It took Toyota long enough, but they’re finally launching their first battery electric vehicle in the Philippines: the 2026 bZ4X. Still a firm believer in gasoline electric hybrids (they have the widest selection in the country after all), they think that now is the right time for them to dip their toes in something motivated purely by electrons. Considerations, they say, involve several factors. What those are is a topic for another day; fact of the matter is that the bZ4X is finally here, and this is how it drives.
Coming roughly three years since the nameplate came out globally, the bZ4X that the Philippines gets is the most up-to-date one. Sourced from Japan, it comes in a singular, full-loaded variant which has dual motors and all-wheel drive. With 343 horsepower (224 horsepower at the front, 118 horsepower at the rear), it has the highest output of a production Toyota outside of the Gazoo Racing range. 0 to 100 km/h is dispatched in around 5 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 160 km/h. As for battery and charging, it’s got a 73.1-kWh lithium-ion battery enough for 570 kilometers of range. Charging is done at a maximum of 22 kW (Type 2 AC charging) and 150 kW (CCS2 DC charging).
Impressive as these figures are, the bZ4X shines the most where it counts: actual road conditions. During my drive from Toyota North EDSA—the site of the first complimentary AC/DC charging station for bZ4X owners—to Clark in Pampanga, I found it a very approachable car. It has a gentle learning curve in every aspect from its control layout to its road manners.
Typically, BEVs like some shock-and-awe when it comes to their implementation of in-car technology. At times, it becomes almost a case of shoving in needless tech just for the sake of it. Refreshingly, the bZ4X avoids that trope. Yes, there are two screens—one for the driver and another for the infotainment—but there are plenty of physical knobs and switches as well. Adjusting the cabin temperature, media volume, and even drive modes are all done via dedicated controls; no need to fumble through a touchscreen to do any of that, thankfully.
The driver display is positioned above the steering wheel and is customizable with a variety of views. One, shows the actual battery health. This is the first time I’ve encountered that in any BEV I’ve tested (and I’ve tested quite a lot), and this take the guess work out as to how the battery’s coping up in the long run.
Adjusting the seats is easy with plentiful movement thanks to the 8-way power adjust to both front seats. There’s built-in heating and ventilation, while the driver has a two-position memory setting. The most comfortable seating position, I found, is lofty with a good, clear view of the area surrounding the bZ4X. If anything, the thick rear pillars, and the oddly-placed gauge cluster being the only two gripes. Thankfully, there’s a digital rearview mirror that provides an unimpeded view of the road behind, handy when it’s fully loaded with people or cargo. Sensors, both front and back, as well as a panoramic view camera help in tight situations. It’s even got an automated parking assist for those who aren’t so confident with their parallel parking skills.
Despite the peak figures, it feels perky as opposed to being outright fast. Instead, it’s all about usable progression. Power comes in gradually and even at full throttle, the 20-inch Dunlops never squirm for grip. At the same time, there’s enough juice to make short work of overtaking slower traffic on the expressway. In a world of headline grabbing horsepower from BEVs, this behavior seems weird at first. Ultimately, it’s something well-suited to the approachability of the bZ4X.
With an average speed of 54 km/h, it registered an energy consumption of 6.89 kilometers per kWh. With 69 kWh out of the 73.1 kWh usable, it means a real-world range of 475 kilometers. Like any BEVs, the amount of regen is adjustable, but it falls short of providing a one-pedal driving experience.
When it comes to dynamics, the bZ4X does little to mask its heft. Going over bumps, it made me feel the mass of the giant battery underneath. Hussle it though, and it still has a sense of urgency when changing directions. The steering is finely tuned, while the entire car is kept in check by the electric motors’ torque vectoring. The ride too is soothing, taking off the worst of sharp bumps. Meanwhile, the damping keeps a lid on big dips and crests, including that “jump” just before the San Simon bridge. If anything, it’s the noticeable tire noise that’s the only issue.
Although untested during this occasion, the bZ4X rides on the e-TNGA platform, a collaboration between Toyota and Subaru. The latter contributed its X-Mode system which controls the behavior of the two-motor system. This gives it sure footedness across a variety of situations. Together with 200 mm of ground clearance and 500 mm of water wading depth, it equates to confidence in tackling some of Manila’s worst parking lots or even flash floods.
Similar in size to a Toyota RAV4, it’s not surprising just how roomy and practical the bZ4X is. The excellent front space aside, the materials used and the construction feel solid. It doesn’t feel particularly premium, but it’s well-wearing with quality baked right in. There’s plenty of storage including a large, double-hinged (it can open from the left or right side) arm rest cubby hole, two wireless chargers, and thanks to a floating center console, a usable bin with two USB Type C chargers and a 12-volt socket underneath. Unusually, there’s no glove box.
At the back, there’s plenty of legroom and thanks to reclinable seatbacks and a flat floor, it scores high in terms of comfort. There are rear AC vents and two USB Type C chargers too to complemented the rear seat heating. Headroom, however, isn’t so great. It works at my 170 cm height, but a fitment test may be required for anyone who’s more than 182 cm (6 feet) tall.
Most curious is that Toyota doesn’t go the usual fix-a-flat sealant and tire pump route. Instead, there’s a temporary-type spare tire in the cargo hold. It’s down to LTO compliance, Toyota says, and it does eat up a huge chunk of the available luggage space. Thankfully, because it’s held down by tiedown straps, would be owners could simply leave the spare tire at home for short trips, or in case they need to maximize capacity. Once that’s removed, there’s a small underfloor storage, perfect for the portable charger that comes with every bZ4X. If you need to lug around a bigger load, you can fold down the 60/40 split rear seat backs. Sadly, there’s no frunk due to the front motor’s tall design which is done for turning radius. And at 5.6 meters, it betters both the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (5.9 meters) and the Tesla Model Y (6 meters)—its chief competitors.
The bZ4X comes roughly two years since its upscale cousin, the Lexus RZ, first entered the Philippine market in 2023. This delay makes Toyota an easy target for critics who question the brand’s electrification efforts. However, I could also argue that Toyota is simply biding its time, watching the market, and putting the right pieces on its chessboard. And guess what? They’ve done so with the 2026 bZ4X.
No doubt, customers will easily be attracted to it by its price tag and impressive specs, but it offers much more. At launch, 14 Toyota dealerships will offer complimentary AC and DC charging, including one in La Union and another in Batangas City. Aside from a portable charger, it comes with a free wall box charger too. And then, there’s the 5-year bumper-to-bumper and 8-year battery warranty. Preventive maintenance? Capped at just once a year. In that regard, I think of the bZ4X as a well-thought of product. While other brands simply stick to the product itself, Toyota has managed to deliver the full experience that encompasses the entire ownership experience. This is how and why the bZ4X re-writes the local BEV standards.
|
2026 Toyota bZ4X AWD |
|
| Bottom Line | |
| Pros | Extremely approachable, easy to understand, excellent comfort. |
| Cons | Weird gauge cluster, t-type spare tire eating up the cargo hold. |
| TL;DR | Toyota re-writes the BEV standard with a well-thought of product and ownership experience. |
| Ownership | |
| Year Introduced | 2025 |
| Warranty |
5 years / 140,000
kilometers 8 years / 200,000 kilometers (Battery) |
| The Basics | |
| Body Type | Compact SUV |
| Seating | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | Dual Motor/AWD |
| Under the Hood | |
| Motor Type | Permanent Magnet Synchronous |
| Maximum Output (BHP) | 343 |
| Maximum Torque (Nm) | 338 |
| Battery Size (kWh) | 73.1 (69 usable) |
| Architecture (V) | 400 |
| Range, WLTP (km) | 570 |
| Range, As Tested (km) | 475 |
| Energy Consumption (km/kWh) | 6.89 @ 54 km/h |
| Estimated Charging Time, 1-Phase AC (0-100%) | 7 hours |
| Estimated Charging Time, DC (10-80%) | 0.5 hours |
| Charge Port | Type 2 / CCS |
| Transmission | Single Speed AT |
| Cruise Control | Yes, Adaptive |
| Dimensions and Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 4,690 |
| Width (mm) | 1,860 |
| Height (mm) | 1,650 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,850 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 2,030 |
| Suspension and Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Independent, Double Wishbone |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Parking Brake | Electronic, w/ Auto Hold |
| Tires |
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 060 235/50 R 20 V (f & r) |
| Recommend Tire Pressure (PSI) | 38 front, 36 rear |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 7 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes, with EBD |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Yes, Front, Rear, & Sides |
| Parking Camera | Yes, 360-degree |
| Front Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR w/ pre-tensioners x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelts |
3-pt ELR w/ pre-tensioners
x 2 3-pt ELR x 1 |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes |
| Advanced Driver Assist System |
Pre-Collision System Lane Tracing Assist Lane Departure Alert |
| Other Safety Features |
Hill Start Assist Blind Spot Monitoring Safe Exit Warning |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | LED, Auto High Beam |
| Fog Lamps | Yes, Rear (LED) |
| Light Operation | Auto |
| Wiper Operation | Rain-sensing |
| Tailgate | Electronic |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | Electric, 8-way, Vented & Heated, Memory |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | Electric, 8-way, Vented & Heated |
| Seating Surface | Leather |
| 2nd Row | 60/40 Split-Fold w/ Center Armrest |
| 3rd Row | None |
| Sunroof | Panoramic |
| Multi-Information Display / Size | Yes, 7-inch |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes, w/ Fold |
| Rear View Mirror | Auto-dimming, w/ Camera |
| Proximity Key | Yes |
| Climate Control | Dual Zone, w/ Rear Vent |
| Audio System |
Stereo USB Type C Bluetooth |
| Wireless Charger | Front x 2 |
| Infotainment Display / Size | Yes, 14-inch |
| Smartphone Connectivity |
Apple CarPlay (Wireless) Android Auto (Wireless) |
| # of Speakers | 8 |
| Steering Controls | Yes |
200mm ground clearance the best among its class.
ReplyDeleteFilipino EV car buyers still prefer the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y over this flawed EV from Toyota.
ReplyDeleteBulging exposed spare tire of it looks really ridiculous
Really??? Or your just nervous that toyota EV's will now beat black n blue your fave china EV's🤔🤔🤔. Some byd SL6 owners bought donut spare tire and they just put it at the back floor😵💫😵💫😵💫now thats ridiculous🙉🙉🙉
DeleteTesla Model 3 and Model Y are far more superior and value for money than this half baked and poorly designed EV effort of Toyota 😂😂😂
DeleteFilipinos love and highly trust Tesla EVs when it comes to EV technology.
Half baked, poorly designed? Ha ha ha byd, tesla and other china EV's will look old and ugly pag etinabi sa bz4x. Maybe what you mean is china EV's has half baked quality and poorly engineered.
DeleteBZ4X isn't even that popular due to its poorly designed EV technology and terrible interior.
DeleteBZ4X is like 2nd generation Nissan Leaf 😂
EV technologies of Toyota and Nissan miles behind the American,European and Chinese EVs.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are miles ahead in terms of sales.
@anon Dec 1 6:51 pm
DeleteJapanese do love their food raw. It must be why they rely so much on Chinese engineering, manufacturing, and tech lately for many of their models since it's so "half-baked" 🤣
Thats because toyota focus first to dominate on hybrids but now toyota are coming to grab a slice of EV's market and competition are now nervous. i bet you feel very nervous upon reading the article above
Delete@anon Dec 2 3:15 pm
DeleteHow amusing. You think people care about this like some kind of team sport? Maybe some (maybe you?), I guess.
Toyota "focusing" on hybrids for so long meant they lost so much time by not putting enough money/engineers on EV/battery tech. The reason they license/borrow tech is because they need to buy for time while they catch up however their "multi-pathways" thing kinda shows they are not going to focus on EVs meaning they won't put that much money into R&D.
People who look at the business/technology side of things have been talking about these things for a while already. Toyota can make really good cars WHEN they put their best people on the job with enough time to cook but you can't make a baby in 1 month by using 9 women.
Chinese electric cars can't hold a handle to this. Yes they have the technology but they lack quality control and Japanese discipline to make high quality vehicles!
Delete@anon Dec 3 12:17 am
DeleteI'm supposed to trust you instead of the dozens of international car journalists that say Chinese cars are now world class (they are exporting and selling well outside China afterall)? Are you assuming they are all being paid to say nice things? Maybe the CEO of Ford was also paid a lot of money to highly praise what you call low quality cars?
Filipinos complain easily so, given the thousands of buyers of these Chinese cars, where are the massive complaints? There are so many Filipino car youtube channels that if poor quality and problems were so common it would be so much free and easy content for them to cover. Is it being censored, you think?
I don't know if you watched old school Top Gear with Clarkson, Hammond, and May but they did an episode where they made fun of Chinese cars. That was real journalism, no lies and some comedy as a result, but that was also in 2012 (the episode I'm talking about). Why can't they make something like that now?
People pushing the "only bad quality and will always be bad quality" story on Chinese are kind of like flat-earthers in my view. All the experts are saying the opposite thing but they insist they are right. So, all these videos and articles from journalists, experts, and media companies have to have been paid for, right? 🤔
This guy again and his wall of text assisted by AI. 🤦🤦
DeleteYou really think typing long texts makes you look credible and intellectual? Anyway, you seem confused and unsure since you're asking questions yourself. In order redirect and guide you, just search some facebook groups, like geely owners club philippines or something like that, I'm sure you'll see something regarding the realities of owning chinese cars.
@anon Dec 7 1:14 am
DeleteYou don't understand the point of asking these questions do you? That or your ego won't let you reflect on the implications of the answers. lol
I've had the 'search Geely FB groups' recommendation given to me before and I did do that a while back na (it's an incredibly common response from people who think it's some kind of 'gotcha/huli ka' moment). You know what I found? The number of complaints about Geely cars basically died down around the time their new national parts distribution center came into operation (early this year). You'll see the history of complaints dated mostly from mid 2024 (when Geely said they would take over) to around January 2025 (when the takeover was completed). Not that you'll won't find complaints but they seem centered around specific dealerships and you have people telling you to just avoid going there and use a different one (not a good thing but it doesn't represent the typical experience).
Assisted by AI? 🤨 I'm not trying to be or look like anything (except consistent in my statements). You just don't participate in thought-provoking discussions do you? My comment would be around two to three minutes worth of conversation if we were talking in person. I apologize if it doesn't appeal to your attention span. ðŸ¤
Regardless, you seem to be scared to actually answer the points raised (allegedly AI or not) so what does THAT make YOU look like? A person with decent knowledge about a subject can still pick out errors (or ask for clarification) if they think a statement is false (AI was trained on human made content afterall so it will include errors those humans made).
Finally, speaking on the 'realities of owning chinese cars', you are acting on the assumption na the Geely debacle was not unique to them but a natural/expected 'reality' so it's amusing to me that you don't even realize how long it's already been quiet on the complaints central to that issue.
Going back to my earlier comment, the experts are out there and are speaking frankly on what they see/drive, and the owners are out there (outside of China, mind you) giving reviews and ownership updates in a language you can understand.
So, keep believing what you want and if after 5-10 years you end up being right? Congrats, those China car buyers should've know better! If you end up being wrong? What do you lose at that point, right? The realization that you might have paid too much for your non-Chinese car? What does that matter? You'll get to sell your car for 300k more than the resale value of that cheap Chinese car that was 300k cheaper to buy. Resale value parin, diba pare? haha
And do you know what THAT makes you look like? A guy who has so much free time. You could be doing anything. ANYTHING... Stop the nonsense. Get a job sir!
DeleteYes, I AM doing this in my free time. You understand that people engage in topics that interest them right?
DeleteThat's callled a hobby.
This is a car website.
We talk about cars here.
I have the luxury of a job that gives me time to entertain myself, thank you very much.
You come out of nowhere to call my observations AI and then don't bother engaging with my points. Your random antagonism is the actual nonsense here. How old are you sir? And why do you care what I do when I just want to talk about cars and car culture?
How about you get a LIFE? lol
now that is a sad hobby, for the maidenless.
DeleteWhat's really sad is someone jumping on a month old finished discussion. lol
DeleteAnd calling car people's hobby sad, on a website about cars and car culture, is definitely a choice 🤔
Is it really a compliance car to begin with?
ReplyDeleteUly, bZ4X or Zeekr 7X?
ReplyDeleteZeekr wouldn't lend us any of their cars, but even when compared to the Ioniq 5, the bZ4X has a gentler learning curve. It's great if you're transitioning from a hybrid/combustion to EV. The Ioniq 5 finds itself priced way off market at this point.
DeleteI own a Zeekr 7x. Hands down it's the best EV that our market has.
DeleteBecause you have so you say that
DeleteHaha. Not just because I own it. I test drove a bunch of EVs inlcuding the MYLR and i'd still choose the Zeekr 7x. Also, 2,500 pre-orders of the 7x in Australia. It says something right? It's in high demand in Europe, Australia, etc.
DeletePost purchase rationalization...
DeleteWill Zeekr launch their app locally? Also, does your unit have a SIM or a provision for it at least? That's really all I'm waiting for before purchasing a 7X.
DeleteThe Zeekr 7x is superior to the Model Y, which is already heads and shoulders better than the Toyota bZ4x. The Toyota SEEMS great if you're coming from an ICE or hybrid vehicle but current EV owners will likely be disappointed with what's available at that 2.7M pricetag.
DeleteBuying a Zeekr is like a sprint: explosive at the start, full of hype, but the trouble comes just as fast and you burn out just as quickly.
DeleteBuying a Toyota is like a marathon: the beginning is slow and unexciting, but it carries you far, steady, and reliably to the finish.
@ano 12:21am - No Zeekr app yet. Unit would have a sim provision as this is standard for connectivity for the app and other functionality which is not enabled for Philippine users yet. So yes, that's the downside. Our neighbors in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, HK have this functionality though.
DeleteNgayon ka lang masaya boy. Best EV talaga ha? That"s kind of naive. Maybe in terms of specs and brochures ka lang tumingin. Short test drives also doesn't tell the whole story. Let's just see if it's still the "best EV" after a couple of years.
DeleteI know and I’m sure the badge contributes a lot for the success of this BEV.
ReplyDeleteI’m still waiting for solid-state batteries. I’m praying….
ReplyDelete"No doubt, customers will easily be attracted to it by its price tag and impressive specs..." not really, Uly. At the 2.7M price range, the Tesla Model Y is a more compelling buy. Add a little bit more and you get the Zeekr 7X, which is multiple levels above the Toyota in terms of driving dynamics, refinement, technology, and safety. Had TMP priced this in the 2.4M and below level, this would have been an instant hit.
ReplyDeleteAgree to disagree there. Their target is the Model Y which is P 2,689,000 without the extras. This one is P 2,699,000. I think that's a fair price. It undercuts the Ioniq 5 and EV6 too.
DeleteCan't comment on whether Zeekr would be a good choice, but my bet is that 10 years from now, Toyota will still be around. Zeekr? We don't know.
Don't be like that Uly. I choose Zeekr because it's backed by Geely. They own Polestar (who is bleeding a lot), Volvo, Lotus, Smart, etc. So i'm hoping they'd be around still. They should just fold polestar into Zeekr and Smart into Volvo just to stop a bit of the bleeding.
DeleteDon't be like? When I meant Zeekr, I meant Zeekr Philippines. It's an open secret Autohub is looking for someone else to take over...so that says something.
DeleteZeekr 7X is hands down best in its price range, air suspension. Zeekr Phils owners don’t know how to market the car. It’s selling very well at Europe.
DeleteWell as an experience with the sales of Zeekr Philippines for a car they're marketing as luxurious.. a lot of shortcomings and doesn't feel premium at all. I just went ahead because i wanted the 7x versus all the available EV cars in the Philippines. The product is that compelling even though i feel it could have been priced lower.
DeleteLOL at the guy who bought a zeekr 🤣
DeleteAn emotional purchase that's for sure. Hindi pinag isipan.
Friendly advise, sell it before the 5th year mark. At least di masyado masakit. Or let another sucker assume your monthly payment.
Paid it in full with cash. So don't worry about me and my purchase. How's your car or do you even own one? I'm enjoying my zeekr 7x. If it does breakdown, then a learning lesson, i'd purchase another car. We live different lives and have different priorities or worries. So cry yourself to sleep.
DeleteIt failed to sell in other countries and its so outdated against tech from Tesla. No one will buy it at that ridiculous price.
ReplyDeleteGeely/lynk n co/zeekr has miles better quality than byd and other comrades
ReplyDeleteThe toyota BZ model 2026 is more advisable to buy than d BZ4X per my research, so, are u still going to bring d BZ model in the Phil?
ReplyDeleteNorth America bZ = global bZ4X. The "4X" naming was dropped in North America, because Toyota is changing its naming/marketing strategy for its EVs moving forward.
DeleteOverpriced toyota. They are not even known in the EV market. I can buy a BYD Atto 3 base variant at half the toyota price. And the Atto 3 is a better car than that toyota.
ReplyDeleteThats the toyota way always late in the game but always emerged as the champion. China car brands too fast but lack quality control and full of gimmickry than usefull features. You see byd now will ditch the gimmicky rotating touchscreen to make it more reliable.
ReplyDeleteTrue 💯
DeleteThere's a reason why chinese cars have so many tech yet the price is low. They skimped on quality
Toyota isn't the champion in every market. Overall, globally they are but they don't hold the title in several big markets.
DeleteIf high price always means quality then why are the Japanese brands giving such big discounts? Did their quality go down or maybe they are charging too much and need to react to competition? What does that look like to the average buyer?
Car makers in Europe are making super popular high tech cars that are much cheaper than the Japanese models too. I wonder how much they skimped on quality? 🤔😄
At least it has a spare tire.
ReplyDeleteTo entrepeneurs: surely there's a market for external spare tire mounts - fashioned from a bike rack, perhaps.
All those features and power but can only go 160kph?.. thats a shame really. A cheap lowly mirage G4 can overtake this at 170kph.
ReplyDeleteTesla engineers are reverse engineering china made EV cars to find out how they make their cars with all the tech at a low price.
ReplyDeleteAnd then Tesla dropped the Model 3 standard trim today (12-09-2026) at 1.838M. The only part of it I didn’t like is the wheel design (that couldn’t be swapped with the other designs). So it’s quite a compelling package for those wanting a brand-name EV who are hesitant to invest in a new technology car, while also opening doors for families with “normal” budgets to confidently dip their toes to EV ownership.
ReplyDelete