Toyota didn’t set the EV world on fire with its oddly named bZ4X. The upscale version for Lexus was virtually the same, albeit with a nicer interior. Now, both models are already getting a mid-cycle refresh. While they don’t look much different on the outside, some big changes for the better are happening under the skin.
We’ll start with the bZ4X. Toyota tweaks the SUV’s face ever-so-slightly, primarily with a new lower fascia that has sharper, upright edges and new lights mounted at the corners. On the inside things are more pronounced, with a redesigned dash and center console that offers more room for phones to rest and recharge. A 14.0-inch center display is now standard, and it runs updated software that, among other things, includes battery pre-conditioning and navigation that finds the best route with charge stops factored in.
Photo by: Toyota
Photo by: Toyota
Photo by: Toyota
The big news, however, is power. Toyota offers more of it in the new bZ4X thanks to new battery options. The top-tier pack goes up to 73.1 kilowatt-hours, and it’s available with either the single-motor front-wheel drive powertrain, or dual-motor with all-wheel drive. A smaller 57.7 kWh battery also joins the lineup, available solely for single-motor versions. It will serve as the entry point for bZ4X buyers.
Regardless of the battery, electricity goes to new eAxles that can handle more power. Should you choose the bigger pack, you’ll get 221 horsepower in the single-motor layout. That’s only a 20-hp increase from the outgoing version, but dual-motor variants jump to 338 hp. It’s one of Toyota’s most powerful vehicles outside the GR family, but if that isn’t important to you, the small battery turns the front wheels with 165 hp.
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Between the battery, styling refresh, and new eAxles, Toyota estimates a maximum range of 356 miles on a charge. That’s a bit better than the 320 miles currently touted, but it’s important to note these are figures for the European WLTP cycle. In the US, the current bZ4X has a considerably lower range estimate of 252 miles. US stats aren’t yet available, but regardless of the location, charging times should be better with the aforementioned battery preconditioning and a 22 kW AC onboard charger.
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Meanwhile at Lexus, the RZ receives some special treatment to further differentiate it from its bZ4X sibling. There are no styling changes inside or out, save for a new yoke-style steering wheel. But it receives a new steer-by-wire system—hence the new yoke wheel—that utilizes a variable steering ratio not unlike the Tesla Cybertruck.
Power-wise, it gains a bigger 77 kWh battery pack as the sole option, exclusive to Lexus. That means more power at the wheels, 221 hp in the single-motor base model FWD RZ, just like Toyota. But dual-motor RZs jump to 375 hp, and there’s a new RZ 550e F Sport trim that goes a bit further, with 402 hp. To make it extra sporty, Lexus plugs in a new Interactive Manual Drive system that simulates gear shifts. There are even simulated engine sounds to match the faux cogs.
Photo by: Lexus
Photo by: Lexus
Like Toyota, the Lexus RZ gains an upgraded charging system with preconditioning for faster charge speeds. There aren’t official charging times and range estimates mentioned yet, but Lexus believes the new RZ will go an extra 62 miles in its longest-range spec. Again, that’s in the European WLTP cycle.
The Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ will go on sale in Europe as 2026 models later this year. The Toyota should reach dealerships in the summer, followed by the Lexus in the fall. Pricing information isn’t available at this time, nor is there any word on when the updates will reach US shores.
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