The original Toyota bZ4X was not a particularly good EV. Even though it cost $43,000, it basically felt like a glorified compliance car. But Toyota improved its EV game almost overnight with the 2026 bZ. By dropping two unnecessary letters from the name, slashing the price by $6,800, and adding up to 62 miles of extra range, Toyota has finally cooked on its electric crossover.
Beating the Official Charging Claim
In our latest real-world test, we took the 2026 Toyota bZ XLE Plus to a Tesla V3 Supercharger to put its new native NACS port to the test. While Toyota officially quotes a 10% to 80% charge time of approximately 30 minutes, we managed to secure a result of just 26 minutes. This faster-than-advertised performance proves that the 74.7 kWh battery and optimized preconditioning system are the real deal.
2026 Toyota bZ Trim & Pricing Breakdown
Every 2026 bZ now comes standard with a 150kW peak DC charge rate, a 14-inch center display, a heat pump, and a native Tesla NACS charge port.
XLE (Base): $36,350 | 236 mi | 168 hp
XLE Plus: $39,350 | 314 mi | 221 hp
XLE AWD: $41,350 | 288 mi | 338 hp
Limited FWD: $44,750 | 299 mi | 221 hp
Limited AWD: $46,750 | 278 mi | 338 hp
Pro Tip: Toyota is currently offering a $5,000 bonus cash incentive across all trims. This brings the XLE Plus — the sweet spot of the lineup with 314 miles of range — down to $34,350 including destination fees.
The Verdict
Dimensionally, the new bZ is identical to the old bZ4X, but the value proposition has shifted entirely. With 8.2 inches of ground clearance, over 300 miles of range, and a price point that sits just $200 above a gas-powered RAV4 SE, the 2026 bZ is no longer a compliance car — it's a highly compelling Toyota crossover that just happens to be electric.