Road tested By Hugh Maguire.
I am still not convinced on this mad rush to EV’s. There is a growing realisation that is is not well. Dreadful infrastructure, huge depreciation and some companies deciding to roll back or even for now stop production of EV’s. Renewable fuels are coming, battery technology is rapidly changing, and already the EU has rolled back the deadline on the banning of the sale of combustion engined cars.No wonder Toyota have been slow to get into the full EV market. So petrol and diesel is by no means dead yet! EV’s will suit some peoples motoring needs but those taking longer trips may wish to consider a plug-in hybrid or indeed a petrol or diesel car. This week I am testing the Toyota bZ4X a new EV that is the result of a joint collaboration between Subaru and Toyota. Subaru’s version is called the Solterra and in all but the badge they are pretty much identical.
First Impressions
Although considered a compact crossover it is quite a substantial looking car. I like the styling quite a lot and it has real presence on the road. The black plastic extended wheel arches give it a rugged appearance and with lovely alloy wheels this is a very smart looking EV.
What is it like inside?
Well like them all now its digital of course. Not everyone will like the somewhat quirky style of the dashboard but it all works well enough. The steering wheel may though obscure some of the drives view of the digital instruments depending on the height you need to adjust it to.
The driving position gives a commanding view of the road ahead and there is a host of standard kit from wireless charging, LED auto beam lights, adaptive cruise control, to heated seats and steering wheel to name but a few.
The cabin is bright and very roomy both front and rear, with multiple storage areas and plenty of charging ports, while the boot is a decent size too offering true practicality for family motoring. The rear however has quite a high floor (due the battery underneath) which means your seating position results in your knees being higher than your hipline, not so comfortable on long trips.
What is under the bonnet?
So here we have a 71.4kWh battery powering one electric motor driving the front wheels.
Range is a claimed 515 km but beware I could achieve no where near that! Sure its March and outside temperatures were on average plus 9C during my weeks road test but my carefully monitored figures tell a disappointing story.
From 98% it showed a range of 337 km however I actually got 254 km leaving me with 13% charge before I re charged.That predicted range of 337 km instantly became 302 km when I switched on the heating and that was before I even left the charging station!
It took 35 mins to charge on a high power public charger to 80% and a further 20 minutes to get from 80 to 90%.
What is it like to drive?
The Toyota bZ4X proves safe and secure and actually proves surprisingly talented on a twisty country road. The supple ride is good and there is not too much body roll but you do feel that mass in excess of two tonnes. It is quiet, most EV’s are anyway, despite some tyre noise it proves a nice place in which to travel.
Verdict
The new Toyota bZ4X is a good car and offers plenty in terms of standard kit but its range is it’s real achilles heel and a car built for the needs of family motoring needs to offer a better range than this.
Prices start at €42,950. The Sport model tested costs from €44,055 after SEAI grant.