The smallest and most important
The bZ4X is the only electric Toyota developed from the start as an EV that should serve the European EV buyer. That SUV won’t have to bear that responsibility on its own for much longer. Toyota will bring a fleet of electric newcomers to Europe until 2026. The smallest and perhaps the most important is coming this year! AutoWeek looks ahead to the compact EV that could easily be called Toyota bZ2X.
Highlights
- Electric compact crossover in an important segment
- Also with four-wheel drive
- Coming soon
For a long time, former Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda did not feel the need to electrify his brand at a rapid pace. At the end of 2021, Toyota launched an extensive series of EV precursors into the world under his leadership, but the Japanese stuck to a global outlook. Kōji Satō has been behind the controls at Toyota since April last year. Satō is at least as ambitious as his predecessor, who caused a major turnaround at Toyota in terms of experience, but he dares to take much bigger steps in the EV field. Toyota’s EV future is now a lot more concrete, especially for Europe. And that is desperately needed.
Offensive started
Anyone in Europe who is in the market for an electric car can only choose one car from Toyota: the bZ4X. At least, that is the only electric Toyota that does not share its base with a commercial vehicle. Remarkable. Outside Europe, Toyota’s Beyond Zero (bZ) offering is slightly larger, but not much more impressive. The bZ label currently only has a second model in China. It’s called bZ3. Indeed: without X. After all, it is not an SUV or crossover, but a sedan. By 2026, Toyota wants to have only six EVs in its European lineup, which means that five new electric Toyotas will be added within the next two years. Toyota has already given fairly concrete impressions of three of these. The Compact SUV Concept of 2023 served as a preview of an electric crossover in the Corolla Cross and C-HR segment and the Sport Crossover Concept shown this year served as a precursor to a lower and longer electric crossover-like vehicle. Relevant, but even more important for the European market, is the small electric long-legged car that Toyota will be targeting the European market with.
Important segment
This year, Toyota will launch the production version of the Urban SUV Concept. That study model already looked quite ready for production and during its presentation we even got an indication of its size. The show car was 4.3 meters long, which places it in one of the most important segments in Europe: the compact crossover. The production version derived from the Urban SUV Concept will therefore be a tough competitor for successful EVs such as the Peugeot e-2008 and will therefore also face cars such as the Opel Mokka Electric. Ideal for, for example, the Yaris Cross driver who dares to make the switch to electric driving.
Toyota bZ2X (Illustration: Larson)
Smart move
The more interesting the prize, the greater the chance of winning souls. And so Toyota seems to be pulling off a clever trick with the possibly called bZ2X compact crossover. The conceptual precursor of the model strongly resembled a Suzuki show car: the eVX Concept. That’s no coincidence. Toyota and Suzuki regularly exchange models and the Toyota bZ2X seems to be Toyota’s version of the Suzuki developed by the Indian Maruti Suzuki. That may make the cost picture a lot more attractive for Toyota – and possibly also for European consumers. Don’t be surprised if the bZ2X is also built in India for the European market.
It is of course still too early for detailed technical specifications. We do know that Toyota’s compact electric crossover will have two battery options and will be available not only with front-wheel drive, but also with all-wheel drive. It remains to be seen how far it will go on a full battery. We do not expect Toyota to be satisfied with a range of less than 400 kilometers for the version with the largest electric lung capacity.
Coming soon
In terms of design, Toyota’s important newcomer fits in seamlessly with recent Toyotas such as the bZ3 and the new Prius and C-HR. Just like with the last two, Toyota hides the rear door handle of the bZ2X in the C-pillar. Do you like to sit in the back with your legs stretched out? Even then you can probably put Toyota’s compact EV on your shortlist. The car has a sliding rear seat. So practical. Does what is still unknown give you sleepless nights? Then we have good news. Toyota will show the final production version in the first half of this year.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl