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The 2024 Toyota bZ4X is Toyota's first fully electric vehicle in its range. With the Toyota RAV4 hybrid being a firm favourite for families, I am keen to see how the bZ4X compares. Let's jump straight in and see how the fully electric bZ4X fares as a BabyDrive and put it through our family car testing with child seats and Thule prams.

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BabyDrive Verdict

The Toyota bZ4X is available in two variants: the single-motor 2WD, which is said to have a 436km battery range, and I am driving the top-spec dual-motor AWD model, which gives a 411km battery range. The Toyota bZ4X shares A LOT with the Subaru version, which is called the Subaru Solterra EV (as well as the Lexus RZ). I've also driven both of those, and they are identical in many ways, including the complete lack of a glove box! Let's have a look at Toyota's version…

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD

When it comes to installing child seats in the 2024 Toyota bZ4X EV, there are ISOFix points in both outer rear seats. They are not within plastic guides, but they are nice and easy to connect to and clearly labelled.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD ISOFIX child seat anchorages in the second row

All three rear seatbacks have top tether anchorages, which are clearly labelled and easily accessible through the boot.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD top tether child seat anchorages in the second row

The three child seats I tested fit nicely across the rear seats of the bZ4X. I installed three forward-facing child seats: one 0-8-year-old convertible, one 0-4-year-old convertible, and one 6-month-old-8-year-old convertible booster.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD with three child seats installed in the second row

These three child seats fit comfortably in the back with good legroom for rear passengers. We could fit a 180cm driver in front of the rear-facing infant capsule. The rear footwell is almost flat, so there is plenty of kick room, and it's easy for little passengers to move around to get in and out of their seats. There is a carpeted mat in the footwell of the bZ4X.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD legroom with forward-facing child seats installed in the second row

The bZ4X's rear occupants are kept comfortable with air conditioning vents, so rear passengers can stay comfortable while driving. There are also USB-C sockets for charging their devices. The Subaru Solterra has heated rear seats, but the Toyota bZ4X does not.

Rear passengers have good storage in the Toyota bZ4X, with cup holders in a fold-down armrest in the central seat back. Coffee cups and kids' drink cups fit well, and there is a well in front of them for storing phones or snacks for kids!

There are map pockets on the back of the front seats. They are large enough to hold and conceal an iPad.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD legroom with forward-facing child seats installed in the second row

The rear door bins in the bZ4X will hold two refillable water bottles, and there is storage in the handle wells.

The front door bins of the 2024 Toyota bZ4X will hold a refillable water bottle and a disposable water bottle.

The central console has two cup holders, each holding a reusable or disposable coffee cup. In front of the cup holders is a phone tray with a retractable lid.

Behind the cup holders is a large central console box.

Underneath the central console bridge is a great storage area for an iPad or wallet. There's also a shelf for phones, two USB-C sockets and a 12V charging socket.

There is no glove box in the Toyota bZ4X! It is the strangest thing to get used to, but you can see the similarities between the Subaru Solterra and Lexus RZ.

The bZ4X's boot is a practical size for families. The boot floor is nice and flat and underneath is where your charging cables are stored. The Subaru Solterra I tested had a rubber floor mat, which I'm sure would be a dealership add-on. The boot floor in the bZ4X is nice and flat and great for transporting a medium-sized family dog or an emergency nappy change.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD top tether child seat anchorages in the second row

When empty, the 2024 Toyota bZ4X's boot space fits fourteen shopping bags, which is the same as the Subaru Solterra, comparable to the Tesla Model Y‘s fifteen, the Kia Niro that holds eleven, the Volvo XC40 holding twelve, and the Kia EV6 holding thirteen. Some of those cars also have a frunk which the Toyota lacks.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD boot space for shopping with two rows of seats in use

The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat…

Thule Sleek

…will fit in the bZ4X boot with four shopping bags.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD boot space for shopping with single stroller pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with two sibling seats…

…will fit in the boot of the 2024 Toyota bZ4X with three shopping bags.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD boot space for shopping with tandem stroller pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat and bassinet beside it…

…will fit in the boot of the 2024 Toyota bZ4X with no shopping bags.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD boot space for shopping with tandem stroller pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Thule Urban Glide 3 single is the ultimate all-terrain stroller…

Thule Urban Glide 3

…with the back wheels on, it will fit in the bZ4X boot with four shopping bags.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD boot space for shopping with single stroller pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Thule Urban Glide 3 double is Thule's beloved ultimate all-terrain stroller…

… with the back wheels on, it will fit in the boot of the 2024 Solterra with three shopping bags. So it will be the same in the Toyota bZ4X.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for twin side by side stroller pram and shopping with two rows of seats in use
Subaru Solterra pictured

The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…

Thule Spring

…fits in the boot of the Toyota bZ4X with eight shopping bags.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD boot space for shopping with compact pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Toyota bZ4X's boot can also accommodate a 90L, a 70L and two 40L Thule Chasm duffle bags. You can transport a medium-sized dog in the boot of the Toyota bZ4X.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD boot space for luggage with two rows of seats in use

The Toyota bZ4X has a clear media screen that is easy to navigate using the icons down the right-hand side.

It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allow you to access your phone's messaging, navigation, and listening apps while driving.

You can customise many aspects of the bZ4X, including the sound, so those with noise-sensitive kids can turn things down or off.

You can also customise the car's driver and safety assist systems to turn off the ones you don't want, and you can keep track of your battery range and create a charging schedule.

The bZ4X has a built-in Sat-Nav.

When you put the Toyota bZ4X in reverse, the camera images are lovely and clear and fill the screen. There is a birds-eye camera view…

… as well as other views…

The climate and heated seat controls are on the main dash below the media screen. This fixed position makes them easy to use and change while driving.

The Toyota bZ4X is a nippy little car to drive, and being fully electric, you have the great benefits of driving your kids to school or sleep and sitting while your kids nap or waiting at pickup with the aircon running without chewing through fuel or polluting the air around you.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD

With three child seats in the back of the 2024 Toyota bZ4X EV, visibility is excellent over the top of them, and the surround camera is great.

2024 Toyota bZ4X AWD with three child seats installed in the second row

Overall, the 2024 Toyota bZ4X EV makes a very practical and fun BabyDrive for those looking for an electric family car. Three child seats fit in the back, the legroom is good, and the boot can hold a double Thule Urban Glide 3 pram.

The Toyota bZ4X EV has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and has seven airbags as standard.

Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags are standard. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard

 

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BabyDrive Indepth

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Tace Clifford
About Tace Clifford
Tace Clifford founded BabyDrive in 2017 after discovering a huge information gap in mainstream car reviews that left new parents and expanding families in the dark when it came to one of the biggest purchasing decisions of their lives.

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