We’re excited to see the new Toyota bZ4X out in the wild. Critics are finally getting behind the wheel to see what this electric SUV can do. However, it might not be all gravy for the 2023 Toyota bZ4X as it falls short during range testing. 

How much range does the 2023 Toyota bZ4X have? 

The 2023 Toyota bZ4X has an EPA-estimated range of between 242 to 252 miles. This is for the single motor variant with the 63.4 kWh battery pack. The forward drive variant provides 201 hp and 196 lb-ft of torque. 

If you upgrade to the dual-motor variant with all-wheel drive, the EPA-estimated range drops to about 222 to 228 miles. This makes sense as AWD adds more weight to the vehicle. Also, the AWD model cranks out 214 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. 

During Car and Driver’s test, the bZ4X only had a range of about 160 miles on the highway, but it could do better in the city. 

Edmunds tested a single-motor model and only got a range of about 227 miles. The bZ4X fell short by about 15 miles or 6.2 percent, which is odd for electric vehicles in its class. The Tesla Model 3 is the only other nonluxury EV to fall short during testing. 

How do you charge the 2023 Toyota bZ4X? 

Charging the 2023 Toyota bZ4X is pretty straightforward. You open the little door located in front of the driver and plug the charging cable in. Then you wait, and times vary based on the charger you use. 

The bZ4X comes with a standard Level 1 charging cable than can be plugged into a 120-volt or household outlet. Using a Level 1 charge takes about 50 hours to recharge the battery pack fully. 

You can speed up the process with a Level 2 charger which is a 240-volt outlet. It can replenish about 100 percent of the charge in about 9.5 hours. This breaks down to about 23 miles per hour. 

Level 2 charging stations are easy to find at most public charging locations. But you can have a Level 2 charger installed at home by a qualified electrician. 

Toyota recommends using ChargePoint or Qmerit. Level 2 charges cost about $500 to $800. Then it could cost about $700 to $1,999 to install. 

Under ideal conditions, you can use a DC Fast Charger to regain about 80 percent of charge in about 30 minutes for FWD models. It takes about an hour to replenish AWD models. 

Those who purchase or lease a Toyota bZ4X benefit from a free year of charging provided by EVgo public charging stations. 

How much does the Toyota bZ4X cost? 

It costs about $42,000 to get started with a 2023 Toyota bZ4X. With this vehicle, you may qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit and other incentives. 

You could save about $1,152 per year with the bZ4X instead of the Toyota RAV4 for 10,000 miles if you drive in areas like North Dakota with cheaper fuel prices. Also, it takes about three years to make up for the price difference. 

We wouldn’t say that the Toyota bZ4X has a range problem yet. Owners shouldn’t be worried. The issues may only be related to the models that Edmunds and Car and Driver tested. 

It’s still early in the game for the bZ4X, and more critics will get behind the wheel to see what’s up. We can’t wait to put it to the test.