2026 Toyota bZ Unveiled: What's New for Toyota's Electric Crossover?

Toyota’s all-electric crossover gets a makeover, but the beauty of the bZ’s update isn’t just skin deep

Toyota’s bZ, previously known as the bZ4X, gets a substantial facelift for 2026, including newly available color-matched overfenders and an updated front fascia, but perhaps it’s what’s beneath the surface that makes the storied Japanese automaker’s fully-electric crossover even more appealing. The bZ’s most notable updates, besides its trimmed-down nomenclature, include its sizeable power bump, enhanced battery range, improved charging functions, and new cabin amenities.

The Toyota bZ’s updates make it an easier vehicle to live with

Now equipped with up-to-date NACS (North American Charging System) charge ports, the Toyota bZ makes both charging and driving easier and more enjoyable. The 2026 Toyota bZ will now come equipped with battery pre-conditioning, allowing you to pre-set the battery to the optimal temperature for DC fast charging and improving the all-around charging experience. You’ll have to charge less often, too, now that the Toyota bZ’s maximum battery range jumps to a manufacturer-rated 314 miles–a 25% increase over the outgoing bZ4X, which was rated for just 252 miles.

Battery charging isn’t the only thing that’ll be moving faster, either. With larger electric motors on both AWD and FWD models, total horsepower jumps from 201 to 221 for front-wheel drive models and from 214 to a whopping 338 horsepower for all-wheel drive models. Add instant electric torque and a 0-60 mph time of just 4.9 seconds on all-wheel drive models into the mix, and the new bZ proves to be as fun as it can be practical.

The 2026 Toyota bZ gets even more cabin amenities

With a completely redesigned cockpit, the 2026 Toyota bZ not only looks better inside than its competitors, but it’s also more comfortable than ever before. The remastered Toyota bZ benefits from customizable ambient lighting, a 14-inch touchscreen display, two front wireless Qi chargers, four USB-C charging ports, a 1500W AC outlet, and a Smart Key System on all doors and rear hatch, which was previously only available on the front doors. Opt for the Limited trim, and you’ll also get 8-way power passenger seating, driver seat memory function, side view mirrors with memory and reverse tilt down function, and a digital rearview mirror.

Final thoughts

Toyota’s refresh of its all-electric bZ crossover highlights the brand’s solid effort at finally taking electric vehicles seriously. With its stylistic makeover reminiscent of the elegant Toyota Crown Signia, up-to-date charging systems, and increased horsepower, the Toyota bZ seems like a much stronger contender in its lucrative and increasingly saturated segment than ever before. Official pricing has yet to be released, but from what we’ve seen so far, we have high hopes for Toyota’s updated bread-and-butter EV.