2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring review

How much does the Toyota bZ4X Touring cost and how does it compare?

The 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring is priced from $69,990 plus on-road costs, which is identical to the closely related Subaru Trailseeker AWD Touring. Subaru also offers a more affordable Trailseeker AWD model (from $63,990 plus ORCs), whereas Toyota has stuck with a single high-spec variant.

The Toyota bZ4X Touring sits $2000 upstream of the dual-motor/AWD version of the regular Toyota bZ4X ($67,990 plus ORCs), but brings a lot to the table in terms of specification. The Touring’s elongated design provides a further advantage, separating the Touring (and the Trailseeker) from a raft of other medium-size battery-electric SUVs.

Prime dual-motor/AWD medium electric SUV rivals include the Tesla Model Y Premium Long Range AWD (from $68,900 plus ORCs), BYD Sealion 7 Performance (from $63,990 plus ORCs), Zeekr 7X Performance AWD (from $72,900 plus ORCs), Kia EV5 Earth Long Range AWD (from $64,770 plus ORCs) and Volkswagen ID.4 GTX AWD (another one starting at $69,990 plus ORCs).

With just the one top-spec model grade on offer with the bZ4X Touring, exterior paint is the main option to factor into the equation. Black comes standard, while designated premium paintwork adds $575 (white, silver, grey, bronze and blue). The default interior trim is black synthetic leather, but khaki can also be ordered as a no-cost option.

Servicing costs through Toyota dealers are capped at $190 for each of the first five services, across 15,000km/12-month intervals, whichever comes first. After that, the 90,000km service is $406 – a price point that continues around this mark on a biennial basis, with intervening services $200-$250.

The bZ4X is covered by Toyota’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre new car warranty. The high-voltage battery comes under a separate eight-year/160,000km term (based on a minimum 70% original capacity), which can be extended to 10 years with an annual check at a franchised dealer.

Research and compare Toyota bZ4X models on sale today in Australia

What is the Toyota bZ4X Touring like inside and out?

The 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring looks more like a high-riding traditional station wagon than a regular road-going SUV, courtesy of its horizontal roofline, longer rear overhang (+140mm) and a more vertical tailgate.

It adds front and rear skid plates, ladder-type roof rails (with 80kg load capacity), a rear windscreen wiper and black trim around the wheelarches and side skirts, but the main attraction is that extra length at the back of the car which translates into a bigger cargo area.

Maximum luggage volume in the Touring is a cavernous 603 litres, up from 452L in the regular bZ4X. There’s still no spare wheel fitted, just a puncture repair kit, but otherwise it’s a practical boot area with a power-operated tailgate (with kick sensor), LED lights, shopping bag hooks, tie-down points, tonneau cover, 60/40 split-fold rear seats and, not least of all, a 220-volt three-pin V2L power point to tap into the EV’s high-voltage battery and run camping equipment, etc.

That flatter roofline also improves rear seat headroom, making the Touring a more comfortable proposition for adults in the back stalls, where the fixed panoramic glass roof heightens the sense of space. The backrest also reclines and the major bases are covered in terms of child seat anchorage points, storage facilities, cup/bottle holders and device charging ports (2 x USB-C, adding to the 2 up front).

For the driver and front passenger, the seats in the bZ4X Touring are comfortable, supportive and have electric adjustment for heating, ventilation, position (8-way) and, for the driver, lumbar support.

A decent supporting cast is found with familiar steering wheel controls, tactile lower console switchgear, twin wireless phone charging pads and high-mounted digital instrument screen. That said, the instrument panel is not as effective as it sounds, with the steering wheel obstructing the view from this driver’s position.

The 14-inch central touchscreen has a nice, clear resolution and is simple enough to navigate around, opting for a mix of tactile buttons and dials – plus less-appreciated flat digital controls, including for the dual-zone air-con, that require more attention.

Research and compare battery-electric SUVs on sale: prices, specs, features, running costs and safety

How does the 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring drive?

The dual-motor/AWD powertrain in the 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring is well equipped to shift the SUV’s 2065kg kerb mass, providing a strong, linear and syrupy smooth run from rest to the posted speed limit that defines most EVs in this premium-spec class.

So, the Touring isn’t exceptional; it’s on message and meets a high standard. Whether in suburban traffic or on rural roads, the bZ4X has pulling power and responsiveness that makes driving a breeze.

This effortless nature crosses over into its road manners, loping along at cruising speeds, taking broken bitumen and other damaged surfaces in its stride and making a good fist of isolating occupants from noise, vibration and harshness. It’s not a plush or silent ride on those 20-inch wheels, but it’s not uncomfortable, either.

The sub-500km driving range (WLTP 488km) is less reassuring, which is a figure that stems partly from the large 20-inch wheel-and-tyre combination. For reference, the cheaper base-marker Subaru Trailseeker AWD, which uses 18-inch rims with the same powertrain as the Trailseeker/bZ4X Touring twins, manages 533km (WLTP). Tesla Model Y LR AWD? 600km, thanks.

Toyota claims the 74.7kWh battery can handle DC charging up to 150kW, needing half an hour to replenish from 10-80% at that rate. Be prepared for longer waits at public chargers that can’t manage those speeds. Dedicated home AC charging at 11kW single phase from 10-100% takes seven hours, according to Toyota, or half that with a 22kW three phase power supply.

The bZ4X Touring was initially said to have a higher ride height than the regular model, but the carmaker now admits it has no advantage at 211mm. Nonetheless, it’s still a useful ground clearance, offering potential for mild off-road excursions with hill descent control and X-mode traction control also onboard.

Research and compare family SUVs on sale: models, specs, features, running costs, safety

How safe is the 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring?

The 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring is covered under the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating awarded to the updated bZ4X in 2025, applicable from October 2025 production.

This upgrade brought higher-level advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including a blind spot monitor with safe exit assist, rear cross traffic alert, driver monitor camera and a panoramic view monitor. An additional airbag protecting the driver’s knee area was also introduced, bringing the total number of airbags to eight.

Automatic collision notification with an SOS emergency call function is fitted standard to the Toyota bZ4X Touring, which gives it an advantage over the related Subaru Trailseeker, which goes without these high-grade connected services. That also rules out stolen vehicle tracking and other benefits.

More: The safest affordable electric cars in Australia for 2026
 

Should I buy the new Toyota bZ4X Touring?

The 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring is a welcome addition to the Japanese brand’s EV stable, building upon the upgrades to the regular bZ4X at a time when the surging fuel prices have switched Australians onto electric cars like never before.

Families will appreciate the extra cargo space and rear seat room, which provides a solid case for closer inspection if a powerful and practical dual-motor electric medium SUV is on the shortlist. Ditto for the Subaru Trailseeker Touring, which rolls off the same production line, but the connected services on the bZ4X Touring give Toyota the edge.

Talking about practicalities, the sub-500km driving range does dampen our mood for touring in both Touring models, so it’s worth considering how often the EV will be driven on longer hauls. There’s also no front trunk, so keep that in mind, too, when weighing the up the relative merits of the bZ4X Touring compared to other contenders in class.

With an asking price of around $76,000 drive-away (for Victorian private buyers), the Touring stands as quite a tall order – in more than one direction.

^{The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.}