Toyota BZ4X electric SUV delayed for Australia until 2023

Toyota’s first electric SUV will arrive in showrooms next year, at least three months later than expected – and it could be pipped to market by its Subaru Solterra twin.

Toyota Australia has at last officially confirmed launch timing for its first global electric car, the 2023 Toyota BZ4X – but it’s due to arrive in showrooms a few months later than first anticipated.

The first in a new range of ‘Beyond Zero’ (BZ) electric cars, the BZ4X mid-size SUV was initially slated to reach showrooms as soon as late 2022, according to comments from Toyota Australia executives late last year.

However, the Japanese brand has now confirmed the new electric car will not reach local showrooms until 2023, with a company spokesperson citing “current levels of unprecedented global demand for vehicles”.

It’s unclear when in 2023 the BZ4X will launch, with “further details on timing [to] be released in due course,” according to Toyota Australia.

The Toyota BZ4X could be pipped to market by its twin, the Subaru Solterra, which was today confirmed for a local launch in the first half of 2023 – pending any unforeseen delays due to COVID-19 or ongoing global parts shortages.

Pricing for the Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra is yet to be confirmed, however in overseas markets the flagship versions of both cars are priced at the equivalent of around $70,000 to $75,000 plus on-road costs.

That places them in line with their Hyundai Ioniq 5 ($71,900 to $75,900), Kia EV6 ($67,990 to $82,990) and Tesla Model Y ($67,990) rivals – though the Toyota and Subaru offer less range than the Korean cars, with 30 per cent less power.

It remains to be seen how the BZ4X and Solterra are priced relative to one another; in the US the Toyota is the cheaper option (before government incentives), while in Japan the Subaru is priced lower.

For more details on the 2023 Toyota BZ4X range, click here to read Drive’s earlier coverage of the model.

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