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A massive price cut of up to $10K has been applied to Toyota's updated electric SUV in Australia – despite coinciding with a longer range, new styling, and more equipment – amid sluggish sales of today's model.
Electric Cars
Toyota has slashed the price of the bZ4X electric car by up to $10,010 as part of a major update adding new technology, a longer range, and more power.
The bZ4X now starts from $55,990 before on-road costs with front-wheel drive (FWD), about $3000 cheaper than the least expensive Tesla Model Y, and about $2000 less than a Zeekr 7X RWD, but $1000 more than a BYD Sealion 7.
Opting for all-wheel drive (AWD) adds equipment, power, and traction, as well as bumping the price to $67,990 plus on-road costs – still $6910 less than the previous model.
They represent the biggest price reductions applied in recent memory by Toyota – which does not slash prices like other brands, to preserve resale value – and are accompanied by extra equipment, improving value further.
The RRP cuts will be needed to breathe life into sales of Toyota's maiden electric car in Australia, of which just 858 have been delivered so far this year – compared to about 2700 Model Ys last month alone.
The original iteration of the bZ4X was comparable with a Model Y on price when it launched in 2024 – at $66,000 before on-roads, when a Model Y was $65,400 – but the electric-car market has moved significantly since then.
Powering the updated bZ4X is a larger 74.7kWh battery pack, combined with more efficient electric motors and inverters for driving range ratings based on European WLTP testing of 591km with FWD, and 517km with AWD.
The front-wheel-drive model pairs the battery with a single 165kW/269Nm electric motor, upgraded to dual motors developing 252kW/438Nm combined in the all-wheel-drive variant, which is now rated to tow 1500kg (up from 750kg).
It is up from a 71.4kWh battery standard across the outgoing bZ4X range, paired to a 150kW motor and 436km WLTP range rating with front-wheel drive, or 160kW combined and 411km WLTP in the all-wheel-drive version.
DC fast charging remains limited to 150kW, for a 10 to 80 per cent top-up in a claimed 30 minutes, but the battery's thermal control software is believed to have been updated to recharge faster in colder climates.
However, AC charging has improved from 11kW to 22kW, for a claimed 10 to 100 per cent fill in as little as 3.5 hours on a 32-amp, three-phase power supply, according to Toyota.
Styling changes for 2026 include a new front fascia with restyled headlights and bumper, gloss black wheel arches replacing matte black, and fresh 18-inch and 20-inch wheel designs.
Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen has been added across the range, joining a revised centre console housing dual wireless phone chargers.
The front-wheel-drive bZ4X has lost 20-inch wheels as part of the update, but picks up equipment previously exclusive to the all-wheel drive, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert – features that are standard on a $20,000 Kia Picanto.
It also gains a heated steering wheel, hands-free functionality for the power tailgate, a 360-degree camera, and NanoeX cabin ionisation from the AWD, plus new-for-2026 driver monitoring and a driver's knee airbag.
New features for the all-wheel-drive bZ4X include a power-adjustable front passenger seat and digital rear-view mirror, which were previously offered only on its Subaru Solterra twin in Australia.
Also said to be new is radiant front cabin heating, which uses infrared panels where a normal car's glovebox would go to heat up the front passenger's legs.
Toyota bZ4X vehicles purchased by private buyers before the end of 2026 are offered a choice of a free 7kW Chargefox home wallbox charger – excluding installation – or one year or 625kWh of free charging at Chargefox public plugs.
Customers who choose the wallbox can pay the cost difference to have it upgraded to a 22kW unit.
Buyers looking to finance through Toyota Finance Australia will be offered a "limited-time deposit contribution" of $5000 for front-wheel-drive models, or $7500 for AWD versions.
The 2026 Toyota bZ4X is available to order now.
2026 Toyota bZ4X price in Australia
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.
2026 Toyota bZ4X 2WD standard features:
2026 Toyota bZ4X AWD adds (over 2WD):
Electric Cars Guide
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
