The Toyota BZ4X | The Most Disappointing Modern Toyota and Here's Why

[@sandylee5835]

I was actually shopping for a RAV4 Hybrid, but every dealership I encountered said I would be placed on a waiting list. After being introduced to the bz4x, I was impressed by the design, warranty, 2 year dealership maintenance, 1 year unlimited free charging and the $10K rebate. I don't mind the charging time at the charge stations, I just do my shopping or watch a KZbin Channel while wating. I don't anticipate the car will have a very high resale value after 3 years of ownership.

[@Gmobile95121]

I own one and charge at home with a level 2 charger. Following the 80/20 rule. I drive the car until 20% of the battery and charge it overnight to reach 80%. It typically takes about 5 hours. This car isn't for everybody. The majority of my driving is short distance and I charge it once a week. So it works great for me.

[@Rampage1979]

Exactly people act like they drive more than 350 kms daily. This car drives great and is built well most of the people complaining have never even driven the car .

[@erikt425]

I own one too, bought in March. It's the best car, and Toyota I've ever owned (30+ years). I drive at most 150 miles a day, many days less than that. I took, charge at home overnight when I choose too. I have a full battery ever time I go anywhere. I never need to use a public charger, I did so twice, both to see what it's like. I did charge from 20-80 while I was in the mall shopping. It's more expensive to use public chargers (3x the price), prefer to just charge at home. Waiting for a charge is simply something I don't need to do. This car drives great, is silent, fast AWD, useful, and cheap to drive. Perfect for me. Love it.

[@erikt425]

Almost forgot. At 100 percent battery with AWD is 225 reported range. When activating AC or heater goes to 200. I think that's about 10 percent, nowhere near "a third". Not sure where this guy got his numbers.

[@rp9674]

It's too big for my taste but my main issue with it would be the price, which applies to any EV I got a Chevy Bolt, super budgetary

[@sputnickers]

I don't go long distances. I'd happily trade my Rav4 Prime (under 8k miles) for a Toyota BZ4x. Any takers near Boston?

[@davidholder2100]

When you say “interesting”. I know it means messed up 😂

[@davidglad]

Him saying "but that's okay" is like a wife yelling "everything's fine, HONEY!"

[@InternetDude]

I wish he was more truthful instead of sugar coating things

[@Where2bub]

I always chuckle when he says “but that’s ok”

[@icosthop9998]

For me, it is all the above ⬆️ (comments) 😂

[@BubblesTheCat1]

When he says that's ok it means it's not ok😂

[@billschmidt3984]

I own a BZ and took a road trip with it from Portland Oregon to Missoula Montana. It definitely took longer but it was not awful. The car is super comfortable and charging networks are in place to do it with out much trouble.

[@mateocafe45]

I am 50 years old. I just bought a brand new 2023 Toyota Corolla AWD Hybrid. I am hoping that with proper Maintenace and care, it will be the last car that I own. I don't put many miles on it, and I drive it locally a few times a week. I also change the oil every 5,000 miles.

[@maddydog]

That’s awesome!

[@alvinsimba734]

I’m at 25k miles for my 2020 Corolla LE since I got it in 2020

[@Len10293]

Just understand that average life expectancy of the hybrid battery is about 8 years, replacement cost 6-7k

[@ark-transport9626]

My 1984 FJ60, 2000 4Runner, and 2000 LandCruiser are still going. Also change the oil at 5k-miles (along with other maintenance on time). I am considering similar to what you did. I figured I’d buy a 4Runner or LandCruiser when one of my current died, but now I’m wonder if I go ahead and just get a current 4Runner to share miles with current vehicles, and that 4Runner will be my last “new” purchase. Otherwise, I don’t know what will be available if I continue to wait until my current vehicle(s) dies. I haven’t had a car payment in about 20yrs.

[@ark-transport9626]

@@Len10293$6-$7 and you have a car that goes another 8yrs sounds way better than $50k-$100k in 8 years for a new car. That’s probably how much money I’d spend on gas in that time, so it almost seems that if I put gas-cash in piggybank every I would have filled-up, it’s a wash.

[@slambig]

Just picked one up for 28k and 850 miles on it. Warm climate, home charger and fits my needs perfectly.

[@CamKrazy2000]

I got my factory training for this vehicle a couple months ago, even though didn't even get to touch it during the 2 days of training. Just worked with hybrids. They explained to us that Toyota went super conservative with the battery. The longer charging time and the shorter range is to make the battery last at least 15 years in their estimation. But I think I'll just keep my Rav4 hybrid for about 10 more years.

[@mrvang8077]

If there's a battery that can actually last for than 5 years I have NOT seen it in real life scenario. Just like energizer battery. They say, it can last 10 years in storage, but in real life, it barely last 2 weeks. Litium energizer batteries are no exception.

[@WR40036]

@@mrvang8077 My 2013 Prius has a nearly 11 year old nickel metal hydride traction battery that is still strong. I have replaced the tiny lead acid glass mat battery (at 7 years), because I left the dome lights on. JD Power now says that traction batteries typically last 10 to 20 years. Green Bean (part of LKQ) offers an optional lifetime replacement extension to a 3 yr. warranty for $275. Think I'll buy from LKQ (Green Bean) when the time comes (if it ever comes). Not ready for the jump from hybrid to full electric (yet). When the time comes, it will likely be either a Toyota or a Honda; not generally happy with the fit and finish of native US car manufacturers. One of the closest dealerships to my home is owned by Tesla, but I'm not any wilder about them than GM, Ford... Would like to see solid state batteries before making the jump. Remember that many folks thought we should have stayed with horses and mules, and not transitioned to engines.

[@ryanespinoza7297]

@@mrvang8077even if the battery doesn’t last, it has a 10 year 150k mile warranty and would be replaced at no cost. Most people wouldn’t keep the car that long anyway

[@Cwayne1989]

Even REALLY stretching and giving Toyota the benefit of the doubt with the charging times for overall battery health, Those home charging speeds are absolutely deal breaking absurd slow. And going back to what AMD was saying with the overall lack of range in this vehicle. If Toyota was really worried about battery health they should have implemented a system capable of more range since that would led to overall less charging in general which means longer lasting battery. The thing is tho its no secret that Akio Toyoda is on record not being a fan of all electric so this was just a half ass release to say they have one.

[@atkak8561]

@@mrvang8077 There are a plenty of EV cars with more than 5 years old battery without any problems. First Prius Plugins are more than 10 years old, and no sign of failing lithium batteries in those. Comparing everyday batteries in the household or in mobile phones to EV car batteries is like comparing apple to pear.

[@hisken0503]

Been driving a bZ4x FWD on 20” in the NL since June and put on 6,000 miles. As a daily driver it does not disappoint, build and ride quality are fine and it’s actually quite efficient even at higher speeds and lower temps. Usually I charge at home @11kW every 2-3 days. Last week it was doing 3.6 miles to the kWh on a 280 miles trip and outside temp of 42 Fahrenheit. Did 2 brief stops of 15 minutes and top-up charged at around 75kW. EV driving is a lifestyle and this car fits in nicely.

[@GDM22]

What average speed were you travelling at, given it is an SUV, I would expect the efficiency to fall away quickly at higher speeds. Anything over about 55 mph.

[@hisken0503]

Good guess; at 65mph the car does about 3 miles/kWh with these low temps. In summer it’s closer to 3.5.

[@harriettanthony7352]

@@hisken0503 Curious details. For a broader picture, this writers 2019 Niro BEV does about the same M/Kh

[@V10PDTDI]

Thank for the honest review but you did not mention that it doesn’t have a rear wiper blade , like you said Toyota is not interested in making a good EV they want to say see we made one and people are not buying them , Wonder why if they made the investment like they did when the made the first Lexus the LS400 they would of made the best EV on the market for the price they are scared of loosing the hybrid sales they have now I’m also very surprised that you said what you said being a Toyota technician and brand loyal.

[@PanamaSticks]

I'm somewhat shocked that you would criticize this car, as a Toyota mechanic.. But I also believe you are very honest. Kudos to you. Wish you were my mechanic.

[@hervedubois2032]

I am in Europe France and buy a BZ4X and completely happy with it, I got a FWD BZ4X. Feel secure while driving it.I got 480KM of usable driving. Chbarging Time is not a problem for me. I got the new software update of the car seen on your video that it was the old software Toyota made an improvment. Thank you for your Testing. Did you test the car with the new software update ? didi you see any aimprovment ? best Regards

[@Chris-ew9mh]

I love my 2021 Rav4 Prime with it's flexibility to handle long trips on the gas engine, it will be some time before I transition to a full electric model. Thanks for giving an honest review!

[@seriousfaith]

Those charging times are insane! I don't think I'll let got of my 22 Camry anytime soon...600 mile range, 5 minutes at the pump, 600 more miles in the tank.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

I wish they made a station wagon version of that car. I love the Camry but the storage space just isn't enough for my needs.

[@seriousfaith]

@@AWMJoeyjoejoe yep...a wagon version of the Camry would see me getting one. We may be the only two left in the world...but I love wagons.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

​@@seriousfaithOh we're not alone. Plenty of people love a wagon, unfortunately the industry doesn't agree. Even Volvo are stopping production on station wagons now. Looks like I'll be keeping my V70 for a long time.

[@ytj22]

​@@seriousfaith2025 Crown Signia will be close.

[@Marc-King777]

If you get rid of your 22 Camry, and it's the V6 XSE, I want it. LOL

[@davidhetchler9154]

I own a Limited AWD and absolutely love it!

[@robinhood4532]

Same….I plug mine in at work at a free public charger. I’ve spent like 20$ on mileage in 2 months.

[@joemartino6976]

I think what you're saying is the BZ4X is a rush job. Because of Tesla's very high market valuation, it forced other manufacturers to have some ASAP representation in the EV category, even if they were resistant (like Toyota). In retrospect, Toyota should have moved their deadlines back for a better design.

[@john1701a]

Toyota's approach is continuous improvement. We have seen that with the hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Seeing a similar series of upgrades for BEV makes sense.

[@jotham123]

asap? Tesla has been around for 2 decades, and been making the model S since 2012, model 3 since 2017, 11 years and 6 years respectively

[@cindyaraya7317]

@@jotham123 And they are still garbage. They were then, they still are today. I asked my brother if he would ever get a Tesla or an electric vehicle, and he told me no. Why? He said that the technology for EVs just isn't there yet. And I agree with him.

[@Mac-t4y]

It is complacency @@john1701a

[@jotham123]

@@cindyaraya7317 I'd say it's here.. just not in the form of a car. Get an ebike instead. Cycling is the transport future we need. Not more cars - I'd recommend the channel Not Just Bikes

[@alexandredeluca3521]

I have one and i did more than 45.000 km with it. As a canadian i drove in both -30 celcius and over 35 celcius and tested it many times. At -30 with the heat full blast i did 200 km (on highway) and would have probably done 250km in city, during summer i did 450 km in city and around 400 on highway steady. For the pricerange and all the perks this car have (most spacious car ive been on for legs room, comfort and trunk space). Best Ev out there for your day to day if you don't care about doing 0-60 miles in 1,9 second.

[@James-d9z3i]

Thank you. Your review has convinced me to buy the vehicle. Conservative battery management - good idea, and it has proper door handles!

[@slavric]

You made me laugh. I like buttons and proper door handles too. Was looking Ioniq 5 but this looks like a better choice.

[@traviscade3186]

THANK YOU FOR THE HONESTY!!!

[@thomasdesocio5754]

One more thing, I am 72. this car will likely outlive me. It's not for everyone but I love the quiet, smooth torque. Love your channel. Thanks for all the great videos.

[@jima7756]

I have the 2024 bz4x, I leased the car last month with the crazy $15k rebate and tbh I couldn’t say no to it. The range could be better but the DC charging has been ok, 20 to 80% in less than 30 mins give or take usually on a 100 kw charging station. I think with the software update that Toyota did for this year’s version and the improvement on the thermal management system (living in southern CA makes it easier lol)has vastly improved this car. I do agree with you sir it still lacks tech like the other ev’s have. But i do love this car.

[@bepro1983]

Can you update us on your camry. Problems? Miles driven, service etc

[@MartinStockel-k6f]

Amd, your video on this Toyota BZ4X was terrific on explaining all the good and bad points of the electric vehicle. Your excellent ability to make complicated parts simple is fantastic. I have not purchased an electric vehicle at this point, and it will be a while before I do. The hardest part is picking the right make and model. Thank you so much for another great review!

[@robertdemeny251]

I actually bought a bZ4X Executive AWD. Got it three weeks ago and have done around 1000 km. It drives well. In Norway we have real winters and the AWD developed together with Subaru, is extremely good. I studied the specs before jumping onboard, and it does what it promises. Would a Tesla have been a better option? Thanks but no thanks. To many stories in the media with poor quality and a dealership that doesn't care. I have a super comfy car with best warrenty in the marked. First you have a five year warrenty. After this you get what is called Toyota Relax. After a service by Toyota they extend the warrenty with one year until the car reach ten years. I think it a good car, and it isn't just me. The bZ4X was the number one best selling car in Norway in October.

[@elmojito]

@@robertdemeny251 As an owner of a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid I saw the BZ4X when I took mine for service as they had just received one the previous day. At the beginning in Spain they really messed up and decided to only rent the damn car for 4 years with 10.000km/yr max. Then they told you about their wonderful 1.000.000 km battery. WTF!!!!! In my working days I would have fired the marketing team. This review does not say what others have experienced with the charging limitation per day which is a major issue when travelling. See Bjørn Nyland's review, also in Norway, or Kyle Conner in Colorado. They both, and others, had charging issues. Then they realized they were just not selling so now they do sell them. In Spain the also offer the same service/1 yr additional warranty offer on all their cars son nothing extra just because of BZ4X. The question is what do they do for service as electric cars needs are minimal. Did they give you a quote? Toyota makes excellent quality cars so all that matters is that one is happy.

[@angelinajoy3084]

I was ready to get this car, but I changed my mind immediately seeing the charging time.

[@TripleBerg]

I feel like Toyota just said, ‘here’s our EV, you happy now?’ 😂

[@erikt425]

And I said, yes. Thanks Toyota. Love the car.

[@dawood2u]

California law requires manufacturers to have at least one EV in order to sell cars in California. So I guess Toyota hastily put together some crap from the parts bin 😄

[@dukediamond5330]

i work as a tech in vt, a small independent shop that does imports only. mostly subaru and toyota. one of our customers who is also our financial planner (does all the 401k stuff for the techs) bought a subaru solterra. this is the all wheel drive variant of the toyota bz4x. i did it's first inspection after purchase and really liked it. from an end user perspective it's a good car. it drives well and still retains the subaru feel and controls. if i'm in my sixties (as my customer is) i don't want to learn how to operate a vehicle all over again. that's what is keeping people out of teslas. yes, the technology is better and if you learn how to use it it performs better. we as humans loose the ability to adapt over time. if you've been driving forty years and the volume knob has always been in this area and the wiper switch has always been in that area a tesla simply won't work. my customer works from home and drives very little. in our state there are massive tax incentives for going electric. i will be sure to ask how the performance does this winter in -20f temperatures. in this one rare scenario it does work for my customer. from my perspective it still feels like a subaru but with a ton of power on demand. i liked it

[@mustangthings]

I actually saw a first gen RAV 4 EV on the road a few months ago. God bless Toyota’s ambition making that thing back in the 90s.

[@victorcatch]

The best car review youtube channel ❤

[@rsdaarud]

Now this is an honest review! And from a Toyota master technician. Bravo!

[@timetowakeup6302]

My wife and I have been loyal Toyota/Lexus drivers for a long time. This year we decided to go a different route and purchased a new Mazda CX-5. We are very pleased. It is a much better value than the Rav 4 and in our opinion a better overall driving experience.

[@FullTimeGT]

Please post a small review here in five years how things are going, I'm interrested, seriously. Thanks!

[@ryanespinoza7297]

Is it because the RAV4 likes to roll the body in turns?

[@katazack]

@@FullTimeGT I can give you a 5-year or 6-year or 13-year review of a Mazda because I've had three of them. Except for replacing a wiring harness and a motor mount on my '04 Mazda6 (the one we had for 13 years) none of those vehicles required anything more than routine care. All of them were a ball to drive and got good gas mileage. I would give the edge to Toyota for engine development and resale value. My brother and his step-daughter just bought CX-5s this fall. My daughter is driving the CX-3 which she bought seven years ago. Her only complaint is that she has outgrown its small cargo capacity. The current CX-5 infotainment system is dated and needs an upgrade.

[@FullTimeGT]

@@katazack Thank you for your review, appreciated!

[@luxurybuzz3681]

​@@FullTimeGTi have a used 2012 Mazda3. Shift cable broke after one month. It was nearly impossible to find a new cable. Other than that the car is great

[@joserosa5342]

A warm salute from the caribeams. Love your channel, very insightful and respectable and neutral.

[@bertson-s5f]

Your reviews are the most insightful ever. You don't just give the usual horsepower, torque, mpg, dimensions, but give a detailed view into the things that make a car durable and enjoyable. I also like how you point out the little things that can affect a car like Hyundai exhaust welds and overly complex HVAC. In regard to your BZ4X review and using the heat pump in cold weather, do you think an alcohol catalytic heater could be developed as a heat source to eliminate some complexity and an electric heater? Having a small ethanol tank should be carbon neutral. (btw, our 2004 Prius with over 160K miles is still going strong with only a battery at 120k miles being replaced)

[@malcolmshort2463]

😊😊😊

[@gregghurst4285]

Thanks for being an honest mechanic !!

[@JeffWalton-l7q]

I hope you are not punished for the true review by not getting cars from mfg rep. Your channel very insightful and informative, you speak the truth. I was a GM buyer for years in my youth, but my first Toyota made me a lifer for their vehicles, just soooo much better all around. Disappointed that they "checked" the box, but even their outgoing Chairman not sold on all electric, nor I am. Give me option of gas with electric I think is prudent way to go. You're awesome, keep on keeping on with your channel.

[@mightyman978]

As a user of BZ4X (front wheel model), I agree with you that the charging time is a bit too long, and the range is a bit short if you have to travel a distance, and there is no glove box. However, I want to say this car meet my expectation: I don't need to travel 100 miles return trip a day, and I almost always charge the car at home. The ride quality of this car is very good (particularly compare with brand T). Recently Toyota updated the Battery Management System and the range is better. The real life range is 270 mile and 230 mile without and with HVAC respectively (south UK, not frozen).

[@127Foxtrot]

As a 2022 Outback owner, I’d soon own a BZ4X or Solterra rather than a Tesla. Ok, it has particular range issues, but then so do all EV’s compared to petrol cars. It’s ground clearance and off-road capability are real pluses, and just my eyes, I like the look and lines of the duo-tone cladding.

[@auong4044]

Thank you for being brutally honest! I wouldn't buy this car at this price nor range. I'm not into electric car anyway. Give it another 10 years and see other alternatives. Good reviews and good man 👍

[@harriettanthony7352]

OP--if you wait for the 'perfect EV' you will die waiting--it took+100yrs to bring the gas powered engines to the point of stupidity. And the gas engine is an obsolete tech, for some decades; right there with the steam engine and the Wankel

[@alane3985]

You can't afford it 😂

[@auong4044]

Correct! I have a Toyota GR Yaris to enjoy at a much lower price 😂

[@NatureQuest2024]

I do like Toyota door lock beep when one of the doors is still open! It’s a reminder to check for open door! Otherwise I might just walk away thinking car is locked while one of the doors is still wide open or barely closed (kid didn’t have the energy to push door to close properly)

[@micahgreene4573]

My Honda won't beep locked if a door or trunk is open.

[@tg9754]

Hi AMD, thanks for the well review of this car. I think Toyota is still developing their Electric car. I think all Electric cars are still being refined. I think in five years, most of the refinements will be completed. I hope you have a safe and Happy Thankgiving. Take care. I will be looking for your next video,.

[@anfitch8706]

EDIT: Removed cold weather range reduction argument since anecdotal figures do show 40-50% range reduction in below freezing temperatures, BUT 30% is common around freezing. 1.) The shortest range bz4X (222miles) still has a similar range to the Model 3 base (272mi), EV6 (232mi), Ioniq 5 (220mi), VW IDd4 (209mi). 2.) It's well known that vehicles like Tesla frequently fail to achieve their EPA ratings. The bz4X on the other hand regularly meets and exceeds the EPA range estimates 3.) The price point of the bz4X is comparable or lower than similar trims from other manufacturers. Generally, the bz is $3000 less than competitors with higher end trims. A starting price around $43,000 is also simliar to others. 4.) I have no doubt that the bz4X will maintain more range and quality than its other competitors thanks to their (probably overly) conservative approach. The faults you describe are similar to almost all base models from other manufacturers.

[@waynerussell6401]

Recurrent Auto has extensive test data on BEV range in the cold. At freezing they found that range reduction in popular EVs was minimal: iPace - 3% Etron -8% Model 3 -17% Models Y/X/S -15%. Norwegian tests found Teslas at -15% the top runner. Having an efficient heat pump solution is key. All the top adopter countries of BEVs are cold climate. It is a lie that Tesla does not meet EPA ratings. It is a legal requirement. Nyland has shown that all Tesla models meet ranges given at steady 90kph runs. Tesla model 3 is US$38 990 before incentives has a huge number of better features and superior performance, and rave reviews. Toyota has no future under present management. 2025 CO2 limits will ban Toyota in the EU and their China market is practically nonexistent.

[@panagiotisharos9625]

Congratulations.. totally right, regards from Athens Greece...

[@john1701a]

Cloth on the dashboard is for thermal & acoustic benefit. You be amazed how much lower the temperature is on a hot summer day. As for the reduction of cabin noise by having that material, it's harder to measure but clearly an effort to improve the rider experience.

[@toronado455]

The cloth dash is for sure there for acoustics. This is becoming common in EVs. I don't like it. I would rather have an easy to clean plastic dash, and then just place a cheap aftermarket cloth dash cover over it if I thought it needed that for sound deadening or thermal reasons.

[@herwigs5605]

But did they have to make it so ugly?

[@john1701a]

​@@herwigs5605 It never ceases to amaze me how often people state a preference for drab, something that will just blend into a crowd. If you don't like the fender flares, it's a simple wrap job to make them match the body color. No big deal.

[@herwigs5605]

@@john1701a This was in reference to the kitchen cloth on the dashboard.

[@john1701a]

​@@herwigs5605 With countless complaints of plain, cheap-looking dashboards, you're complaining about an attempt to introduce style that also improves the cabin experience by tempering both sound & heat?

[@WCTubeful]

Thanks for the genuine opinion. Was about to get one of this. Got a Venza finally because of shortage and I don't regret.

[@alexandredeluca3521]

You shouldn't base your opinion only on this and ask people that drove it day to day. I have over 45.000km on mine and im in fuking love with it best car i've had for a long time.

[@SeattlePaulie]

I like hybrids for long-distance travel, but EVs have an excellent use case for daily commuters...if you can charge at home. In a perfect world we would see a collaboration between EV engineers and automotive engineers. Tesla has the best thermal management and software control out there. Toyota has some of the best vehicle engineering in the world. Could you imagine what they could produce if those two put their heads together?

[@bobcoats2708]

It’s not a bad idea, really. Tesla knows how to engineer electric drive systems, but doesn’t build very good cars. Toyota can take care of that part. Problem is, Toyota ownership and Elon would never see eye to eye.

[@ytj22]

They already did with RAV4 EV

[@Marc-King777]

@@bobcoats2708 That last sentence, you read my mind. LOL

[@genericreference6969]

@@bobcoats2708 been there done that they couldnt get along and toyota sold their stake in tesla

[@busetgadapet]

toyota need to learned their lesson stop making overpriced shit, their competitor can already make the luxury toyota experience with fraction of the price while toyota cheap cars looks so shit in comparison, reminds me how iphone mini is but way even worse

[@mrmm7322]

Thanks for all your videos on both channels I love how straight you give us the information respect ✊ you are awesome please keep ❤ giving us information lots of people needs to know about cars. 👍👍👍👍👍. Thank you

[@fsmphoto1969]

I really appreciate your very candid honesty in this review. Makes me love this channel even more. Thank you for this review.

[@Unit55SGT]

We have one at our dealership that hasn't moved in almost 4 months. Pretty unheard of in this market for a new car.

[@beexiong2995]

I see tons and tons of domestic fullsize trucks left unsold from two years ago still on lots lol

[@ryanespinoza7297]

@@beexiong2995maybe $70k for a base model has something to do with it

[@Sashazur]

I wonder what the dealer wants for it. Have they discounted it or do they think someone will pay over MSRP?

[@nofurtherwest3474]

I'm thinking of getting one. But just not sure. I'll need to be making some trips of about 2 hours each way for my kid's soccer games over the coming year. Just not sure about the range on this SUV.

[@Eric_the_Hiking]

I love my BZ4X. I will drive it until the wheels fall off.

[@Marc-King777]

They will NEVER fall off.

[@haarisraja5748]

😂

[@Bellalunaamor28]

The battery is the worst I have it it is sick to charge this car in New York

[@renebastille578]

😂 could happen earlier than you think

[@aeronYTco]

I hope it is equipped with solid-state batteries

[@Yashoda-d1r]

Awesome breakdown of the BZ4X! Toyota’s focus on sustainability and tech, like the optional solar roof, is impressive. A reliable choice for the modern family EV.

[@yazars]

Call me crazy, but I would consider buying a used Bz4x for the right price. I would not use it for road trips, would charge at home, and would mainly use it to commute back and forth to work. Reliability at 10+ years would be one of my most important considerations. Question is whether the conservative approach to battery management would allow it to be good beyond 10 years, or if I would need to replace it even if it was driven for less than 100,000 miles?

[@sergejpanov5543]

For reliability I drive my 2004 Corolla, I just change my oil, tires and other fluids. Basically no major breakdown since the time I bought it used in 2006! I am super happy with it!

[@yazars]

@@sergejpanov5543 I've got my 2004 Camry, but it's appealing to not need to spend time getting gas as much by adding an electric car to the family

[@anfitch8706]

Toyota has stated they believe that not only will the battery will last at least 10 years/620,000 miles, but that it will still have 90% of its original capacity. They 'guarantee' at least 70%.

[@obesner]

That's what I did. I got my one-year old "used car" with a substantial rebate, and it's the best daily driver I ever had. The AWD is incredibly reliable in snow.

[@samjam6989]

​@@sergejpanov5543your 2004 corolla doesnt have the speed, acceleration, safety, tech and looks of this car though. Sure it is reliable but its so boring to drive 😂. Its like riding in a handicap wheelchair, used out of necessity not out for fun or excitement.

[@elbarto4394]

17:30 I will disagree with you only because I've had one of the rear doors not closed all the way and I would not have caught except for the beep

[@john1701a]

Absence of a glovebox is due to the addition of an infrared heater, which provides radiant warming for your legs & feet. It is a very efficient option not available from other EVs, definitely an overlooked advantage.

[@genericreference6969]

It certainly appeals to my inner French fry :)

[@tweebs1]

If it works, my driver side one doesn't stay on for more than a couple mins. There's really no reason they couldn't have put the heater on the front of a glovebox. The heater is just a thin film heater stuck on with an adhesive.

[@john1701a]

@tweebs1 Huh? Mine stays on the entire drive and gets so hot I turn it down to low.

[@chjin1796]

This kind of heating is not efficient , the most efficient ones are diesel heater and heat pump.

[@john1701a]

@chjin1796 That misses the point, both are overkill. When all you need is a small, focused area warmed, radiant will use less overall energy.

[@simonjackson1571]

Well that explains it all! I was thinking of leasing one and wondered why they were so cheap compared to other similar EVs. Now I know. Thanks!

[@Salehyya]

The most interesting part is : behind this vehicle , the legendary LS430 is parking!

[@toronado455]

I think there was two of them.

[@Squidward_Tikiland]

I don’t live in a cold place. I think it’s an amazing exterior design

[@patriciaKnightley]

There are a whopping 9 units at my local dealership… everyone knows it’s just a compliance car… and avoiding it like the plague

[@john1701a]

Compliant with what regulation? Think about the $7,500 tax-credit advantage other EVs get.

[@flt528]

It's a stretch to call it a compliance car. Toyota and every other automaker knows that eventually, all cars will be electric. It may be a while, but it just makes no sense, long term, to burn gas and get a bunch of heat when what you want is motion. 85% energy efficient vehicles will kill off 20% energy efficient vehicles. Toyota is using this car to learn how to produce EVs. If you need a car now, get a PHEV.

[@samjam6989]

You could haggle with the dealership to bring the proce down. In my city its $10K off of MSRP and we get $9K government incentives for BEV. Thats $19K off of MSRP. I mean if it get to a price point where it makes sense, i wouldnt mind buying one even if resale value wont be high in 5 years 😂

[@RogerFleischer-p3f]

On the contrary, there is no surplus of Toyota' hybrids. That is why buyers must wait for them and the markup's are high.

[@SiemensPowerHour700]

Glad I watched this first. My first car will be a Toyota Yaris latest model year when I get it.

[@alliejr]

Heat pump working down to 14F is actually impressive. I know in Chicago-land this might be a no-go, but for vast stretches of the US including much of the northeast, that’s just fine.

[@john1701a]

Works just fine in Minnesota. Think about how infrequently temperature actually drops below 14°F. It is a very small percentage of the year.

[@macedindu829]

It's not that impressive for heat pumps tho.

[@thomaskurek3524]

I read many reviews from people who actually own the car and 99% of them love it, it does not matter what you think it is under hood , in Toyotas we don’t open hoods we just drive them ,and they last forever

[@rightlanehog3151]

AMD, Thanksgiving is coming, let's be very, very generous and say the BZ4X is not quite ready for prime time. On the positive side, the new Crown Signia and the full line of Camry Hybrids are Emmy winners! 🤩🥳🥳🥳🥳👏👏👏

[@toronado455]

It's not quite ready for RAV4 PRIME time 😂

[@mohammedsuboh1420]

This is what I was waiting for, thank you for the explanation

[@N20Joe]

I'm glad they're focusing on hybrids and not wasting too much money on EVs. I would buy a Prime if they could manufacture enough of them to meet demand.

[@toronado455]

I think it will change with solid state.

[@林振华-t4v]

​@@toronado455😂good luck on ramping up production on something they havent manage to build a preproduction sample.

[@luxurybuzz3681]

​@@toronado455in 10 years...

[@marvinanderson7467]

Thanks!

[@marvinanderson7467]

HELLO According to the GRANTHAM FOUNDATION Jeremy Grantham, the planet doesn't have sufficient resources to produce mass lithium or nickel . Maybe Toyota knows that to be true? 😮 Thanks.

[@randomfootages9120]

It’s their first. Toyota will learn from feedback and will definitely upgrade it next time. So don’t rush

[@naveenthemachine]

Their first? No it’s not. The rav4 ev was their first and that came out 11 years ago

[@bobcoats2708]

It’s got nothing to do with being their first attempt. There are enough examples of cars that do it better that they could have referenced.

[@genericreference6969]

I think Toyota has realized theyve missed the boat on this generation of EV and are stalling for time until solid state gets worked out. In other words, no real effort at PHEV or EV for now, double down on the “hybrids are the right answer for right now” and figure out how to rework their assembly to copy Tesla’s manufacturing innovations (gigacast etc) and also scale solid state up to large volume

[@ryanhorsley9965]

Toyota missed the boat on EVs and aren't going to catch up by themselves. Their best bet will be to buy out an EV company like Lucid and incorporate their IP into Toyota designs.

[@genericreference6969]

@@ryanhorsley9965 sadly, i think you may be right on this

[@oceanventure]

Hi AMD not sure if you have a engineering degree. But I am convinced that you are a rocket scientist. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge to all. May the lord bless your entire crew and family.

[@user70331]

Toyota notoriously against evs, so they make car that makes everyone hate evs even more😂

[@justinjustinjustin10]

lol yes it’s like reverse psychology. Make the customer hate them and keep making gas vehicles. Brilliant!

[@Marc-King777]

@@justinjustinjustin10 hybrid*

[@bitbat9]

@@Marc-King777which are gas vehicles lol

[@jdmguy44]

It's a compliance car

[@林振华-t4v]

​​@@Marc-King777the development of hybrid is staganated as well. The term "staganated" is a down play and polite way to say they did not put effort on improving it. I had a trade in my 2016 highlander with 2023 sienna. The performace of their hybrid system has no noticeable improvment over the one 8 years ago.

[@adkforester5428]

Way to always speak the truth AMD build your credibility even more.

[@kofiarthur3749]

I like this Guy-AMD honesty but like many Toyota/Lexus fans they always try to downplay Toyota/Lexus problems. If this is a bad design, say its crap but dont to try to say they could do but only did this one to rush it one to the market. Thdi is the best their engineers can do for now so just accept the fact. After all Toyota/Lexus car manufacturing engineers aren't the best of all in the world.

[@THEFIRE360]

Amd: "and that's ok" Narrator: it was not ok

[@CamdogXIII]

Perhaps the weird behavior with the door locks is to probably prevent you from locking yourself out. You have to have the fob in your hand to lock all the doors, whereas it might be easy to forget the keys in the car if you do it with the door handle.

[@toronado455]

I agree.

[@tim656]

If the key is sitting in the car and you lock it, then you could also unlock it with the key still in it?

[@laura-ann.0726]

Supposedly, it is impossible to lock the doors with the keyfob inside the car on any Toyota that uses a radio fob instead of a mechanical key. But, I have seen a couple of posts on the Rav4 World web Forum, where people claimed that there is one way to do this in the 2021-2023 Rav4 Hybrid and Prime: You open the rear hatch, then press the "lock" button on the driver's arm rest or on the fob. This pre-sets all 5 doors to lock themselves when the hatch closes. You then set the key in the rear cargo area while you are unloading something, let's say groceries, then press the button on the hatch to close it. It closes and locks, and voila, you have locked your fob in the car. I have been afraid to test this myself because I still only have 1 key fob - my second one won't be delivered for a couple of weeks.

[@mironkorzalko7761]

Daaaaamnnnn! That hurt. Thx for your honesty.

[@DHGo-ex7ns]

I believe Toyota said they don't want to go full electric cars but go back to gas cars and hybrid cars. In addition, Toyota is developing the solid state battery that will change the who battery car map. Even GM and Ford said they are running away from full battery cars because the have a ton of battery cars that have no buyers today and they also are moving to hybrid or full gas cars and trucks.

[@DavidPat]

I live in San Diego and I can tell you that thermals are really not a problem here 😅. I love having my BZ because it was a $200 month lease and my wife wanted a simple Toyota.

[@v1rotate391]

Sign of things to come. I just unloaded a POS Lexus RC-F. Toyota and Lexus are living off a name that everyone flocks to for what they were known for. Just made a daily out of a 2019 Mazda 6 Signature. Other than the turbo and direct injection which both just require top maintenance, there are no gimmicks, no BS, and they listen to their customer base. Getting tired of 100 speed transmissions and battery cars all to appease a government agency and their metrics.

[@Not_true123]

I bought my bz in 2023 and l have been very happy with it. I live in Canada and mileage is good even in winter. It does not drop by 50% for sure, even if l turn everything on. I use level 2 charging, and it charges around 10% in an hour. Perfect to charge at night when l got a discounted rate. The best thing is l don't need any service, car service is a rip off. I never understood why mechanics charge 100 150 an hour, not to mention they overcharge hours as well.

[@Larpy1933]

I find it amusing when you identify some questionable aspect of any vehicle and say “That’s OK.” We all know it’s not OK. You have a lot of courage to speak your mind on this puppy. Thanks for that. Our local dealer (Victoria, BC) has nearly a dozen in stock. Prius? 6-month wait.

[@AlanForkosh]

Just a comment on the driver's position and display. I own a 2023 Prius. When I first got it, I had the same issue you had with the steering wheel cutting off the view of the display. However, I discovered if I lowered the steering wheel and then lowered the seat and adjusted the front-back position to be comfortable, the active portion of the screen was visible over the top of the steering wheel.

[@luxurybuzz3681]

Still a problem

[@hermanpeters549]

Me and wife lease the Subaru version which has AWD, same car. We love it but does charge very slow but we just use the charging station down the street which takes 20 minutes and it’s next to our gym

[@stephendibari5010]

$44k ! Insane. KUDOS to you AMD for being super honest, especially being a Toyota/Lexus fan. Best/most complete car review channel. Only thing missing is a test drive

[@ILoveTinfoilHats]

Have you seen the prices of electric SUVs? The only semi reasonable ones seem to be from Hyundai

[@stephendibari5010]

@@ILoveTinfoilHats prices are out control. No desire to buy anything, especially an EV. 2 1/2 years ago i sold my 2013 ES350 and bought my 2002 ES300. Have all the luxury and refinement I need without a car payment.

[@ryanhorsley9965]

$44k is pretty much the base price for a new car these days. You should see what the full-size truck crowd is paying.

[@Marc-King777]

@@stephendibari5010 Amen, I recently purchased a 2008 GS 350 for $8,500 cash. I couldn't be happier!

[@WR40036]

What's really insane is the $70k to $90k infernal combustion engine trucks that GM, Ford and Chrysler can't unload on the public. I understand that what people are buying is more in the $20k to $30k range. Some dealer only auctions are only seeing strong interest in cars in the price range of used Yaris vehicles.

[@skincareaddicted]

I just picked one up and it’s impressive. Built in Japan and it’s so well built. Range is short per charge but Toyota doesn’t hide that. Toyota has always been about quality and longevity. They test and test. In about a few years time they will likely have the best quality EV with amazing range too

[@rkgsd]

The irony is is a damn good looking SUV. Just needed more range and faster charging. Can definitely live without the differenr colored body panels, same with the Crown. At least the Crown has other versions without the milti-colored panels.

[@john1701a]

Since that is coming, it is just a matter of waiting. Toyota will be applying their bi-polar cell design to lithium chemistry. The expectation when implemented in bZ4x is a 20% increase for range and a 40% decrease for cell cost.

[@vulpixelful]

If you need more range and faster charging, that's what the FWD version is for

[@Sheepleton]

My daughter has a Prius C, it's 8 years old has 75k miles and it's just like a new car. No wear on the buttons or seats, no creaks, no rattles, 50+ mpg and the tiny hybrid battery is $1500 to replace and there's companies that'll do it in your driveway and give a 3 year warranty on the new one. Electric is nowhere near ready for millions of people with long commutes that live in condos or apartments. Charging is still a nightmare with different speeds and broken charging stations. Massive hybrid trucks are idiotic because they literally have a larger battery than a small fully electric car does. My point is this, a 2500lb hybrid car with a small cheap battery makes perfect sense...the rest of it is overpriced underperforming garbage.

[@outlawblack123]

Toyota should have never sold this car in the midwest. The brutal winters giving this car a bad name.

[@ytj22]

Yes, it's the brutal Midwest winters that are giving this car a bad name.

[@john1701a]

So are reviews of it prior to the software update.

[@billmccalla]

I have both the BZ4X AWD and a Rav4 Prime XSE. I agree with the Car Care Nut. I bought the BZ4X expecting the same $7500 rebate I got for the RAV4, which would have made the EV car reasonable, but that went away waiting for delivery. I did get a EV only linked $1100 rebate from my power company for installing a level 2 charger. Now there is a $10,000 lease discount which can make the price for what you get reasonable. Both SUVs are good around town cars, but the RAV4 is much more practical for longer trips. The BZ only requires charging once a week, when the 2017 Prius Prime with 25 mile range we replaced had to be charged daily. Also for us older folks, the BZ is easier to slip in and out of than a Prius. Here in NC, we don't have to worry about the outside temp dropping below 14 degrees F very often, so charging level 2 at home 90% of the time is not a deal breaker for the limited range.

[@dareisnogod5711]

👍 You erred when you said : "It is very OBJECTIVE." SUBJECTIVE is the word you should have used. Thanks for another informative video.

[@eritose]

It is an excellent car with poor cold weather charging. Here in Sweden in -20c really terrible. BUT, the battery heats up when using fast DC charger, so the battery heater hardware exist? Could it be helped by a software update that pre-condition (warm up) the battery before the charging session? It would only take a software button on the infotainment to manually press it 15-30 minutes before arriving at the charger? Or am I missing something here? I have the Subaru Solterra version built in Japan with Panasonic batteries (150kW charge spec.) Getting around 50kWh in cold weather.

[@john1701a]

There is a "cold weather" software update forthcoming. No detail has been shared yet, but the belief is the current heater threshold will be raised and a pre-conditioning feature will be introduced.

[@robertosantos-vx6pn]

Who else is like me that will never buy this car but stayed and watched the whole video? Thank you for showing us why not go electric.

[@Chidoro41]

Agreed. They’re great for beta testers and early adopters, but the whole movement is still 5+ years from prime time.

[@rgl168]

I almost did in a way... I placed the deposit for Subaru Solterra, which is equivalent to the BZ4x - at that time (early 2022) there was no official pricing and trim levels being released, and yet the salesperson told me that 14 customers had already placed their orders. When got the final pricing from my salesperson at the end of 2022, the price was CDN$10K more than I initially expected; I had no choice but to cancel the order.

[@mikehand2668]

Will no ever own one

[@toronado455]

@@rgl168 Stupid dealer.

[@JenniferJohnson-fh8fx]

Yes, I just bought a hybrid and hope not to need another car for 10 years or more. But I would definitely consider an electric vehicle in the future - it just seems like this one is poorly made.

[@JWFas]

The US federal government shouldn't have pushed for full EVs so quickly. It should have pressed much harder on PHEVs. Plug-in hybrids would have gotten very close to the zero emissions goal with much fewer resources. The EV range of PHEVs encompasses 95% of people's daily driving needs, and for anything longer the gas hybrid engine offers convenience. Plus, PHEVs can be charged on 110 VAC overnight, so you don't necessarily need a Level 2 charger. That brings me to the final point, which is that PHEVs don't require anywhere near the charging infrastructure that EVs do (and increasingly will need).

[@rickb296]

Exactly! PHEV or even regular hybrids are the way to go. Focus on ramping efficiency, not a heavily compromised step-change.

[@bitbat9]

No PHEVs are stupid af. Regular hybrids are so much better

[@consaka1]

​@@bitbat9au contrare. Electric hybrids are the way to go. An electric hybrid is an electric car that has a small generating plant that runs on a fuel. Plugging in is the important part because that's the cheapest way to get rediculous high average mileage. Another way to look at it is multiple energy sources. What if you have electricity but no gas? Or vice versa? An plugin electric hybrid can handle both scenarios. A regular hybrid will always be limited to gas mileage only and those aren't going to get much better than current hybrids.

[@Carnold_YT]

I have driven one of these, or actually the AWD Subaru Solterra, and I can say that the energy efficiency is very good. I've driven a fair share of EV's (comes with my day job) and I found the bZ4x a pretty good EV, considering it's technology is somewhat dated. And the 10 year warranty is not half bad either.

[@林振华-t4v]

That is because you havent stay with a good one for long term. And you are right, the tech is dated. By a huge margin. The core propulsion system is likely a copy of BYD system from 2018. And who knows where the battery were come from. Even a 2018 tech looks advance compare to this one. Lol

[@thomasdesocio5754]

Hi. I purchased a '24 Subaru Solterra Limited., essentially the same car as the BZ4X Limited with AWD. I must say the 24 charging time is much quicker than the 23. I am a veteran career car guy. I leased the car with the expectation that any EV sold today will have obsolete batteries by time my lease matures. Maybe not. but this car should go 15+ years. But, I love the car. Yes the range is limited; for me, 4.0 miles/kw gets me around 230 miles WITH AC. Winter no doubt will be another story. I can go almost a week on an 80% charge. We have an ice car for long trips etc. As a daily driver it is awesome. New steering wheel to gain visibility to the DIM. HK audio is great. Love the driver assist tech. paddles to set one pedal driving decel. The only reason I considered it are all the Subaru cash incentives, and the lease deal.

[@wimschoenmakers5463]

I would go for the Prius Prime instead of this thing !

[@john1701a]

I sold my Prius Prime for a bZ4X. The reliability & efficiency over my 6 years of ownership (in Minnesota, so winter worthiness made quite an impression) made the decision a no-brainer. 7 months later, the experience has been awesome. I even had a chance to charge it with MagicDock.

[@vijaykumar-m5p4s]

Toyota really thought of everything with the bZ4X. From tech to performance, it delivers a reliable electric experience. Definitely worth considering.

[@krimzon7622]

What was Toyota thinking, releasing this to the market? It makes sense as a test or prototype, but not anything else...

[@john1701a]

It works just fine, extremely reliable. So what if owner have to wait for the software updates? The first has already been rolled out and the second is on the way.

[@windsolarupnorth7084]

It's an excellent car, don't believe this clown. He probably has Tesla stocks.

[@patrysUSA]

Thank you for a very thorough and informative review.

[@bronxtaskforce01]

bZ4X initially went on sale in spring 2022, but in June the company announced a recall involving a flaw with the wheel hub bolts that could cause the wheels to detach from the car. Only 258 cars were involved in the U.S., but those early customers were told to stop driving their cars.

[@poon]

That problem was solved as far as I know

[@bmw803]

And loud Mouth Scotty Kilmer says he wouldn't buy an EV from no one other than Toyota. He loves listening to himself talking out of his own ass.

[@erikt425]

It was, and NOBODY was effected.

[@nickgallegos430]

Considering getting one as a lease deal, just has so much bad news everywhere I look. But as an in town driver using for work and probably just be charging over night at home. I think I should be ok?

[@bertblue9683]

You touched on the two things that you never hear anyone talk about. EVs range in extreme temps. Running AC in 105 degrees and running the heater in 5 degrees. Here in the Midwest, either of these temps occur for many days each year. Evs are still a novelty, for the wealthy.

[@john1701a]

People talk about range in extreme temps that all the time. They avoid is specifics. Notice how actual efficiency... MI/KWH ...is missing? Instead, we get range treated as if that somehow a representation of efficiency. It most definitely is not. It basically just reflects usable battery capacity. Any automaker can just cram in more cells. Making an effort to squeeze out more from less is entirely different. Toyota actually did. But from the shallow & anecdotal reviews we get, that detail is conveniently missing. It's unfortunate, since that omission feeds the narrative.

[@mahzorimipod]

lol 40% of cars in china are now EVs. typical white cope

[@林振华-t4v]

​@@john1701athere are real field test by reviews magazine as comparison test. It is in Chinese, but I think you find reupload with people bother to put in subtitle on youtube. There are noticeable range drop. More so for older models. (older model, not cars). But not as much as typical people wouldve think. IMO, I have driving my model 3 on - 14C day. I still manage to get 60-70 range out of it with winter tire while blast down highway on respectable speed.

[@alane3985]

If you consider having a car garage in your home wealthy, then I'm fucking rich 😅

[@LacDole]

🤣🤣🤣 love ya man! Probably my favorite EV car review!

[@nomadchad8243]

I was looking at one and went with the Nissan Leaf, 13 years of spare parts , mechanic knowledge and aftermarket beats new Halfarsed attempts.

[@ClifD]

KZbin ads are getting beyond ridiculous. Isn't there any adblocker that stops them anymore?

[@JM-gz1ej]

The naming alone is a failure already

[@chrissscottt]

Thanks for the honest review.

[@InternetDude]

So this is a good city car just don’t leave town.

[@legacyboundinleather]

Currently leasing one of these and I gotta say apart from charging it I like it. Charging it sucks tho. Even with dc fast charging.