🚨Good news! Toyota says it fixed the charging issues we encountered during this video, so we performed a retest of the bZ4X AWD to see if its improved. ➡ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z7Ip7JbK-Jw.html
More and more info is coming out to support the sub-standard DCFC performance of this. Even a 40kWh Leaf performs better. For those who will be charging at home overnight all the time, the BZ4X will be a great BEV. For road-tripping, that is going to be dependent if folks want to drive for 2.5 hours, then stop for an hour, then rince and repeat. A la Bolt, long distances can be done, but will take a hell of a lot longer then other competitive BEVS at similar price points, with just as much room and great build quality as Toyota. IMO, Toyota has screwed the pooch on this first BEV offering and I am really disappointed in them.
What's interesting is that on the FWD version of the car, with a battery from Panasonic, appears to not only peak higher but have a better overall charging curve (based on some reports we've seen on the internet, we haven't independently verified yet). But the CATL battery in the AWD bZ4X and the Subaru Solterra isn't good for DCFC.
I don't know this for a fact, but I get the impression the bZ4X is a rush-job Toyota pushed out the door so they could have some sort of EV to sell. In many ways, it feels like the Big T is coasting on decades of momentum and its reputation for quality, because even with non-electric products. the Koreans are trouncing them when it comes to design, technology, interior quality and often driving dynamics, too. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@EVPulse Panasonic is who Tesla used for their original batteries. We need a front wheel drive charging test . Everyone bashed the car before seeing the fwd test
@@markfitzpatrick6692 There are a few FWD charging tests out there, but just not a ton of overall cars yet to test. Also geographically Toyota splits up its press cars, but we're attempting to get a FWD one.
Great entertaining video. Thanks for sharing. I had the Subaru version of the bz4x on reservation. Embarrassing recall put a dent into my plans. In a way I was glad to cancel the reservation. The bz4x / Subaru Solterra was impressive in the features of the vehicle. The electric range and rapid charging speed is way out in left field. Not competitive at all. They entered the EV market late. They’re way behind the competition. Till Toyota and Subaru can get their act tog, I may reconsider it. I ended up purchasing the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD. Electric range is 266 miles and rapid charging rate from 10 to 80 % is 18 minutes on a 350 kWh rapid dc charger. I travel from Baltimore to New York often . I don’t have time to sit around for over an hour to charge up to 80%. Time is of the essence!!!!
I did 110 miles on my Solterra so was at 33% charge when I went to one if those stations. Took 80 minutes to get to 90% and cost $19.53 with tax so over twice as much for that distance than our Prius.
So would we. We’re working on procuring a car. There are so few models currently Stateside and Toyota moves them around for events. But we are working on it. Thanks for watching!
Very informative and entertaining to boot. Pardon my ignorance all, but is it possible that Toyota and Subaru could release an over the air update that would increase charging speed? I believe I read about VW or another brand having done so. Thanks and looking forward to additional testing! Subbed.
Nice analysis. I hope you reconduct this same test on a 24' AWD. Toyota has made significant updates to the software and some tweaks to the heating and cooling on the battery. Notably the 2024 AWD and FWD are both rated at 150 kW charging and 7.6 kW on board charger.
I wanted to know please, what is your height and how getting in and out of the vehicle is easy or difficult? Because I have a Toyota Corolla 2021. I want to replace it, because I have no room for the head when I stretch and I am 1.72m and it is difficult for me to get out
Hello and thanks for commenting! I’m 6 feet tall (about 1.8 meters) and found the bZ4X interior to be roomy and mostly comfortable. The front bucket seats are very nice and easy to get into and out of. There’s also plenty of headroom and legroom in the backseat, though the bottom cushion is a bit low, a little too close to the floor. This isn’t a big complaint, but taller folks will notice it when seated back there. At your height, I don’t think you’ll have any issues getting into or out of the bZ4X. You shouldn’t hit your head, either. - Craig
@@maorgrinfelld500 Hmmm, I don't remember, but it was probably somewhere in the middle. I like to have the front edge of the bottom cushion up as far as possible to support the legs. - Craig
@@AutoEsoterica I want to tell you, thank you very much! For all your help and answers. She helped me a lot. I have already made an advance reservation for this car. Hope to get it soon.
Subbed, great video. We should collaborate! Your charge test results make me feel a tad bit vindicated after receiving so much pushback from Toyota fans on our bZ4X video! We simply don't think this kind of charge curve is helpful to electrification at all. These will fill up the used EV market in no time.
Thanks for the sub! Yeah, we can see there being some pushback. Toyota proper isn't too thrilled with the results so hopefully the company will work on an update to try to improve it in some parts. Thanks for watching!
@@SirHackaL0t. Oh, we're definitely an EV channel, but we also cover hybrids and plug-in hybrids as the industry transitions to pure-electric vehicles. The green future is coming, but we're not quite there yet. Electrified vehicle will help us make the transition. Thanks for commenting! - Craig
I'm hoping the rumors i'm hearing of HOLDING these at Rail-head is for a Software update (and hoping this software update is for charging curve fix!) I guess we shall see. 30-day hold started for me at 5/26/22.
If you don't plan on using your new bZ4X for long highway drives, I think you'll really like the vehicle. DC fast charging is, unfortunately, the all-wheel-drive model's Achilles' heel. Thanks for watching! - Craig
@@laloajuria4678 yes thank you we do now have an official notice from Toyota explaining the problem with the wheel hub BOLTS falling off the front left wheel. Hope it gets fixed soon.
That fan noise and the steering wheel issue makes you wonder how much thought they put into making this model and if they are really bothered in no one wants to buy one.
Yeah, I get the impression the bZ4X is kind of a rush-job. I don't think they put a lot of thought into it, unfortunately. In any event, thanks for watching and commenting! - Craig
Even for 150 rwd and 100 awd is low compare other brands, and they cant even charge at 80 most the time…. Maybe just a good city car hope rz450e can do better.
bZ4X is either FWD or AWD. We've seen some folks who have done a curve test on the FWD have a MUCH better performance across the range than on the CATL-equipped AWD. The RZ is the same battery as the bZ4X FWD (even though it's all-wheel drive), so it'll charge roughly the same way. 150 isn't the quickest out there, but it's still on par with most EVs on sale (with the exception being Tesla, higher end VW products, and the E-GMP cars).
This is how you reach a 10 year warranty and max. 10% degradation and cell balancing target after a decade. Everyone else is pushing their packs, ending up with unbalanced packs at 10 years and beyond and much higher degradation. It ain't flashy, but Toyota nutered this EV on purpose so that it lasts.
The fact that the first Subura EV uses this platform and just looks like a gas car with some EV flourish is disappointing. I hate to say how much more appealing the Ioniq5 is better in all the ways that matter… wanted a Subaru.
Toyota is quite conservative on battery. They intend to limit fast charge into their battery. We all know that fast charge ruin battery. But who warranty that? Car manufacturer! That's right. If one's car manu risk their battery usage by allowing too fast or to aggressive charge on the battery, that can cause high expenses on the company. Toyota has been number one for so long and they know to manage their risk.
If Hyundai/Kia can install an 800v architecture that allows 230Kw charging without shoving in joules of excess heat, so can Toyota. They just didn't bother. That's not conservative, that's lazy. Much like the rest of the car.
I can’t believe Toyota dove into the EV market with a 100kwh max for fast charging. That’s embarrassing and inexcusably low. The exterior looks nice, but the interior “cockpit” aesthetic is so ugly.
This video is quite bad. A lot of useless stuff in the video, which does not even relate to charging. Then at the 20:56 Charging Analysis section the horizontal axis is actually time, on which the state of charge is indicated. I am not completely against this, but in this case you should clearly indicate this. Simple because this kind of plotting deforms the charging curve significantly: it creates this exponential shape, or rather parabolic shape.
We're addressing charting issues in future videos. We also broke the video down into chapters to easily skip parts if they weren't of interest to you. Thank you for watching and your feedback!
Thanks for watching and commenting! We've already shot charging-curve videos of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volvo C40 Recharge, they’re just waiting to be edited. We plan on doing many more of these tests in the future, so make sure to check back often. - Craig
Toyota has made the bz4x purposely rubbish, as a way to convince you to buy their Hybrid. Thing is, Toyota has been a bit thick. As now most big manufacturers are churning out decent BEVs, so Toyota will be left with forecourts full of cars no one wants to buy.
