Toyota makes a U-turn on EVs

Image source: toyota.com

Toyota were the forerunners with electric vehicles. They managed to give the globally hated Prius. But soon after they went missing from the rapidly growing EV market. Toyota maintained that the electric car technology of today is not as clean as it is claimed to be and does not help protecting the environment. They chose to go with the Hydrogen cell powered vehicles.

Toyota have heavily invested in the Toyota fuel cell program and in the recent times rolled out some of the cleanest cars in the market. The Mirai is as reliable as any other Toyota and no more harmful to the environment. The Mirai has sold around 20000 cars globally. It doesn’t sound much but adoption of such a technology is understandably conservative.

Image source: toyota.com

Then out of the blue, Toyota announced the bZ4X. The 2023 model is an all electric mini SUV. The first impressions are very promising. The bZ4x come in front wheel and also all wheel drive options. It will have a modest range of 250 miles for the front wheel version powered by a 63 kWh battery. The all wheel version will have a slightly lower 220 miles from a 65kWh battery. Similar to the other EVs on offer, these power trains will charge to 80% in under an hour.

For the price it offers a more than entry level interior. It sports a very responsive large tablet in the center. Both Apple car play and Android auto are standard. Some of the functions can also be accessed via the Toyota app. The interior is more spacious than the similarly dimensioned RAV4. The bZ4X will keep the frunk a secret, no you cannot access it.

It is a welcome addition to the sub 40K EVs giving buyers options to choose between the VW ID.4, Subaru Soltera, Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Image source: toyota.com