The wait is finally over. This morning Toyota announced the release of the 2023 Toyota bZ4X. This new fully electric vehicle designed by Toyota and shared with Subaru is a very anticipated compact SUV that is set to hit the markets this spring. But before you rush over to your local Toyota dealership, let’s look at the released trim levels available for the 2023 Toyota bZ4X.
The XLE trim will come with both options of FWD or AWD with a range of 228 miles. It has a fuel economy of 107 MPGe city and 131 MPGe highway. It has a trunk volume of 27.7 ft³. The 2023 Toyota bZ4X XLE has 214 horsepower and 248 lb-ft. The 2023 Toyota bZ4X XLE has a 72.8KWH battery and 8.1 inches of ground clearance.
The 2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited will also come with either the option of a front-wheel-drive or a rear-wheel drive. It has a fuel economy of 107 MPGe city and 131 MPGe highway. It has a trunk volume of 25.8 ft³. The 2023 bZ4X Limited has 201 horsepower and 198 lb-ft. It also has a ground clearance of 8.1 inches.
There is something interesting here, the XLE has more horsepower, less range, and more trunk space than the Limited. The Limited trim will come with both options of FWD and AWD with a range of 242 miles. However, the Limited trim seems to have a better range.
According to Toyota, the bZ4X will be available with the following interior colors, Softex®/Fabric-trimmed in Black for the XLE grade, and options of Softex®-trimmed in Black or Softex®-trimmed in Light Gray for the Limited grade.
These are pretty good numbers for a mid-level EV SUV. It’s not as expensive as a Tesla Model X but we really have not yet seen any compact EV SUVs hit the road beside the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Is this the pricing standard that an EV SUV should be at? We really don’t know because either this is a good deal or it’s not.
The Mustang Mach-E starts around $40,000 (which is also where the 2023 bZ4X will start around) and has a way better range and performance than the bZ4X. I don’t want to be quick to judge and I am basing my opinion on the numbers. However, I can say that the 2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited looks more luxurious than the Mach-E.
The Canadian 2023 bZ4X will receive two more trim levels. The L and LE trim models will both only be in FWD. The XLE Technology package will be like the Limited trim we have here. I am assuming it will be an American XLE with some of the Limited’s options such as interior and exterior colors.
All in all, I think the trim levels for the 2023 Toyota bZ4X are looking good. It's not like the base model is a bare-bones EV with no amenities and the Limited Trim is just a difference in numbers and colors. I hope to see the bZ4X soon and I hope to test drive one as well.
What do you think? Is Toyota taking the right step in the direction it wants to go? Will they succeed? Let us know in the comments section below.
Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun for daily Toyota news.
