviews! Very nice seeing Toyota's Safety Sense 3.0 keeps the car centered in lane even on the third lane-- is Toyota's system the best at lane centering? Which would you recommend. Thanks!
I purchased a brand new 2023 Tesla model Y AWD, hated that car and sold it after 11 months. I have owned and do own many Toyotas . Bought a 2024 bZ4X for $27k , Toyota had a $16250 off, it was a no brainer purchase for me. Build quality is superior to Tesla that had endless body fitment, paint issues, noisy leaky windows, fogged up tail lights, fast depreciating value of a car that is. What a piece of junk that was.
quick google search for you Paul: The BZ in bZ4X stands for “Beyond Zero” which represents the all-electric nature of the car, the 4 refers to the size (presumably there will be a bZ3 or a bZ5) and the X means that it is an SUV or crossover.
@@davidhardwick1322 In theory that works, but I am 185cm, so would be starting to hit the roof if I raised the seat. Its a glaring oversight by Toyota.
Imagine charging that amount of money for a base model that has so many flaws, lacks blind spot monitoring and a surround view monitor... Quite absurd to be honest.
@@r1ckyyyyyyy good for you. Stop complaining then that’s a feminine trait. Is men if we don’t like something we just don’t buy it and keep it moving and the money stacking.
Hey Paul, interested to know if you would rate the Subaru Solterra any higher than the bz4x? They are virtually identical but would you prefer one over the other?
As a none SUV EV owner,l smiled and shook my head.I take the view people do their homework and l respect their choice if it differs from mine.EV the way to go as a BYD Seal Performance owner that’s was my homework.
The steering wheel/display issue is due to the vehicle being released with a yolk steering wheel. Unfortunately, Australias strict vehicle rules dont allow a yolk wheel.
Not being able to see the speedo has been a well documented issue, particularly in the US. The Prius prime is set up the same way and reviewers said the same thing.
Great review. Big thanks for info on Air Conditioning. CarExpert, you guys saw all the comments, I am not the 1st one with praise on this, right? This is Australia. Air Conditioning is NOT some kind of afterthought. Your "how soft those surfaces are...lets pull out our trusty durometer"...ehhhh...honestly? Do people really find that info of any use? Maybe some people do, I don't know. But Air Conditioning?? IN AUSTRALIA??? ( and any other hot-ish country of the world?) That IS VERY important info. And it is very simple to measure - you just stick one of those thermometers with a scope into AC vent opening, set it on full blast and see what kind of temperature reading you get. Its about time POOR air conditioning systems are NAMED AND SHAMED. YEs, it is sort of known, that the best AC systems you get in Toyota and Nissan, but who knows, things can change, right? Would be very good to get ACTUAL information on AC systems performance in cars reviewed by you guys!
Not overly impressed by this car,but having been nearly sideswiped by three yes three Tesla's a couple of weekends ago i sincerely approve of a speedometer in front of the driver.Tesla drivers looking at a centre screen terrifies me.😮
According to Toyota, the meaning of the "bZ4X" nameplate breaks down into: "bZ": for "beyond Zero" emissions, representing the nature of a battery-electric vehicle by going "beyond Zero" emissions, "4": from the equivalent-sized Toyota RAV4 and the "X": describing it as a compact crossover ('X') SUV. paul might need to read the documents that come with the press vehicle .
@@jarokennyYou missed the point. The point is that it has a huge profit margin and just isn't worth it at 70k AUD. Especially with the weird steering / dash design flaw.
Great video review Paul...went to test drive one and the deal breakers for me were: that the nav system did not plot charging stops for long trips, no digital key (have to carry a key fob), no glovebox, and according to the sales guy, I have to either pair the system to wifi or a mobile hotspot for Over-The-Air updates - at a starting price of $70K - it's waay overpriced in my opinion - ended up ordering a Model Y instead and got that even cheaper
Piss poor offering from the world's largest manufacturer. The instrument cluster being obstructed by the steering wheel is unforgivable given Toyota's pedigree. No two ways about it, this car is late to the party and is not competitive.
@@HaruHaruman I agree and disagree. They do build mediocre vehicles. But they are usually functional and reliable. But only that, Nothing more. But the instrument cluster isn't even functional. Hence why it's unacceptable, given their pedigree.
This is really just a compliance product. Toyota are also refusing and delaying to bring any PHEVs here, and won't address their HEV backlog in any meaningful way. Nor have they really done anything with their HEV technology in the past 25 years, just made it a bit more efficient. A 2nd gen Prius from 20 years ago gets 4L/100km and a 2023 one, the last they sold here last year gets 3.75L/100km. Barely any improvement. They could have done what Nissan have done with the e-power and at least incorporated a bigger traction battery into their HEVs allowing more regen and recharge on hills and a longer range and more electric power from a standing start, but they're still putting the same Nickel-Hydride 1.4kWh battery into their HEVs that they have for the past 2 decades. I honestly don't really think Toyota are serious about much to do with electrification.
I read they are investing in Hydrogen fuel cell cars and believe the future is hydrogen. Apart from the fact that hydrogen fuel not readily available, the cars are over engineered, you still have many components.
HI I got a 2024 model mib range yes I agree it is a struggle if you put the steering in the wrong position you need to play with the seat it goes up down back forward and a lot more to get your in a comfortable position and you will see all you want it is a faff but it works. good video 👍👍
You’re misinformed - BZ4X uses the Chinese BYD drivetrain and battery - which hilariously has been the most reliable part of the BZ4X to date. You need to learn more about EVs if you think Toyota are the gold standard lmao
Toyota has a century of experience making reliable cars, I wouldn't be surprised if they become top dog over Tesla in a few years. Their mechanics is solid. @@tim9241
Looking at the interior pics online, I could see straight away that the screen would be hidden by the steering wheel. Surely moving the screen forward would have solved this.
I like to believe the bZ4x is Akio Toyoda's answer to every board member who kept pressing that they must get a slice of the EV market. It's intentionally bad just to be the "I told you so" to prove Toyota's bet on hybrids being better than full electricity.
I agree with you, the size of the plastic panels are ridiculous if you ask me - stands out way too much in any other colour other than black. Black is a very nice colour brand new, but it is unfortunately not the easiest colour to maintain - I'm sure people's black cars will look pretty faded as the years go on.
Before you mentioned about the position of the instrument screen I thought it looked like an odd location. Maybe Toyota originally had a yoke steering wheel?
Pfft that fossil Cardogan is a dinosaur who lobbies against EVs because his sale procurement business can’t make money off of them. He’s a morally corrupt Boomer clinging to the past, and nothing more.
If you buy the 2024 you get a IR-heater panel there instead of a glove box, I prefer the first ;-) If he had tested a more expensive model he would have had the 360 degrees. It really is an awesome car to drive. Tested it for 24 hours in December, west coast of Norway, steep windy road with 5 cm snow (slush) and it seem to not care it was slippery. Really impressive, stable, quick without loosing the grip.
A really good test. My BZ4X is coming in December. at the moment I drive the Lexus UX 250h, a really good car. When I drive the first meters (fwd) during the test drive with the bz, I had the feeling that I could drive this car better than the ux. the size of the vehicle you do not notice. there is an offer from Toyota, because e .autos sell poorly. 289€ per month for leasing, without deposit.48 months at 10,000 kilometers per year. Sufficient for me, in Australia probably a joke 😊I really liked the video. impressive was the ride over the bumps. there is a video of the car crash .... with the all-wheel drive in the Alps in the snow. very impressive for an e car. nice greetings from Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
I think the reason you have the issue with the speedo is you're a racecar sitter. Seat back, leaning back, legs bent/knees in your chin, wheel up (because of that or not). I am a sit upright, seat back, legs straight, only using my ankle to swivel my foot from accelerator to brake. And thus wheel in as much as possible almost all the time. I'm only 5'9, but i'm always switching my seat and wheel when I jump in work vehicles. I honestly can't compute that type of driving/seating XD
I honestly think it’s embarrassing for Toyota for marking a $60K car ( corrola cross ) and it’s got Halogene indicators and reverse lights, like wth! And I’m not paying $70K + for a fucking Toyota!!
Good review, I'm a Danish owner, You're fair to the car, some things is personal preferrence some is about body structure and preferred seating posistion. The raised cluster is an issue to you, I've got an average body structure and prefer a fairly opright seating so for me it is good, as well for the other users of the car. I do have to say, if you can't see the dash, then what about a HUD? Can you see that? Because the raised Dash do resolve the issue with HUD, low Sun. They do have taken a different apporach to a few details, like speed vs range and one pedal driving (not all like OPD) and FWD vs RWD. If you don't like one pedal driving, then this car is perfect. If you prefer FWD over RWD this car is perfect, actually I do prefer FWD, mostly (mine is AWD) I do not like SUVs, Crossovers etc, but I went for a test drive, due to the raised cluster, and I was amaised on how well this car ride, and it's a Toyota from bumper to bumper. The more I learn about other BEVs, the more happy I become with my BZ. It's an awesome Car, an awesome BEV, with some different choises You covered in Hot wether, here in the cold, its good, however since it use the same batteries as Tesla it lose just as much range, but the heating system is very clever.
Great to hear you love the BZ4X. Here in Norway it was number 4 on the top 10 list of new cars in 2023. I ordered a blue Executive yesterday and getting it this month, and so looking forward to it. 👏😊 The cluster issue could be easily solved for him, if he had taken the time to check the seat adjustments. Then he would have found that the "Forward-backward" is a 4-way knob, up and down for the front and the rear part of the seat. And the issue with the missing glove box which I have seen being a mystery in other test videos as well, is really due to it now (since February in Norway) comes with IR-heather panel on both sides for the leg room.
I was surprised you kept referring to a Camry when the BZ4X is basically an electric RAV4. I'm also surprised Toyota actually launched this car in Australia as without fuel efficiency standards, there's no incentive for them. That's why we still don't have the RAV4 Prime or the Prius Prime.
Couple of clarifications: Firstly bZ4X is beyond zero, 4 being the size and X being SUV (KIA EV6 doesn’t mean it’s 6 wheel drive 😜 - if Toyota keep adopting the bZ naming there’ll be bZ1, 2, 3 to 6 in the future with X being SUV versions - there is already a bZ3 in China, a sedan that’s Tesla 3 size). Secondly, premium colours are only $575 extra, two-tone on the AWD is $1,350 extra… so pricing for colours is consistent with other Toyotas. Lastly, Toyota has moved away from the Toyota logo with blue highlights and now using that new circle badge for their electrified lineup). Black doesn’t look good with the black plastic sections. I wonder if it would look better with matching colour coded plastic sections. I thought from day 1 that the speedo position didn’t seem right for all people… I wonder if they’ve been getting a lot of negative feedback on it and look to redesign it for a future update
Not a new Toyota Been out for 2 years in other markets but spent 6ish months on sales-stop due to a recall with the wheels falling off Toyota was evening buying them back Also the Speedo issue might be related to the vehicle meant to have a yoke steering wheel but not yet approved for Aus?
The speedometer issue is easily solvd by adjusting the height on the seat, he was either difficult or just did not care checking about the adjustment. The "Forward-backward" is a 4-way knob, up and down for the front and the rear parts of the seat.
I think this was developed in partnership with Subaru, who will be selling their own version, but that didn't rate a mention here. As Paul so frequently says, "it is what it is", which in Toyota's case usually means boring white-goods on wheels (even when the white-goods are black). A lot of people complain about all the plastic cladding on the Mazda CX-30 and on Subaru Crosstrek, but that pales in comparison with the amount of ghastly cladding here.
I drive my xv (Crosstrek) on sand and through scrub often, if I didn't have all the fine scratches on my plastics....the paint would be all gone there 😮 ....I didn't like the plastic look at 1st, but it can be practical, but on this 2WD EV an overkill for sure 👍
Thanks for sharing. What brands are backing the NVES while others are against it? The name list clearly shows who put the wrong bet on the gamble in the past 5 years. I'm not saying the EV is "correct", but following the market trend and appropriately forecasting policy change should be the basic techniques of modern manufacturers.
All that exterior plastic maybe to keep the price down maybe (yeah) and Paul I don’t think you mentioned and I don’t think I missed it but NO REAR WIPER. Really Toyota. And those rear spoiler bits, I bet they’re like the MG4 for the AWD rear spoiler to clip to.
Dont know how toyota gets away with the prices they charge for all their cars????? And then the idiot fanboys just say its for reliability.... hello hello??? Its not the 70s and 80s anymore, cars are now actually reliable
I am amazed every time I watch a Toyota review. Very reliable vehicles but so boring. It’s like you are buying a brand new 7 yo vehicle and they are expensive
why did you not mention the abysmal range?they were sued by owners .... it's a massive issue. Charging the battery is also very very bad,they don't let you quick charge more than a few times in 24hrs which makes it useless on long trips
You are blowing up issues that has been taken care of last summer. Now you can quick charge 3,8 times in 24 hours. And the issue with the missing glove box is cause now since February in Norway it comes with an IR-heather panel for the driver and passenger. It was announced to come from the beginning but for some reason it didn't come until now.
I am kind of annoyed at the number of Aussie car reviewers who don’t know that the new car dash’s are built for yoke wheels. Australia has decided this is not legal That’s why you can’t see the dash :/ BZ = Beyond Zero (emissions EVs) 4 = class X = crossover suv style body
They are LED, just fitted like a bulb. These tail lights are a pretty poor effort of doing LED lighting. They really could have slimmed things down a lot more.
Very good video, thanks. We own 2 Hybrid Toyota cars, both are 2023 models. Based on this video, we will stick to driving the Toyota hybrids for a bunch more years. The AWD of this BEV may be better but the price goes up again. In 2024 I would not buy a BEV from Toyota. If I were to buy any BEV in 2024-2025 it would be a Tesla Model 3/Y. Otherwise, a self-charge hybrid from Toyota/Lexus will be my pick. The plug-in hybrids don't have the acceptable range yet, it needs to be >=150-200km battery range before I consider buying a plug-in hybrid.
Love the card holder in the dashboard. Really tells you which age segment they're targetting ie those who still use atm cards. Why do they always have to do at least one new dumb poorly thought out idea on every new EV? Like putting the instrument cluster further back where its obscured by the steering wheel for anyone over 5ft tall. Its clearly not designed for someone like me and that's ok. I'm sure it will at least fit a few peoples needs.
Paul, you can tell you were a little less than thrilled with this vehicle. I've watched a heap of your reviews, and your body language spoke volumes on this one. I had to turn it off as I couldn't watch you suffer anymore. 😂
I guess they brought this trim version just to attract potential customers to the gallery with its lower price than top version. Because I dont think anyone will pick a "futuristic" car like this without blind spot monitor/rear cross traffic alert in this age...
66k for a base model .The prices are getting ridiculously funny 😆
You should see how much a Yaris costs these days.
You get what you pay for. Made in Japan too!
@@bruceli9094 China for most of it after a quick search, might as well get 17 BYD cars for same price
that is very toyota in Australia
Not really. 60k is the new average now, that's all.
Glad you commented on the aircon. In a hot country like Australia, it's way more important than the number of cupholders, sound of the horn, or stuff like that.
over 60K base model and you get cloth seats... No wonder Chinese brands are taking more customers away from toyota
Nah Toyota customers don’t buy China cars, those are for bums and tight ass peasants that complain about price and failing at life.
In China, base model of the BZ4x has dropped its price to AU&$25k-30k from 40k…but no one is willing to buy…
Yeah they are literally blowing up 😂😂
seriously, costs this much for electric car, how about go for the BYD Seal? pay a bit more and u get hell lot out of it🤔
You can tell Toyota isn't serious about a rechargeable EV. This overpriced heap won't sell. Their hybrids are too good to consider a vehicle that needs recharging. 😊
I drove the BZ4X today. I had no problem seeing the speed. I simply raised the electrically adjustable seat so that I could see it. Easy. I am 165cm.
Exactly! The "Forward-backward" is a 4-way knob, up and down for the front and the rear parts of the seat. I am 170cm.
And the issue with the missing glove box which I have seen being a mystery in other test videos as well, is really due to it now (since February in Norway) comes with IR-heather panel on both sides for the leg room. I ordered a blue Executive yesterday and getting it this month, and so looking forward to it. 😍
Did the wheel then touch your knees?
So this one is much more expensive than the RAV4, the motor has less power with similar acceleration and a drivers display you can’t see. No thanks
I drove it. I am short. I raised the electrically adjustable drivers seat so I could see it. Very easy - not problem - no brainer.
Just to confirm, the 10 year battery warranty does come with a caveat, The battery is warrantied for five years, plus an additional five provided the vehicle is subjected to an annual battery health check. Toyota guarantees the battery for eight years to 70 per cent of its initial capacity.
The Australian launch delay was a result of the wheels not staying on issue in the overseas model. Toyota was baffled and it took them the best part of a year to resolve.
There have been additional issues uncovered such as severely reduced range in cold. Not sure if these has delayed the release further.
The reason it wasn't released earlier in Aus was there some issues in the US market (eg the wheels were coming loose). Toyota Australia did not want to release the car until those issues had been resolved.
@Geebvs mate I'm just saying Toyota Australia didn't want to release the car until certain issues had been resolved.
Says 258 recalled in USA
But models before a certain production date was told to stop driving their vehicle
I read aswell that Toyota was buying back the vehicles
It took Toyota 6+months to resolve
Oh.. I thought Toyotas were dependable. Apparently not!!
Pretty obvious they are not serious about BEV vehicles.
They have stated multiple times they have no interest in battery garbage. That takes away from the Toyota longivity mindset. Battery stuff is just more to go wrong
@caljeff2427 that doesn't excuse the mess of a car they have released....
@caljeff2427Dopey thinks Toyota cares about anything but $$$
@@ev0watthere’s actually less moving parts in an electric, so should last longer
@@ev0watElectric cars have way LESS things to go wrong...stupid.
Took one for a drive at my local Toyota dealer yesterday, the first thing I found was the same as you, couldn't see the screen. I tried moving the steering wheel into different positions but ended up moving my seat into a higher position so I could see my speed. I couldn't fault it in any other way, I could easily live with it, but not at $70k.
The steering wheel / dashboard view issue is a huge problem. Definitely avoid this car!
I saw in Japan it had a yoke steering wheel ! Definitely a fail
Yeah that price for what it is is ridiculous
@@brent_in_aussieI think that’s the Lexus version
So you're sitting as high as a Gen 1 GR Yaris 😂
Paul, totally agree about the piano black, it looks great but shows fingerprints and any amount of dust. That speedometer location appears to be a real design flaw .... hope they take note of that .... but maybe they won't, because you've been mentioning piano black issues for some time now. Another great review!
Well, to me it seems he was just pretending the speedometer location was a problem because you do have the height adjustment on the seat as well ;-) Totally agree on the piano black!
Paul is the only honest Toyota reviewer in Australia. Every other journalist is linked to the big news corp companies that receives millions in advertising from Toyota.. thus don't dare critisis the hand that feeds you.
True …except the Toyota 4x4 utes where the opposition brands are loaded with weight and then compared, so not to embarrass Toyota too much.
Would have been perfect in 2018. Poor effort for 2024. Look elsewhere.
as much as I love toyota, i just couldnt justify buying an electric from them, they even said themselves they dont see electric as being the answer. i ended up getting a nx350h as I really wanted that more premium feel and I didnt feel like waiitng 12-24 months for a rav 4
Great choice 👍
So they still got your sale? Did you look at any other EVs apart from the BZ4X?
@@richardbuckingham4329 I did, and as cool as they are, their depreciation at the moment is horrendous
@@richardbuckingham4329 yes they did Richard, because I didn't get an EV and Lexus is much nicer. Evs depreciation is insane
Cant really justify buying anything from them, the charge the most for the least, notvery smart people buy toyota....
No joke, the release of this Toyota EV in Australia will possibly push the sales of Chinese EV and Tesla higher, after customers are shopping around and comparing. Why not holding your Hybrid strength, Toyota?
And PHEVs which they've made since 2012, but still refuse to bring to Australia, despite the cost of batteries getting to US$50/kWh this year, so including a 10kWh PHEV battery would cost an extra $500 US or $750 AUD.
@@yggdrasil9039yeah if only there were vehicle emissions standards that incentivised bringing in those models that have been available in other regions for years 🤔
@@yggdrasil9039that’s because Toyota lobbied FCAI to prevent the government enforcing an emission standard here for decades. The US has one and Toyota had to actually put in effort there towards drivetrain development and engine tech. So in truth, Toyota are the reason we get the scraps.
@@tim9241 that's the impression I get, yep.
Not really. Most Chinese I know prefer Japanese car because of higher quality. They are rich and prefer to pay extra to "show off" to their friends and family.
Really poor product that's far behind the competition that's much older than it. Toyota can't rely on their reputation alone this time
You wrote that comment 3min after they uploaded the video. The car may be trash, I dont know, like you, I still havent seen the video.
Maybe he tested already and just describing his experience lol. Toyota didn’t really try with this one, they just wanted to comply with the pressure from policymakers. Toyota is putting all its money in hybrids and ICE newer models 😀
@@dxd15-u1j perhaps this isn't the first video of this car ever uploaded to the internet? Perhaps I've already seen other reviews of it?
Underwhelming and overpriced. Oh what a feeling 😂
@@danwhite9436 its like they just wanted to get something out of the door. Can't believe this is the same company that produced the Prius
Glad you said it Paul. Should be called the bz2x for this model.
Thanks for including the Driver Aids test section with all your reviews! Very nice seeing Toyota's Safety Sense 3.0 keeps the car centered in lane even on the third lane-- is Toyota's system the best at lane centering? Which would you recommend. Thanks!
I purchased a brand new 2023 Tesla model Y AWD, hated that car and sold it after 11 months. I have owned and do own many Toyotas . Bought a 2024 bZ4X for $27k , Toyota had a $16250 off, it was a no brainer purchase for me. Build quality is superior to Tesla that had endless body fitment, paint issues, noisy leaky windows, fogged up tail lights, fast depreciating value of a car that is. What a piece of junk that was.
quick google search for you Paul: The BZ in bZ4X stands for “Beyond Zero” which represents the all-electric nature of the car, the 4 refers to the size (presumably there will be a bZ3 or a bZ5) and the X means that it is an SUV or crossover.
8:21
Cop: 'Well sir, do you know how fast you were going?'
Me: 'No. I am serious, look!'
Just raise the seat. No problem. I am short (165cm); I could see the speedo easily when I raised the seat.
@@davidhardwick1322 In theory that works, but I am 185cm, so would be starting to hit the roof if I raised the seat. Its a glaring oversight by Toyota.
The premium paint price you selected also included the price for black two tone roof. $575 for the paint, two tone roof is $1,350.
Imagine charging that amount of money for a base model that has so many flaws, lacks blind spot monitoring and a surround view monitor... Quite absurd to be honest.
Imagine failing at life being a bum complaining about the cost of things. Go earn more and buy something better then instead of whining
@@ev0wat I do have a 2022 Mazda 3 Astina.
@@ev0watthere's a difference if its just a complete rip off
@@r1ckyyyyyyy good for you. Stop complaining then that’s a feminine trait. Is men if we don’t like something we just don’t buy it and keep it moving and the money stacking.
@@ev0watwell Paul did ask to drop you opinion below🤷♂️
Hey Paul, interested to know if you would rate the Subaru Solterra any higher than the bz4x? They are virtually identical but would you prefer one over the other?
I think the Solterra has more ground clearance, that’s the only difference I’m aware of.
Would love to see the Solterra reviewed.
@@richardbuckingham4329AWD
As a none SUV EV owner,l smiled and shook my head.I take the view people do their homework and l respect their choice if it differs from mine.EV the way to go as a BYD Seal Performance owner that’s was my homework.
The steering wheel/display issue is due to the vehicle being released with a yolk steering wheel. Unfortunately, Australias strict vehicle rules dont allow a yolk wheel.
👆🏽yes this is correct
Why doesn’t nobody know this 🤷🏻♂️
Not being able to see the speedo has been a well documented issue, particularly in the US. The Prius prime is set up the same way and reviewers said the same thing.
Just raise the seat - no problem. No brainer.
Great review. Big thanks for info on Air Conditioning. CarExpert, you guys saw all the comments, I am not the 1st one with praise on this, right? This is Australia. Air Conditioning is NOT some kind of afterthought. Your "how soft those surfaces are...lets pull out our trusty durometer"...ehhhh...honestly? Do people really find that info of any use? Maybe some people do, I don't know. But Air Conditioning?? IN AUSTRALIA??? ( and any other hot-ish country of the world?) That IS VERY important info. And it is very simple to measure - you just stick one of those thermometers with a scope into AC vent opening, set it on full blast and see what kind of temperature reading you get. Its about time POOR air conditioning systems are NAMED AND SHAMED. YEs, it is sort of known, that the best AC systems you get in Toyota and Nissan, but who knows, things can change, right? Would be very good to get ACTUAL information on AC systems performance in cars reviewed by you guys!
Not overly impressed by this car,but having been nearly sideswiped by three yes three Tesla's a couple of weekends ago i sincerely approve of a speedometer in front of the driver.Tesla drivers looking at a centre screen terrifies me.😮
According to Toyota, the meaning of the "bZ4X" nameplate breaks down into:
"bZ": for "beyond Zero" emissions, representing the nature of a battery-electric vehicle by going "beyond Zero" emissions,
"4": from the equivalent-sized Toyota RAV4 and the
"X": describing it as a compact crossover ('X') SUV.
paul might need to read the documents that come with the press vehicle .
Actually Toyota have indicated that -
BZ4X = “Busy Forks”
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Who cares. It's a stupid name.
in china,this car is about 25000AUD
go and buy it there
It’s actually more like $36k AUD plus on road. So closer to $40k.
Still a hell of a lot cheaper though ! We definitely overpay here in aus !
That's a big difference!
@@jarokennyYou missed the point. The point is that it has a huge profit margin and just isn't worth it at 70k AUD. Especially with the weird steering / dash design flaw.
@@jarokennystill no one buy it as Chinese build best ev now. Tesla buy battery from BYD😂😂😂
Great video review Paul...went to test drive one and the deal breakers for me were: that the nav system did not plot charging stops for long trips, no digital key (have to carry a key fob), no glovebox, and according to the sales guy, I have to either pair the system to wifi or a mobile hotspot for Over-The-Air updates - at a starting price of $70K - it's waay overpriced in my opinion - ended up ordering a Model Y instead and got that even cheaper
Did the wheels stay on?
Piss poor offering from the world's largest manufacturer. The instrument cluster being obstructed by the steering wheel is unforgivable given Toyota's pedigree. No two ways about it, this car is late to the party and is not competitive.
What pedigree? 😂😂😂
Toyota has no pedigree, all they can do is just mass produce mediocre mass products that are boring as hell
@@HaruHaruman I agree and disagree. They do build mediocre vehicles. But they are usually functional and reliable. But only that, Nothing more. But the instrument cluster isn't even functional. Hence why it's unacceptable, given their pedigree.
This is really just a compliance product. Toyota are also refusing and delaying to bring any PHEVs here, and won't address their HEV backlog in any meaningful way. Nor have they really done anything with their HEV technology in the past 25 years, just made it a bit more efficient. A 2nd gen Prius from 20 years ago gets 4L/100km and a 2023 one, the last they sold here last year gets 3.75L/100km. Barely any improvement. They could have done what Nissan have done with the e-power and at least incorporated a bigger traction battery into their HEVs allowing more regen and recharge on hills and a longer range and more electric power from a standing start, but they're still putting the same Nickel-Hydride 1.4kWh battery into their HEVs that they have for the past 2 decades.
I honestly don't really think Toyota are serious about much to do with electrification.
I read they are investing in Hydrogen fuel cell cars and believe the future is hydrogen. Apart from the fact that hydrogen fuel not readily available, the cars are over engineered, you still have many components.
I have a new drinking game. Take a drink every time Paul says “I was not expecting that”
HI I got a 2024 model mib range yes I agree it is a struggle if you put the steering in the wrong position you need to play with the seat it goes up down back forward and a lot more to get your in a comfortable position and you will see all you want it is a faff but it works. good video 👍👍
Thanks for this review, everything is clearly covered, greetings from the Netherlands
Great honest review .. natural progression from my super reliable 2018 Prius … Australia needs a reliable EV
You’re misinformed - BZ4X uses the Chinese BYD drivetrain and battery - which hilariously has been the most reliable part of the BZ4X to date. You need to learn more about EVs if you think Toyota are the gold standard lmao
Toyota has a century of experience making reliable cars, I wouldn't be surprised if they become top dog over Tesla in a few years. Their mechanics is solid. @@tim9241
Looking at the interior pics online, I could see straight away that the screen would be hidden by the steering wheel. Surely moving the screen forward would have solved this.
I like to believe the bZ4x is Akio Toyoda's answer to every board member who kept pressing that they must get a slice of the EV market. It's intentionally bad just to be the "I told you so" to prove Toyota's bet on hybrids being better than full electricity.
Possible to share the name of the app you used for acceleration and braking measurements?
Is it possible to include rear seat riding comfort as well as a measuring criteria for all the reviews ?
I agree with you, the size of the plastic panels are ridiculous if you ask me - stands out way too much in any other colour other than black. Black is a very nice colour brand new, but it is unfortunately not the easiest colour to maintain - I'm sure people's black cars will look pretty faded as the years go on.
every surface the target demographic is going to scrape in a carpark is plastic ;) may not be a bad thing.
@@MetalPhreakAUgood point - always pros and cons in everything we do, I suppose. But I still side with less ugly plastics :/
@@henryshadowjet 100% its ugly as. to some people its just a means to get from A to B.
Before you mentioned about the position of the instrument screen I thought it looked like an odd location. Maybe Toyota originally had a yoke steering wheel?
can get a yoke wheel in overseas models but no not in australia we miss out on all the good stuff out of the parts bin
John Cadogan called this thing a dog with flees perfect .
Isn’t everything a dog to him if it doesn’t have a V8 in it?
Pfft that fossil Cardogan is a dinosaur who lobbies against EVs because his sale procurement business can’t make money off of them. He’s a morally corrupt Boomer clinging to the past, and nothing more.
Lol
This bloke goes and buys a Triton. Then tells people which cars are crap. Give me a break.
66k and no blind spot monitoring? Madness.
Pajero for sure very underrated, love to see someone do one like this.
no glove box, no blind spot monitoring,no 360 degree view, no wireless charging, no LFP battery, no buy
If you buy the 2024 you get a IR-heater panel there instead of a glove box, I prefer the first ;-) If he had tested a more expensive model he would have had the 360 degrees. It really is an awesome car to drive. Tested it for 24 hours in December, west coast of Norway, steep windy road with 5 cm snow (slush) and it seem to not care it was slippery. Really impressive, stable, quick without loosing the grip.
Can it use the Tesla network?
How you- tube has changed, a few years ago it was to attack the Chinese brands, now its Toyota.
Hey.. Are those scratches on a new car at 3:39???
its probably just a press car, they get no love and or care. just attached a heap of cameras and filming gear then thrashed.
@@mrz1281whaat? I thought motoring journalists were the very pinnacle of practicing mechanical sympathy!? You have crushed my dreams.
Those are just swirl marks from automated car washes. It happens to every car, just shows up more on darker colours.
Paul can't help it, with the key ,so anti EV😅.
A really good test. My BZ4X is coming in December. at the moment I drive the Lexus UX 250h, a really good car. When I drive the first meters
(fwd) during the test drive with the bz, I had the feeling that I could drive this car better than the ux.
the size of the vehicle you do not notice. there is an offer from Toyota, because e .autos sell poorly. 289€ per month for leasing, without deposit.48 months at 10,000 kilometers per year. Sufficient for me, in Australia probably a joke 😊I really liked the video. impressive was the ride over the bumps. there is a video of the car crash .... with the all-wheel drive in the Alps in the snow. very impressive for an e car. nice greetings from Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Finally the bz4x has been released in Australia 🎉🎉
I think the reason you have the issue with the speedo is you're a racecar sitter.
Seat back, leaning back, legs bent/knees in your chin, wheel up (because of that or not).
I am a sit upright, seat back, legs straight, only using my ankle to swivel my foot from accelerator to brake. And thus wheel in as much as possible almost all the time.
I'm only 5'9, but i'm always switching my seat and wheel when I jump in work vehicles.
I honestly can't compute that type of driving/seating XD
I honestly think it’s embarrassing for Toyota for marking a $60K car ( corrola cross ) and it’s got Halogene indicators and reverse lights, like wth! And I’m not paying $70K + for a fucking Toyota!!
I saw a Subaru Soltera video and they fitted a square wheel which seemed to let you see the console easier
The guy who approved the drive display position should be fired.
Good review, I'm a Danish owner, You're fair to the car, some things is personal preferrence some is about body structure and preferred seating posistion.
The raised cluster is an issue to you, I've got an average body structure and prefer a fairly opright seating so for me it is good, as well for the other users of the car.
I do have to say, if you can't see the dash, then what about a HUD? Can you see that?
Because the raised Dash do resolve the issue with HUD, low Sun.
They do have taken a different apporach to a few details, like speed vs range and one pedal driving (not all like OPD) and FWD vs RWD.
If you don't like one pedal driving, then this car is perfect.
If you prefer FWD over RWD this car is perfect, actually I do prefer FWD, mostly (mine is AWD)
I do not like SUVs, Crossovers etc, but I went for a test drive, due to the raised cluster, and I was amaised on how well this car ride, and it's a Toyota from bumper to bumper.
The more I learn about other BEVs, the more happy I become with my BZ.
It's an awesome Car, an awesome BEV, with some different choises
You covered in Hot wether, here in the cold, its good, however since it use the same batteries as Tesla it lose just as much range, but the heating system is very clever.
Great to hear you love the BZ4X. Here in Norway it was number 4 on the top 10 list of new cars in 2023. I ordered a blue Executive yesterday and getting it this month, and so looking forward to it. 👏😊
The cluster issue could be easily solved for him, if he had taken the time to check the seat adjustments. Then he would have found that the "Forward-backward" is a 4-way knob, up and down for the front and the rear part of the seat.
And the issue with the missing glove box which I have seen being a mystery in other test videos as well, is really due to it now (since February in Norway) comes with IR-heather panel on both sides for the leg room.
Hello Paul, how about off road tests for the Chery iCar 03? Will that electric SUV surprise or disappoint?
I was surprised you kept referring to a Camry when the BZ4X is basically an electric RAV4. I'm also surprised Toyota actually launched this car in Australia as without fuel efficiency standards, there's no incentive for them. That's why we still don't have the RAV4 Prime or the Prius Prime.
Toyota sold 9 Bz4X in January in China, dubbed as "industrial garbage" in the most competitive EV market.
Tiktok is getting banned 😂😂😂
It feels like they really rushed this out to market to ensure they had a car to compete with the other major manufacturers.
This is the same as the Subaru Solterra right? Same car, different badge?
Yes
Almost!!
All the Subaru variants of the Solterra are AWD
BZ4X can be had in 2WD or AWD
Not many Australian's have tested this car, it is that new.
Toyota is really taking the mickey on prices post-Covid
This is a hard no for me. I think I have a similar body type to you Paul and not be able to see the driver display is something I cannot compromise on
350tkm/10y warranty on battery is the best thing about this. But don't buy new. Only EV you want as used.
@carexpert is this the same platform as the Lexus LBX ? You guys going to review that soon ??
Got my 21 rav4 cruiser for less than 50k with tow pack....COVID has corrupted these car makers.
Couple of clarifications: Firstly bZ4X is beyond zero, 4 being the size and X being SUV (KIA EV6 doesn’t mean it’s 6 wheel drive 😜 - if Toyota keep adopting the bZ naming there’ll be bZ1, 2, 3 to 6 in the future with X being SUV versions - there is already a bZ3 in China, a sedan that’s Tesla 3 size). Secondly, premium colours are only $575 extra, two-tone on the AWD is $1,350 extra… so pricing for colours is consistent with other Toyotas. Lastly, Toyota has moved away from the Toyota logo with blue highlights and now using that new circle badge for their electrified lineup).
Black doesn’t look good with the black plastic sections. I wonder if it would look better with matching colour coded plastic sections. I thought from day 1 that the speedo position didn’t seem right for all people… I wonder if they’ve been getting a lot of negative feedback on it and look to redesign it for a future update
He always talks on point👍
But he starts each sentence at a louder volume than when he finishes them.
I was waiting to hear about comparing to subaru solterra sister car but I assume you will test that AWD and do light off roading in that!
Not a new Toyota
Been out for 2 years in other markets but spent 6ish months on sales-stop due to a recall with the wheels falling off
Toyota was evening buying them back
Also the Speedo issue might be related to the vehicle meant to have a yoke steering wheel but not yet approved for Aus?
The speedometer issue is easily solvd by adjusting the height on the seat, he was either difficult or just did not care checking about the adjustment. The "Forward-backward" is a 4-way knob, up and down for the front and the rear parts of the seat.
Hi Paul
I think the new Toyota BZ4x has everything that a Toyota owner is looking for the Toyota badge on the front 😊
Boring. Slow. Overpriced. Underspecced. Toyota fanboys only. But seriously even they should be thinking twice about this one.
I think this was developed in partnership with Subaru, who will be selling their own version, but that didn't rate a mention here. As Paul so frequently says, "it is what it is", which in Toyota's case usually means boring white-goods on wheels (even when the white-goods are black). A lot of people complain about all the plastic cladding on the Mazda CX-30 and on Subaru Crosstrek, but that pales in comparison with the amount of ghastly cladding here.
I drive my xv (Crosstrek) on sand and through scrub often, if I didn't have all the fine scratches on my plastics....the paint would be all gone there 😮
....I didn't like the plastic look at 1st, but it can be practical, but on this 2WD EV an overkill for sure 👍
Thanks for sharing.
What brands are backing the NVES while others are against it? The name list clearly shows who put the wrong bet on the gamble in the past 5 years. I'm not saying the EV is "correct", but following the market trend and appropriately forecasting policy change should be the basic techniques of modern manufacturers.
Fleet spec EV and that’s about it.
Fleet is a big market, makes sense.
All that exterior plastic maybe to keep the price down maybe (yeah) and Paul I don’t think you mentioned and I don’t think I missed it but NO REAR WIPER. Really Toyota. And those rear spoiler bits, I bet they’re like the MG4 for the AWD rear spoiler to clip to.
Dont know how toyota gets away with the prices they charge for all their cars????? And then the idiot fanboys just say its for reliability.... hello hello??? Its not the 70s and 80s anymore, cars are now actually reliable
Doesn't Toyota offer a yoke option for this car as it has drive-by-wire steering????
I am amazed every time I watch a Toyota review. Very reliable vehicles but so boring. It’s like you are buying a brand new 7 yo vehicle and they are expensive
why do car makers insist on dark interiors???
why did you not mention the abysmal range?they were sued by owners .... it's a massive issue.
Charging the battery is also very very bad,they don't let you quick charge more than a few times in 24hrs which makes it useless on long trips
Had no issues with the range or fast charging. But would be interested in hearing experience from owners who drive them for longer.
You are blowing up issues that has been taken care of last summer. Now you can quick charge 3,8 times in 24 hours. And the issue with the missing glove box is cause now since February in Norway it comes with an IR-heather panel for the driver and passenger. It was announced to come from the beginning but for some reason it didn't come until now.
“Elephant in the room” can’t see the speedometer he says…GoPro blocking the screen
😂😂😂
Please make a video for test Dena turbo
It doesn’t have single pedal driving?
60k and no 360 camera, blind spot monitoring and cloth seats? Features are way below expectations at that price point
I am kind of annoyed at the number of Aussie car reviewers who don’t know that the new car dash’s are built for yoke wheels. Australia has decided this is not legal
That’s why you can’t see the dash :/
BZ = Beyond Zero (emissions EVs)
4 = class
X = crossover suv style body
I gave up watching this review, like Toyota did with this car
Awesome car. Have tested it on a winter day in December last year, awesome!
Toyota have said that they are not a fan of electric vehicles and it shows.
Re BZ4X naming confusion for a 2WD version, calling a 2WD RAV4 a RAV4 is just as peculiar.
"Full LED taillights"
>incandescent indicators fire off
I30 sedan N comes to mind. What a joke
They are LED, just fitted like a bulb. These tail lights are a pretty poor effort of doing LED lighting. They really could have slimmed things down a lot more.
@@-TJ- fair enough. I don't mind the top and bottom strips but the reverse and indicators look cheap and shiddy
@@john_barnett I'm not keen on the whole thing. The black horizontal lines really ruin the LED light bar.
wonder if the rav when it comes out is gunna look like this thing
Very good video, thanks. We own 2 Hybrid Toyota cars, both are 2023 models. Based on this video, we will stick to driving the Toyota hybrids for a bunch more years. The AWD of this BEV may be better but the price goes up again. In 2024 I would not buy a BEV from Toyota. If I were to buy any BEV in 2024-2025 it would be a Tesla Model 3/Y. Otherwise, a self-charge hybrid from Toyota/Lexus will be my pick. The plug-in hybrids don't have the acceptable range yet, it needs to be >=150-200km battery range before I consider buying a plug-in hybrid.
Love the card holder in the dashboard. Really tells you which age segment they're targetting ie those who still use atm cards. Why do they always have to do at least one new dumb poorly thought out idea on every new EV? Like putting the instrument cluster further back where its obscured by the steering wheel for anyone over 5ft tall. Its clearly not designed for someone like me and that's ok. I'm sure it will at least fit a few peoples needs.
at least 1 win, is the spring loaded covers on the charging ports, i cant stand the stupid plugs that you have to leave dangling when charging
Paul, you can tell you were a little less than thrilled with this vehicle. I've watched a heap of your reviews, and your body language spoke volumes on this one. I had to turn it off as I couldn't watch you suffer anymore. 😂
I guess they brought this trim version just to attract potential customers to the gallery with its lower price than top version. Because I dont think anyone will pick a "futuristic" car like this without blind spot monitor/rear cross traffic alert in this age...