2024 Toyota bZ4X

Toyota mostly fulfills its reputation for building efficient and exceptionally reliable vehicles. Most of their models do well in our testing, thanks to their impressive fuel economy, comfortable rides, quiet cabins, and ease of getting in and out. All of this makes Toyotas among the best options for used vehicles. The brand was a hybrid pioneer, starting with the original Prius. Toyota has evolved and expanded that technology, and most vehicles in its lineup are available as a hybrid. Toyota also sells a number of plug-in hybrids, which were once called Prime but are now simply referred to as Plug-in. The company also knows how to add a dose of excitement into its lineup. The GR86, GR Corolla, and Supra are legit, fun-to-drive sports cars. However, some models we’ve tested have been disappointing. The company’s EV, the bZ4X SUV, is mediocre.

The bZ4X SUV is Toyota's first ground-up EV. Sized like the RAV4, the front-wheel-drive bZ4X has a 201-hp motor, a 71.4-kilowatt-hour battery, and an EPA-estimated 252-mile range, while the all-wheel-drive version has 214 hp and a 72.8-kWh battery good for a 222-mile range. The range is short by current EV standards, and the car's 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger means home charging is on the slow side. A 100-kW DC fast-charging rate for the AWD model is also behind competitors. Otherwise, it's a functional SUV with agile handling and a decent ride but a rather spartan interior. Oddly, there is no glove box or rear wiper. It features the Safety Sense 3.0, which adds more advanced active safety and driver assist functions. The Subaru Solterra is essentially the same vehicle.