Toyota’s now offering the bZ4X as a 376bhp adventure-ready estate

Toyota has breathed a bit more flavour into the dull bZ4X electric range with a new 376bhp Touring model. It ditches the SUV-shaped body for an estate, and gains a raft of off-roady bits to tempt those adventure lifestyle seekers. Yep, the bZ4X is definitely more interesting like this.

Back to that output for a second: it now makes this the most powerful EV in Toyota’s lineup, snatching the record from it’s own SUV-shaped self (which has a 38bhp deficit). This power will be reserved for the all-wheel drive version only, which comes bundled with an ‘Xmode’ drive assist and grip control to help find extra traction. Alternatively, there will be a 221bhp front-drive-only entry-level car.

Hooked up to your choice of powertrain will be a 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery. It’s larger than the one in the SUV, though maximum range has dropped slightly to 348 miles on the WLTP cycle. Charging speeds are capped at 150kW at public stations, or you can use the provided 22kW cable to top-up at yer yard.

The revised body is 20mm taller and 140mm longer than the donor car, resulting in an extra 33 per cent luggage space. The new total of 600 litres should be enough for an indoor five-a-side match, we reckon, and those added roof rails will help shift an extra 70kg worth of boots and yellow cards. Other cosmetic upgrades include tougher-looking bumpers with more pronounced cladding and a fresh set of rear LED lights.

No significant changes are mentioned for the interior, so the Touring will carry over the same 14in infotainment screen and seven inch driver’s display, plus a dual wireless charging pad and a thin ambient lighting strip across the dashboard. Very neat and functional, as one would expect from a Toyota.

Interested? You’ll need to wait until Spring of next year for its arrival in the UK and Europe, with prices expected to hover just above the SUV’s starting figure of £42,995.