Model research hub
Toyota bZ
The Toyota bZ, called the bZ4X until 2025, is a battery-electric compact crossover sold since the 2023 model year and updated heavily for 2026. REREV says to avoid the 2023 and 2024 or verify their recalls, calls the 2025 the cleanest used buy, and the 2026 bZ starts at $36,350 and is rated 109 to 131 mpg-equivalent.
What the Toyota bZ is
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the bZ4X (marketed as simply the Toyota bZ in North America since 2025) as a battery-electric compact crossover SUV built by Toyota on the e-TNGA platform since April 2022, with model years from 2023, a 2025 facelift and a Subaru version sold as the Solterra. The 2026 bZ is rated 109 to 131 mpg-equivalent by the EPA, about $550 to $700 a year in fuel. Kelley Blue Book base prices are $36,350 for the XLE, $39,350 for the XLE Plus and $44,750 for the Limited.
Best and worst bZ model years
Federal data so far lists 1 recall on the 2026, for the electrical system. REREV (opens in a new tab) says the bZ4X is worth buying as long as you avoid the 2023 and 2024 model years or verify that every open recall on those years has been completed, and that the 2025 is the cleanest used buy in the lineup, with the fewest complaints and the highest reliability score of any model year so far. A guide on bestyears (opens in a new tab) says the 2024 is generally the better choice than the 2023 because issues were addressed, though a fix Toyota made remains a consideration for used 2023 cars.
The 2026 update
Motor Trend (opens in a new tab) says that after three years of playing at a disadvantage Toyota attempts to level the field with a major update for 2026. The XLE FWD Plus and Limited FWD models use a single motor developing 221 hp, a gain of 20 hp over last year's single-motor model, and the Limited FWD is capable of 299 miles per charge and adds a digital rearview mirror, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.
Questions buyers ask
Which Toyota bZ4X years should I avoid?
REREV (opens in a new tab) says to avoid the 2023 and 2024 or verify that every open recall has been completed, and calls the 2025 the cleanest used buy.
Is the Toyota bZ the same as the Subaru Solterra?
Wikipedia says a Subaru version is marketed as the Solterra, and Lexus offers a sibling model.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Toyota bZ is built around Electric motor(s), single or dual, rated at 168–375 horsepower across its compact electric SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 5 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2026 Toyota bZ is published to tow is Not rated for towing (Woodland: tow package available).
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2026 bZ.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Toyota bZ
The redesigned 2026 bZ replaces the bZ4X nameplate with a native NACS port, a larger touchscreen and a new dual-motor Woodland off-road variant rated at 375 horsepower.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
2 indexed Toyota bZ model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Toyota bZ | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Toyota bZ | 2026 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Toyota bZ.
The Toyota bZ series ("beyond Zero") is a family of battery electric vehicles (BEV) manufactured by Toyota. It was introduced in April 2021 alongside the bZ4X Concept. The bZ series is a part of Toyota's plan to introduce 15 battery electric vehicle models by 2025, seven of which are from the bZ series.
Source: Toyota bZ (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Recent recalls (1 campaign across the latest model years)
- June 2026, Electrical System:Propulsion System. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Toyota BZ, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra battery electric vehicles. The electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the high voltage battery may experience a fault, resulting in a loss of drive power. Consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Year by year
The Toyota bZ across 2 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Toyota bZ | 109–131 | $550–$700 | 7 | |
| 2026 Toyota bZ | 109–131 | $550–$700 | 8 | 1 |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Toyota bZ, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 8 to 7 | Labels: bZ LIMITED | Labels: bZ LIMITED (energy capacity 191 Ah), bZ LIMITED (energy capacity 200 Ah) |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Toyota bZ trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLE | AWD | Dual AC Electric Motors | 338 | – | 4,376 | – | – | $36,575 |
| XLE Plus | FWD | AC Electric Motor | 221 | – | 4,156 | – | – | $39,575 |
| Limited | AWD | Dual AC Electric Motors | 338 | – | 4,453 | – | – | $44,975 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Toyota bZ: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | electrical system |
| 2025 | not available | ||
| 2024 | not available | ||
| 2023 | not available | ||
| 2022 | not available | ||
| 2021 | not available | ||
| 2020 | not available | ||
| 2019 | not available | ||
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Toyota bZ model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Toyota bZ?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Toyota bZ model year: recall counts across the 1 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about n/a recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Toyota bZ by model year?
2026: electrical system.
Q03Why do some Toyota bZ model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Toyota bZ model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Climate and electrical.
Compared with
Models this Toyota bZ is most often compared with.
Nearest Toyota models
Other Toyota models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 bZ come in?
The 2026 Toyota bZ (compact electric SUV) comes in 5 trims: XLE, XLE Plus, Limited, Woodland, Woodland Premium.
Q02What are the 2026 bZ trims?
The 2026 Toyota bZ trims are XLE, XLE Plus, Limited, Woodland, Woodland Premium, listed from the entry XLE up to the top Woodland Premium.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 bZ use?
The 2026 Toyota bZ is built around Electric motor(s), single or dual, rated at 168–375 horsepower across its compact electric SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 bZ have?
The 2026 Toyota bZ is rated at 168–375 horsepower (Electric motor(s), single or dual).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 bZ?
The 2026 Toyota bZ is offered with FWD / AWD.