This range issue most likely affects the sister EV, Subaru’s Solterra, too.
If you’re considering getting a Toyota BZ4x, this independent range test might have you seriously consider otherwise. The Federation of Danish Motorists recently published their range test for the 2023 Toyota BZ4x and only managed to achieve 246 km (152 miles) of range when Toyota advertised they could squeeze out 504 km (313 miles.)
An AWD variant was tested, too, and FDM was only able to eke out 215 km (133 miles) of range out of an advertised 461 km (286 miles.)
Click here to check out their story and independent findings.
First it’s worth noting Toyota says their BZ4x gets 252 miles in the United States since Americans use the EPA’s range test whereas Europe uses the WLPT (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure,) hence the slightly larger range claim.
Regardless, getting 152 miles is 152 miles, no matter where you are in the world. A between 40-50 percent reduction in advertised versus real world range is a big deal for the average American driver.
For example, take someone living in Central Valley, California, 252 miles range would be enough to get to the Bay Area with enough range to spare for driving around town.
152 miles means a BZ4x owner would have serious range anxiety on the same route even before leaving home.
It’s also important to know that their test conditions in Denmark were at 4C/39F, conditions not conducive to getting as much range out of an EV as possible.
The BZ4x would’ve undoubtedly achieved more range if the test was in the Spring or Summer.
A similar test in a FWD BZ4x by Edmunds in California achieved 227 miles.
Another factor possibly explaining this disappointing result is the fact they observed only 60 kWh of charge available even when charged to 100 percent, a far cry from its advertised 71.4 kWh.
FDM thinks the discrepancy between the two figures is the reserve energy only tapped into once you hit 0 miles of range.
This latest test is a serious enough issue that Toyota’s offices in Japan and Denmark are looking into the issue and should have an answer later tomorrow (November 29, 2022.)
As mentioned, the Subaru Solterra is almost the exact same SUV with similar (if not the same) range figures.
Embed from Getty ImagesPersonally, if I was considering either the Subaru or Toyota, I’d hold off to see other real world figure tests and how they compare with what these Danes achieved.
