DC FAST CHARGING THE TOYOTA BZ4X FROM 0-100% IS AN EXERCISE IN PATIENCE! (AWD 72.8KWH CATL BATTERY)

EV Channels Review

The Toyota bZ4X AWD, equipped with the 72.8kWh CATL battery, presents a significant challenge for road trips due to its exceptionally slow DC fast charging capabilities. While the vehicle excels in driving dynamics, off-roading (thanks to its X-Mode), and build quality, its charging performance is a major drawback. The reviewer experienced a peak charging rate of only 87.82 kW, which quickly dropped, leading to an agonizingly slow charge from 0-99% taking 4.4 hours. This performance is significantly worse than competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 in the same price bracket. The car lacks essential EV features like route planning, plug-and-charge, and battery preconditioning. While Toyota's conservative approach to battery longevity is acknowledged, the current charging speeds make the bZ4X impractical for extensive travel, limiting its recommendation to those who primarily stay within a local bubble and rarely need to DC fast charge. The reviewer suggests that for owners, pulling off a fast charger above 85-90% state of charge and switching to Level 2 is advisable, as the fast charging speed offers no benefit at higher states of charge.