1 month ago
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The newest electric SUV from Toyota looks good, has plenty of tech, and is priced sharply – but don't expect to see it in Australian showrooms.
The 2025 Toyota bZ3X has gone on sale in China, priced from just 100,000 yuan – or less than $AU22,000.
Roughly the same size as Australia's RAV4, the latest electric SUV from Toyota – in partnership with local car maker GAC – has been priced to win buyers over from a long list of competitors from Chinese brands, with the bZ3X designed exclusively for the Chinese market.
For $AU21,600, the base Toyota bZ3X 430 Air+ comes with a 50kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery sourced from BYD, powering a single electric motor making 165kW – which, as the name suggests, delivers a claimed electric driving range of 430 kilometres based on the lenient CLTC lab test.
The bZ3X is also available in 520 Pro+ and 620 Max variants, which offer 520 and 620 kilometres of driving range respectively, with prices topping out at 200,000 Chinese yuan ($AU43,200).
It is worth noting Chinese-built cars tend to be affordable in their home market. A top-of-the-range Toyota bZ4X built in China for the local market costs 238,800 yuan ($AU51,400), while an equivalent Japanese-built version in Australia starts from $74,900 plus on-road costs.
While it's easy to assume the attractive price tag means it's devoid of features, the reality is the opposite, with the bZ3X coming with a lidar, three radars, 11 high-definition cameras, and 12 ultrasonic sensors – all working with the SUV's driver-assist systems.
In total, there are 25 advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), including radar cruise control with stop-and-go, traffic-light assist, and automatic parking.
Ahead of the driver is an 8.8-inch digital instrument display, while a 14.6-inch centrally-mounted screen looks after infotainment and voice commands, connected to an 11-speaker Yamaha sound system.
According to GAC-Toyota, the seats can be laid flat to provide three metres of space, which the company calls a 'Cozy Mobile Home'.
The cabin also features a large panoramic sunroof, wireless smartphone charging, and seven airbags.
Outside, the bZ3X has LED headlights and tail-lights, flush door handles, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Deliveries of the 2025 GAC-Toyota bZ3X begin in March next year in China, with no word on whether the model will be adapted for global markets.
Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than two decades. Ben began writing professionally more than 15 years ago and was previously an interstate truck driver. He completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021 and is considered an expert on classic car investment.
