A Father & Son Adventure With Toyota's bZ4X

On a perfect sunny day, I had the opportunity to take the Toyota bZ4X, the brand’s first all-electric vehicle, on a trip with my son to our favourite health club.

It was an ideal scenario for testing this compact all-electric SUV, especially as we planned to enjoy a picnic afterwards. As we hit the road, I was immediately struck by how well the bZ4X embraced its role as a comfortable cruiser rather than a performance-focused vehicle.

With its respectable acceleration and a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds for the front-wheel drive version, the Toyota had enough power to easily get us up to speed without feeling sluggish. The higher-powered four-wheel drive variant achieves this in an impressive 6.9 seconds.

The bZ4X is built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform designed to maximise interior space, which made our journey comfortable. The soft suspension smoothed out potholes, making it relaxing to drive even on longer stretches. We took our time on winding country lanes, where the car’s handling was competent, though it preferred a gentler approach rather than aggressive cornering.

With my son enjoying the spacious cabin, we found ample storage for our gym kit, picnic basket, and even some tennis equipment. The boot, at 452 litres, had room enough for all our stuff and could have easily accommodated a bit of beach gear if we had decided to change our minds about visiting the health club. However, on this occasion, the health club and gym won the toss for the day.

What truly enhanced our trip was the multimedia system, which connects seamlessly through the Toyota MyToyota app. This feature was a huge bonus, allowing us to locate charging points along our route, ensuring a worry-free journey into the sunny countryside.

After our health club visit, we decided to stretch our legs with the much-needed picnic. The bZ4X’s sleek, funky design caught the eye of a few passers-by who seemed curious about the Toyota. It felt good to showcase the car while enjoying our meal, soaking in the sun, and reflecting on what the bZ4X had to offer.

The all-electric range is impressive. The front-wheel drive model boasts up to 354 miles on a full charge, while the all-wheel drive version has a commendable range, too. This makes it practical for family outings like ours.

Overall, my time with the bZ4X left me impressed. It’s a solid performer that blends practicality, spaciousness, and reliability – qualities that Toyota has always been known for. The SUV may have a name that’s a bit cumbersome to type out, but it offers a well-rounded package that’s bound to appeal to many households.