Could the Toyota bZ4X Touring Convert You to Electric?

Discover what Muddy Stilettos thought after experiencing Toyota's All-New, All-Electric SUV for themselves.

We recently handed over the keys to the Toyota bZ4X Touring for an honest, real-world review by the team at Muddy Stilettos and the verdict is in. Known for combining practicality with a healthy dose of style, Muddy Stilettos set out to discover whether Toyota’s latest all-electric SUV could win over a self-confessed sports-car enthusiast. From first impressions and family-friendly credentials to performance on the road, here’s what they had to say about the Toyota bZ4X Touring.

"I have a confession to make: I am not an SUV person.

I like my cars sporty, powerful and preferably closer to the ground. Before I fell pregnant, I drove a performance car and, since becoming a mum, I’ve done a pretty good job of avoiding the traditional mum-mobile. I now drive a sporty executive car and, if I’m honest, I’d always assumed that was where my car preferences would remain.

Then along came the Toyota bZ4X Touring. And now I fear I may have been converted.

THE BRAND

Toyota is one of those car brands that needs little introduction. The Japanese manufacturer has built its reputation on reliability and practicality, while increasingly moving into the world of hybrid and fully electric driving. The bZ4X Touring is the latest step in that direction: a large, all-electric SUV designed with family life and longer journeys in mind.

I was invited to test drive the new model by Snows Toyota Exeter, part of the family-run Snows Motor Group. With 3 dealerships across Devon (Exeter, Honiton & Plymouth) the Snows Group have more than 50 dealerships across south England.

As a Newton Abbot girlie, Exeter was the closest place to get behind the wheel and see what this latest electric SUV was all about.

THE LOWDOWN

The bZ4X Touring is Toyota’s latest All-New, All-Electric SUV and, as the name suggests, it’s the more spacious touring version of the bZ4X – with a 669 litre boot that offers almost 50 per cent more load space than its sibling. Which is car-speak for: bring everything.

We’re talking bikes, luggage, snacks, scooters and the contents of the kids bedroom. The boot is epic and it’s lower loading lip means getting the kitchen sink in a lot easier too.

And for a family car, it is seriously good-looking. I loved the beautiful wheel arch trim, the clean, modern shape and the long brake light stretching across the back of the car. It looks sleek rather than boxy, which is important when you’re trying to convince a sports-car lover that an SUV might be the way forward.

THE DRIVE

This is where the Toyota bZ4X Touring really surprised me. I was expecting smooth. I was expecting quiet. I was expecting practical. What I wasn’t necessarily expecting was to have quite so much fun.

The driving position is high – something I’m not used to – and I genuinely loved being able to see so much more of the road around me. It feels reassuringly substantial without feeling like you’re driving a bus.

But then you put your foot down. And this is where the bZ4X Touring reminded me that electric cars can be properly quick. When I opened her up on the motorway, she had some serious oomph. The all-wheel-drive version produces up to 376bhp and can go from 0–62mph in around 4.5 seconds – enough to make me think: ‘Ooh, these she is’.

Then again, the all-wheel-drive version delivers up to 376bhp, making it Toyota’s most powerful model outside its GR performance range, so perhaps I shouldn’t have been quite so surprised.

THE FAMILY TEST

My daughter had plenty of room in the back, with masses of kicking space – and, crucially, enough room that she wasn’t constantly kicking the passenger in front. Parents, you know this matters.

There is a lovely sense of space throughout the car, without it feeling cavernous or impractical. For family holidays, weekends away or simply the daily accumulation of all the stuff small people seem to require, it feels exceptionally well equipped for the job.

And that boot really does earn its keep. A bike, a family’s worth of suitcases and all the things you inevitably remember at the last minute? No problem.

THE TECH

I’m a sucker for good tech in a car and the bZ4X Touring delivered. The huge navigation screen was a particular highlight – big, clear and easy to see without having to squint at something the size of a postage stamp.

But the cameras were my favourite bit. The 360-degree panoramic view gives you a bird’s-eye view of your surroundings, with additional under-floor and side views to make navigating tight spaces and parking considerably easier.

There is also a handy little feature that tells you how you’re positioned on the road and alerts you if you start veering left or right, gently reminding you to centralise. It also alerts you, should you go over the speed limit. (not on my watch)

The wireless charging pad in the front can charge two phones at once – another small but very useful detail when you’re travelling with a family who all seem to be permanently running out of battery.

And then there is the plug in the boot. A plug. In the boot.

For anyone who travels for work, this is a genius little addition. You can charge your laptop on the go, meaning no frantic searching for a plug socket when you’re working away from home – and no family arguments over the only available charging cable.

CHARGING

If you’re new to electric cars, charging is probably one of the big questions – and the Toyota bZ4X Touring is designed to make it fairly straightforward.

For longer journeys, the front-wheel-drive model has a claimed range of up to 366 miles, while DC fast charging can take the battery from 10–80% in around 28 minutes under suitable conditions. In other words, roughly the time it takes to grab a coffee, use the loo and persuade the kids to stop asking whether you’re there yet.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

I went into this review expecting the Toyota bZ4X Touring to be a practical family car. What I didn’t expect was to enjoy driving it quite as much as I did. I loved the driving position, the feeling of space and the fact that it was so smooth and quiet on the road. The cameras, huge screen and thoughtful details – like that handy boot plug – all make life easier, too.

But most importantly, I loved that it didn’t feel like I’d sacrificed the driving experience in exchange for practicality. It was quick when I wanted it to be, comfortable on longer journeys and surprisingly enjoyable to drive.

So, has this sporty-car girl finally been converted to an SUV? Let’s just say I am no longer ruling it out.

Good for: Families who need a genuinely enormous amount of space without wanting a boring, boxy family car. Anyone who likes a high driving position, a smooth and quiet drive and plenty of tech. And, yes, even people who think they don’t like SUVs.

The Toyota bZ4X Touring starts from £44,495 and is available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. The range offers up to 366 miles of driving range, depending on specification.

Book a test drive at Snows Toyota"

This article was originally published on Muddy Stillettos 23rd July 2026.

Republished by Snows 31st July 2026.