Toyota is finally entering the battery-electric segment in full force, and the Japanese auto giant will do that with the 2023 Toyota bZ4X. The Toyota bZ4X is the first Toyota built on the e-TNGA platform, a brand-new EV platform designed by Toyota and Subaru. The 2023 Toyota bZ4X is set to release later this year, and here’s a look at it and how much it’ll cost.

The many features of Toyota’s brand-new EV

The Toyota bZ4X currently has two engine options, and they’re both tied to whether a customer wants front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The FWD option has a single electric motor that produces 201 horsepower, and the AWD option has two electric motors that get a combined 215 horsepower. This doesn’t make the bZ4X a very sporty car, as it can only go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds.

Its range is also not particularly spectacular. It has a 72.8-kWh battery to get roughly 250 miles on a single charge. However, Toyota may offer a larger battery option later, though that will increase its price tag. While these numbers aren’t exactly thrilling, Toyota put a lot of work into designing the bZ4X’s tech and interior. 

For example, Toyota put a heat pump system into the bZ4X to help the car save energy when it’s using its heating or A/C systems. Toyota has also designed the bZ4X battery to retain about 90% of its charge after 10 years of use. This should allow the bZ4X to be a stereotypically reliable Toyota. 

On top of that, the bZ4X will be the first Toyota to have Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, according to Consumer Reports. This brand-new suite of smart safety features has a lot of improvements on the smart safety features available on current Toyota models with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. For example, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 will allow the car’s automatic emergency braking system to detect motorcyclists, guard rails, and low-light cyclists.

How much does the 2023 Toyota bZ4X cost?

While the company has released many details about the Toyota bZ4X, it has yet to release any solid pricing info. That being said, with the help of what word is available, experts have estimated its price tag. Unfortunately, however, these estimates vary rather significantly. For example, Kelley Blue Book estimates that the bZ4X could start at about $36,000. On the other end of the spectrum, Consumer Reports estimates that this brand-new Toyota EV could cost somewhere between $40,000 to $45,000. If the bZ4X’s true price tag is somewhere in the middle of those two estimates, it could cost about $40,000. Either way, though, the bZ4X will still be eligible for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, so its actual price tag will likely be even lower than that. 

The cost of the 2023 Toyota bZ4X compared to other electric SUVs

Since Toyota has yet to reveal how much the bZ4X will cost, it’s also tough to compare it with other EVs in the segment. That being said, the Toyota bZ4X will almost certainly cost about as much as the Subaru Solterra. That’s mainly because both cars were built on the same platform, so the Solterra should have a lot in common with the bZ4X. 

However, at its current estimated price range, the Toyota bZ4X should be more expensive than the Chevy Bolt EUV, which starts at about $33,500. Compared to other SUVs, though, the bZ4X should be in the same ballpark. For example, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 starts at about $43,500, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E starts at about $44,000.