2023 Toyota bZ4X Safety and ADAS Features: Everything You Need to Know
The 2023 Toyota bZ4X has begun rolling into dealer showrooms nationwide. Toyota’s first EV in its Beyond Zero series finally kicks off the auto giant’s move toward a fully electrified lineup. The 2023 bZ4X has a futuristic exterior, a decent driving range, and tons of technology. It also boasts a comprehensive suite of safety features and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), but what exactly does that include? Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Toyota bZ4X safety and ADAS features.
Overview of the 2023 Toyota bZ4X
The standard 2023 Toyota bZ4X has a single-motor, front-wheel-drive powertrain producing 201 hp. An upgraded 215-hp two-motor model has all-wheel drive and a slightly larger battery.
Toyota says the FWD XLE trim can go 250 miles on a full charge, but the EPA estimates the bZ4X’s range is slightly better at 252 miles. However, the range on the pricier Limited model drops to 242 miles. And the dual-motor powertrain can get 228 miles on the XLE or 222 miles on the Limited.
Every purchase of a new 2023 Toyota bZ4X also includes one year of free public charging at select stations. With DC fast-charging, users can restore 80% of the battery in about 60 minutes.
Up to five riders can fit comfortably in the bZ4X’s roomy cabin. Though accommodations are sufficient, this small crossover SUV offers only 56 cubic feet of total cargo space. Also, the the bZ4X lacks a frunk and a glovebox.
However, it has a large 12.3-inch touchscreen on the center stack and a digital gauge cluster atop the dashboard. The base XLE trim also includes wireless smartphone integration, a wireless charging pad, and almost every available safety feature.
Toyota bZ4X Limited buyers can add an optional JBL audio system and a foot/leg warming function for the seats. This trim costs $46,700 or $48,780 depending upon the drivetrain choice. The XLE trim retails for $42,000 to $44,080.
The 2023 Toyota bZ4X includes improved safety and ADAS features
The 2023 Toyota bZ4X also has the latest version of the automaker’s car safety suite. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 includes pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic-brake assist, lane-tracing assist, and lane-departure warning. The suite also has traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitors, and dynamic radar cruise control.
In addition, the automaker updated Toyota Safety Sense 3.0’s millimeter-wave radar and monocular camera with a heightened detection range. This gives the system’s existing features more capabilities.
For example, the lane-tracing assist mode is now more accurate with the improved camera. Toyota says the pre-collision warning system can now mitigate crashes against guardrails. In addition, daytime protection for motorcyclists and low-light cyclist protection were implemented.
Even the Toyota bZ4X’s battery has been enhanced for optimum safety. Toyota says that it “added many measures to help ensure cell integrity was protected. A non-conductive coolant runs through separated flow channels to maintain optimal battery temperature. The battery pack housing is designed to withstand a collision from any angle due to its frame and cross-bracing design.”
Do all new cars have ADAS and other advanced safety features?
If you own a car made in 2016 or later, it might already have a few ADAS features. According to the automotive technology manufacturer Aptiv, ADAS typically includes any feature that requires advanced sensors or cameras to operate. The company mentions blind-spot monitors as an example: The system “sees” oncoming cars for you, giving you a visible and/or audible alert.
ADAS is also used in automatic emergency braking and forward-collision warning systems. However, Aptiv clarifies this system is not the same as automated driving. Though some features can automatically move the vehicle out of danger in certain driving scenarios, most require the driver to be fully present.
Even so, Aptiv cites data that proves the effectiveness of ADAS features. The IIHS says intelligent rear braking helps reduce back-end crashes by 78%. In theory, enhanced ADAS might make the 2023 Toyota bZ4X one of the safest vehicles you could buy this year.
