Toyota bZ4X Grade Guide: G vs Z — All Differences Explained (Plus the New bZ4X Touring)

Toyota's first mass-production electric vehicle just got a major range boost, a meaningful price cut, and a brand-new larger sibling. Here's exactly what separates G and Z, what changed in the October 2025 update, and how the new bZ4X Touring fits in.

📅 Current Model: Major update October 9, 2025; bZ4X Touring added February 25, 2026 🚗 Grades: G · Z (bZ4X); Z only (bZ4X Touring) 🇯🇵 Japan Domestic Market — Toyota's First Mass-Production BEV 🔋 Up to 746 km WLTC Range, 28-Minute Fast Charging

Big Update: October 2025 Brought More Range for Less Money

Toyota gave the bZ4X a substantial update on October 9, 2025 — not a cosmetic refresh, but a genuine improvement to the car's core numbers. Maximum range grew to 746 km WLTC (on the Z grade, FWD, 74.7kWh battery) — a roughly 30% increase over the outgoing model — while prices actually dropped by ¥500,000–¥700,000 across the range. New for this update: a battery preconditioning system that pre-warms the battery ahead of DC fast charging, meaningfully improving cold-weather charging speed (Toyota states the car can still fast-charge from 10% to 80% in roughly 28 minutes even in -10°C ambient conditions) — a genuinely useful feature for buyers in Japan's snowier regions. Then, in February 2026, Toyota expanded the bZ4X family further with a new, larger sibling: the bZ4X Touring.

What Is the Toyota bZ4X?

The bZ4X is Toyota's first mass-production battery electric vehicle (BEV), co-developed with Subaru and sharing its core platform and all-wheel-drive engineering with the Subaru Solterra. It's currently the only BEV in Toyota's Japan-market SUV lineup. The October 2025 update brought a new "hammerhead" front-end design shared with other recent Toyota electrified models, a redesigned, simplified horizontal instrument panel, a larger 14-inch Connected Navi-compatible display audio system, a revised center console with two wireless charging pads, and retuned steering and suspension for a more direct, planted driving feel.

Grade and Battery Lineup at a Glance

Prices per Toyota's official Japan-market pricing following the October 9, 2025 update, representing a reduction of ¥500,000–¥700,000 versus the outgoing model (previously: G FWD ¥5,522,000, G 4WD ¥6,022,000 — now discontinued; Z FWD ¥6,022,000; Z 4WD ¥6,522,000). Hokkaido-region pricing may differ. 4WD is no longer available on G — if you want all-wheel drive, you must step up to Z. With Japan's CEV subsidy (up to ¥1,300,000, significantly increased from January 1, 2026), effective purchase prices can fall into the mid-¥3 million range.

The Two Batteries — What Actually Changes

57.7 kWh (G grade only)

• The smaller of the two battery options, available exclusively on G
• FWD only — this battery size isn't offered with 4WD
• 544 km WLTC range, 169 PS output
• The most affordable way into a new bZ4X

74.7 kWh (Z grade, FWD or AWD)

• The larger battery, exclusive to Z
• In FWD form, delivers the range-topping 746 km WLTC figure and 227 PS
• In AWD (4WD) form, adds a 120 PS rear motor for meaningfully quicker acceleration (5.1 seconds 0–100 km/h, versus 7.4 seconds for the FWD Z) at the cost of some range (687 km versus 746 km)

Full Grade Breakdown

G — Entry Grade

¥4,800,000

• 57.7 kWh battery, FWD only
• 544 km WLTC range
• Full Toyota Safety Sense-equivalent suite standard
• The most accessible bZ4X, though with no 4WD option and less range than Z

Z — Top Grade

¥5,500,000 (FWD) / ¥6,000,000 (AWD)

• 74.7 kWh battery, available in FWD or AWD
• FWD delivers the range-topping 746 km WLTC figure; AWD trades some range for significantly stronger acceleration
• 14-inch Connected Navi-compatible display audio, standard as of the October 2025 update
• Two wireless charging pads in the redesigned center console
• The only grade offering 4WD
• An optional solar charging system is available as a manufacturer option, generating up to approximately 1,850 km worth of driving energy per year even while parked

What Changed in the October 2025 Update

• Range increased to a maximum of 746 km WLTC (Z, FWD, 74.7kWh) — roughly 30% more than the outgoing model
• eAxle (integrated transaxle, motor, and inverter) miniaturized and optimized, boosting output substantially — 0–100 km/h on Z (AWD) dropped to 5.1 seconds
• Battery preconditioning added, pre-warming the battery ahead of DC fast charging to maintain fast-charging speed even in cold conditions (down to -10°C ambient tested)
• Fast-charging time held at approximately 28 minutes (10% to 80%) using a 150kW charger, maintained even in cold weather thanks to preconditioning
• New "hammerhead" exterior design, simplified horizontal instrument panel, larger 14-inch Connected Navi display audio, revised center console with 2 wireless charging pads
• Electric power steering gearbox mounted directly to the body, improving steering directness; suspension and shock absorber tuning revised for ride comfort and handling
• Optional solar charging system newly available
• 4WD discontinued on G — now Z-exclusive
• Prices reduced by ¥500,000–¥700,000 across the range

Meet the bZ4X Touring — A Larger, More Capable Sibling

Launched February 25, 2026, the bZ4X Touring is a genuinely different vehicle from the standard bZ4X, not just a trim variant — sold overseas under the name "bZ Woodland" and closely related to Subaru's own Trailseeker EV. Toyota's positioning is explicit: Touring keeps the standard bZ4X's driving enjoyment and off-road capability while substantially improving practicality, expanding luggage space by roughly 1.4x versus the standard bZ4X.

Compared to the equivalent bZ4X Z (same 74.7kWh battery), Touring costs about ¥250,000 more in FWD form and ¥400,000 more in 4WD form — the 4WD premium reflects a higher-output rear motor tune specific to Touring, which is why its AWD 0–100 km/h time (4.6 sec) actually beats the standard bZ4X Z AWD's 5.1 sec despite the larger, heavier body. Design-wise, Touring shares the same U-shaped "hammerhead" headlight motif and connected rear taillamp treatment as the updated bZ4X, but uses a less steeply raked rear window to free up cargo space and rear headroom. KINTO Unlimited subscription availability began around April 2026, with Z (FWD) starting from ¥77,440/month under a 7-year contract with biannual bonus payments.

Full Feature Comparison Table

✓ = Standard/Available | ✗ = Not offered | — = Not applicable or not independently confirmed for this specific configuration. Features sourced from Toyota's official grade pages and October 2025/February 2026 update press coverage (toyota.jp/bz4x, toyota.jp/bz4xtouring).

bZ4X vs bZ4X Touring — Which Should You Choose?

• Choose standard bZ4X G or Z if you want Toyota's most affordable BEV entry point (G) or the outright longest range in the lineup (Z FWD's 746 km beats Touring's 734 km slightly).
• Choose bZ4X Touring if cargo capacity is a priority — the roughly 1.4x luggage space increase is substantial — or if you want the quickest-accelerating configuration in the family (Touring 4WD's 4.6 seconds beats every bZ4X variant).
• Both share the same 74.7kWh battery in their top configurations, so the core EV experience (charging speed, battery preconditioning) is consistent across both — the decision comes down to size, cargo needs, and budget rather than fundamental EV technology.

Which Grade Should You Buy?

💴 Best for Lowest Cost

Choose G. At ¥4,800,000, it's ¥700,000 less than the equivalent-generation Z, with 544 km of range still comfortably covering most daily and weekend use.

🏆 Best for Maximum Range

Choose Z (FWD). At 746 km WLTC, it's the longest-range configuration Toyota currently offers on this platform.

⚡ Best for Performance

Choose Z (AWD) or, for even quicker acceleration, bZ4X Touring (4WD) — both add a rear motor for genuinely different performance character versus the FWD versions, with Touring's tune edging out standard Z on outright acceleration.

📦 Best for Cargo and Practicality

Choose bZ4X Touring. The ~1.4x luggage space increase over standard bZ4X is a genuine practical upgrade if you regularly carry bulky cargo, camping gear, or sports equipment.

Importing a Toyota bZ4X

For buyers sourcing a bZ4X (or bZ4X Touring) from Japanese auction, a few EV-specific identification points matter:

• Confirm build date relative to the October 2025 update — pre-update cars have a different exterior design, a smaller display audio screen, no battery preconditioning, and significantly less range and lower prices than the current specification described here. Treat pre- and post-October-2025 bZ4X as functionally different cars for comparison purposes.
• Battery size (57.7kWh vs 74.7kWh) determines both range and 4WD eligibility — a 4WD bZ4X is necessarily a Z-grade car with the 74.7kWh battery, since G no longer offers 4WD as of this update.
• Request battery state-of-health (SOH) data specifically on any used EV, including the bZ4X — battery degradation affects real-world range and resale value in ways that aren't visible from exterior condition alone, making this more important to verify than on a conventional gasoline or hybrid vehicle.
• Confirm charging port standard and compatibility — Japan uses CHAdeMO for DC fast charging, which may differ from charging infrastructure in your destination market if importing internationally; verify compatibility with available charging equipment before purchase.
• bZ4X Touring is a distinct model from standard bZ4X, not merely a trim package — confirm you're looking at the correct model given the shared family design language and similar naming.
• The optional solar charging system, if fitted, is a manufacturer option selected at time of order — confirm its presence explicitly rather than assuming, since it's not standard even on Z.

Always confirm the exact grade, battery size, drivetrain, battery health, and accident history against the chassis number before bidding — for an EV, this matters even more than for a conventional vehicle, since battery condition significantly affects both usability and value in ways not visible from photos alone. If you're bidding from overseas, running the chassis number through a Japanese auction sheet and history check before you commit is the safest way to confirm the car in front of you actually matches the grade it's listed under — that's exactly the kind of check we built JPChecker to make simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the range of the Toyota bZ4X? Up to 746 km WLTC on the Z grade (FWD, 74.7kWh battery) as of the October 2025 update — the G grade (57.7kWh) offers 544 km, and Z in AWD form offers 687 km.

What is the cheapest Toyota bZ4X grade? The G grade, priced at ¥4,800,000 (tax included) as of the October 2025 update, with a 57.7kWh battery and FWD only.

Does the Toyota bZ4X G grade have 4WD? No, not as of the October 2025 update — 4WD (AWD) is now exclusive to the Z grade with the larger 74.7kWh battery.

What is the Toyota bZ4X Touring? A larger, more cargo-focused sibling to the standard bZ4X, launched February 25, 2026, sold overseas as the "bZ Woodland" and closely related to Subaru's Trailseeker EV. It offers roughly 1.4x the luggage space of standard bZ4X, along with X-MODE off-road traction control, in a single Z grade priced from ¥5,750,000.

How fast does the bZ4X charge? Approximately 28 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% using a 150kW DC fast charger, maintained even in cold weather (tested to -10°C ambient) thanks to a new battery preconditioning system added in the October 2025 update.

Is the Toyota bZ4X related to the Subaru Solterra? Yes. Both were co-developed by Toyota and Subaru and share the same core platform and all-wheel-drive engineering, though each brand applies its own styling and trim.

How much did the bZ4X's price change in the October 2025 update? Prices dropped by ¥500,000–¥700,000 across the range compared to the outgoing model, while range and performance both improved — a genuinely favorable update for buyers rather than a typical price increase seen with most running updates.