2024 Toyota bZ5X: What We Know So Far
With the upcoming bZ3X and current bZ4X catering to buyers who need only two seating rows, the larger bZ5X is expected to be Toyota's first electric SUV with three rows. This would make it a good choice for Toyota Highlander fans who are looking to take the plunge and move over to a fully electric model. We have an idea of what the bZ5X will look like based on images shared by Toyota of its future EV lineup, but most of the other specs surrounding this vehicle remain unknown. We're most interested in whether a larger battery will be used to offset the increased weight of a three-row SUV, especially since the bZ4X already doesn't have a class-leading range.
When Is The 2024 Toyota bZ5X Coming Out?
No release date for the Toyota bZ5X has been announced, but considering that the brand is set to reveal 10 new EVs by 2026, it won't be too long before we see it coming out in the USA. The automaker has also said that it plans to build a "three-row, battery electric SUV" on home soil at its Kentucky plant, in which case, it's likely to come out sometime in 2024.
What’s The Price Of The 2024 bZ5X?
Positioned above the two-row bZ4X, the price of the 2024 Toyota bZ5X is expected to start at around $50,000 MSRP, possibly increasing to a cost of around $58,000 for the most expensive model. Since we expect the electric three-row SUV to be produced at the Kentucky plant in the USA, it will be eligible for a portion - if not all - of the federal tax credits for EVs.
There aren't any current three-row electric SUV rivals for the bZ5X to worry about, at least not from non-premium brands, but the Kia EV9 will be a more than worthy alternative when it arrives.
New Toyota bZ5X Exterior And Colors
Teased as a "bZ large SUV," the exterior of the Toyota bZ5X - if that's what it'll be called - has a boxier profile than the bZ4X, so as to accommodate a third seating row. The lengthened roofline and flush-fitting door handles give it quite an elegant appearance, and the squared-off wheel arches are neatly executed.
The front fascia has a clear resemblance to the bZ4X with its closed-off grill section and the angular cutouts for the headlights. For the concept, we can also see glossy black detailing on the lower front part of the body, at the bottom of the doors, and for the entire hood and roof. At this early stage, the complete range of colors for the Toyota bZ5X are unknown, but we expect quite a conservative palette made up of black and a few grays/silvers, with maybe a more vivid red to break things up.
We haven't been privy to a clear look at the rear of the concept, but it seems to have wraparound taillights that extend almost as far as the C-pillar.
Toyota bZ5X Dimensions
Official dimensions for the new Toyota bZ5X SUV have not been revealed by the automaker, but we can logically draw some comparisons to the three-row Highlander. That vehicle has a length of 194.9 inches, a height of 68.1 inches, a width of 76 inches, and a 112.2-inch wheelbase. The Highlander doesn't have much space in its third row, but assuming similar key dimensions for the bZ5X, it should be more spacious in light of its electric powertrain.
An electric SUV of this size can easily weigh around 5,000 pounds, so that's around about what we anticipate for the bZ5X.
Toyota bZ5X Powertrain And Performance
Powertrain specs for the Toyota bZ5X are unknown. Like the bZ4X, it could come with a single-motor, front-wheel-drive powertrain as standard, making way for a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup higher up in the range.
We expect the bZ5X to come with more power than the bZ4X, as the latter's peak of 214 horsepower in dual-motor guise won't be all that much for a three-row SUV filled with people and their belongings. Some reports have suggested an output of over 300 hp, and this should be sufficient for a 0-60 mph time of six seconds or so. We'll have to wait for more information about the bZ5X to become available.
Gas Mileage
The 71.4-kWh lithium-ion battery in the smaller bZ4X is unlikely to be sufficient to give the bZ5X a decent range. Therefore, we expect the bZ5X to use a battery of around 85 kWh or larger, and that should help it to achieve a range of at least 250-280 miles.
Earlier this year, Toyota promised new batteries that will double the driving range of current models, but whether this applies to the bZ5X or not remains to be seen.
The bZ4X also has lower peak charging speeds than competitors (150 kW maximum), so this is something that we hope the bZ5X can improve upon, especially considering that the upcoming Kia EV9 needs under 25 minutes to replenish its battery from 10 to 80%.
Toyota bZ5X Interior And Cargo
We have not seen any images of the Toyota bZ5X's interior nor the concept on which we expect it to be based. We do hope the inside of the bZ5X is a bit more adventurously styled than the bZ4X's cabin (pictured below), which we found to be a bit plain to look at, not helped by many gray, somber fabrics and plastics.
The bZ5X's major difference will be its third seating row, which should increase total seating capacity to seven or eight occupants depending on how it's configured. SoftTex imitation leather upholstery will probably cover the seats of more luxurious Toyota bZ5X trims, and other eco-friendly materials are likely to be dotted around the cabin.
In the bZ4X, there is a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen interface and a digital driver's display, so the bZ5X will likely build on this setup. Wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and safety items like parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring are all likely to be standard.
In the three-row Highlander, there are 16 cubic feet behind its third row and 48.4 cubes behind the second row. We expect the cargo space in the Toyota bZ5X to improve on these figures.
