The Back-Story

In recent years Toyota sent out mixed messages around EV adoption. They distracted attention away from the growing BEV market and tried to get more people interest in their class-leading hybrids and hydrogen projects.

Toyota also made regular updates about future solid state batteries that didn’t materialise, and they pushed its hydrogen fuel cell cars, even flaunting their hydrogen combustion technology just as refilling stations across the world were closing.
And what Toyota neglected to do was ‘big up’ its EV strategy. However, this is beginning to change.

In late March 2026, Toyota’s outgoing CEO, Koji Sato, issued a stark "survival warning" to the company and its suppliers, describing the current state of the automotive industry as a "battle for survival".

Sato even made a blunt warning to nearly 500 suppliers regarding Toyota's ability to keep pace with Chinese competition in which he said "unless things change, we will not survive".

And whilst he claimed battery EVs were the "missing piece" of Toyota's strategy, his ambition is on transforming manufacturing itself in order to make electric vehicles profitable and competitive.

This perhaps came after Toyota tore down a Tesla Model Y and observed how different it was manufactured to regular cars. It left Toyota in awe at how Tesla had ignored the industry norms and embraced new and different technologies in manufacturing and engineering which it used to build profitable EVs. Toyota took note.

So, when the CEO of one of the largest companies in the world, and the largest car maker in the world, makes comments like that and takes note of its competitors, eyebrows are raised around the world.

Whilst the only electric car Toyota sold for a while was the all electric bZ4X, it had a bumpy start after it launched in 2022. It received criticism for poor cold-weather range, was subject to safety recalls and suffered with some glitches and software bugs.
But, Toyota has recently refreshed the bZ4X and addressed all the concerns whilst giving the car a big upgrade, too.

It’s therefore fitting that we give Toyota a fair chance as we note its progress and run through their current and latest EV offerings highlighting the key features.

bZ4X Refresh

Toyota completely overhauled the bZ4X late last year with deliveries starting in January 2026. This is a significant upgrade to the pre-refreshed model, so it’s well worth a look at what Toyota has to offer.

Pricing is competitive with a starting price from £39,995. For that you get the entry level bZ4X with the new 57.7 kWh battery pack in Icon trim, although the Toyota website is showing a recent £1,500 discount with the bZ4X now starting at £38,495.00.
This battery is good for up to 274 miles on the WLTP test cycle.

But step up into Design trim and customers get the larger battery in front-wheel drive form for a combined range of 352 miles, with the All-Wheel Drive Excel model good for 292 miles WLTP.

Power output ranges from 167 bhp pushing the Icon from 0-62 mph in a respectable 8.6 seconds with the mid-spec and larger battery Design trim offering 224 bhp and a 0-62 mph time of 7.4 seconds.
But if its performance that customers are after, the AWD Excel comes with a very agreeable 343 bhp and a 0-62 mph time of 5.1 seconds.

Toyota states that it has a new battery pre-conditioning function to improve cold weather range, plus they have added a 22 kW on-board AC charger (Excel grade) for those charging on a 3-phase supply.

There are some styling tweak to the front with slimmer headlights and a new set of alloy wheels for enhanced kerb appeal.

Inside features an all-new dashboard with a new 14-inch multimedia central screen plus a new “digital island” centre console with twin wireless smartphone chargers sited underneath.
A one-piece panoramic roof is now an option to flood the cabin natural light, or to stare at the universe under moonlight.

There have also been some significant suspension tuning to improve ride comfort and driving dynamics, plus Toyota has worked on reducing cabin noise and vibration for a more sublime experience.

bZ4X Touring

Exciting news from Toyota as they have introduced a stunning estate version of the bZ4X with the new Touring.

This builds on the refreshed bZ4X above, but adds a large amount of versatility with a huge 33% increase in storage space in the boot.

Front and all-wheel drive versions are available with a maximum power output of 376 bhp from a new 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery. It’s worth noting that the front-wheel drive variants have a 221bhp motor.
Maximum fast-charging capacity (DC) at 150kW isn’t groundbreaking and slightly disappointing by today’s standard, but it should mean no more than half an hour spent at the rapid chargers.

The bZ4X Touring is 140mm longer and 20mm taller than it’s hatchback sibling at 4,830mm in length and 1,670mm wide. The boot capacity has been extended by 148 litres to a huge 669 litres making for a very practical family estate car and a much needed alternative to an SUV.

Choose the AWD option and it comes with Toyota’s intelligent XMODE drive control technology and Grip Control for additional traction and enhanced performance over rough and loose surfaces – ideal for rough tracks and some mild off-roading.

For customers concerned about longevity of batteries, Toyota covers this as the bZ4X will come with Toyota’s Battery Care Program covering “the battery each year for up to 10 years of vehicle age or up to 650,000 miles driven, subject to an annual battery health check”, which should provide absolute peace-of-mind.

Sales of the new bZ4X Touring will start in late spring.

Toyota Urban Cruiser

Toyota’s smallest EV on sale is the Urban Cruiser priced from £28,495 after a £1,500 manufacturers discount.

Designed as a B-Segment SUV, and built from a dedicated ground-up EV platform, it sits at 4,285 mm in length which pegs it against the Ford Puma Gen-E, the upcoming Volkswagen ID.Cross and Alfa Romeo Junior, to name a few.

Two LFP battery sizes are offered in three trim levels with Icon, Design and Excel trims, meaning whichever trim is chosen customers will start the day with a full, 100% charge.

The Urban Cruiser also comes with a 10-year, 650,000 mile warranty for peace of mind motoring (subject to annual battery health check).

Icon trim comes with a 49 kWh pack which is good for 213 miles of range according to the WLTP test cycle, and the larger 61 kWh pack is reserved for the Design and Excel trims and is good for 264 miles of range.
Power is rated at 147 bhp and 172 bhp respectively providing a 0-62 mph sprint in 9.6 seconds for the smaller battery option or 8.7 seconds for the larger pack.

And the Urban Cruiser launches with a standard fit Heat Pump across the range ensuring that cold weather driving isn’t impacted by a power hungry heater.

However, Toyota claims its DC rapid charging with take a sluggish 45 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% which is a let-down from a car that otherwise has impressive specs.

Toyota has been clever with the packaging by providing a generous 2,700 mm wheel base thanks to a dedicated EV platform, with the rear seat bench able to slide backwards and forwards to create more legroom or a larger boot space, which can be extended to a maximum of 566 litres - possibly even a class leader.

Inside there is a 10.25-inch drivers display and a 10.1-inch central, multi-media touch screen. Both displays can be fully customised, too.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come as standard offering the best navigation and infotainment experiences along with a wireless mobile phone charger.

There’s a raft of safety features included, such as rear-cross traffic alert, as well as front and rear parking sensors and a 360 degree camera for easier parking from the Excel trim.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser is now on sale with the following price options:

Icon Trim: £28,495
Design Trim: £32,960
Excel Trim: £34,925

Toyota C-HR+

Sitting above the Urban Cruiser in Toyota’s EV line-up is the all-new C-HR+. This is a completely different car to the hybrid and plug-in hybrid C-HR, with the C-HR+ built on the same eTNGA platform as the larger Toyota bZ4X.
It means it has “class above” cabin and load space compared to its hybrids siblings providing 106 litres more boot space.
It’s also reminiscent in its design to the premium offering from Lexus with its RZ electric Coupe SUV.

On sales since January this mid-size SUV comes in three trim levels – Icon, Design and Excel – all with front-wheel drive.

The Icon model has a 57.7 kWh battery with a range of up to 284 miles and the Design and Excel trims come with the larger capacity 77 kWh battery pack, for a range of up to 376 miles according to the WLTP test cycle.

Icon trim, priced at £32,995 comes with the smaller battery pack, has standard 18-inch black metallic alloy wheels, an 11kW onboard charger, a seven-inch digital drivers display, 14-inch multimedia touchscreen, part fabric-part synthetic leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel.
Toyota’s Safety Sense and driver assistance systems are included providing a Blind Spot Monitor with Safe Exit Assist, which warns if a door is being opened into the path of traffic approaching from behind.
Two wireless chargers are included, together with wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Design trim priced at £36,150 introduces the larger battery pack, a power-operated tailgate and rear privacy glass. Customers can choose 20-inch alloy wheels as an option, too.

Excel cars priced at £40,150 adds a 22kW onboard charger, power driver’s seat adjustment, synthetic suede and leather upholstery, headlight cleaners, and a Panoramic View Monitor to help precise manoeuvring in tight spaces.
It also features an enhanced safety and assistance package with Front Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist and touch-sensor controls for the Lane Trace Assist system.
An optional Premium Pack adds a JBL audio system and a panoramic roof.

Toyota’s Battery Care Program covers “the battery each year for up to 10 years of vehicle age or up to 650,000 miles driven, subject to an annual battery health check”, which should provide absolute peace-of-mind.