Toyota’s new bZ4X is simple, approachable, and very likable, an EV that’s futuristic in appearance but screwdriver-simple to operate. First-time EV buyers will probably love it, but experienced electronauts might lament its lack of top-tier EV features.
The bZ4X’s most unusual trait is that the flat-screen instrument panel sits above the steering wheel rim, as opposed to being framed by it. The driving position is actually quite conventional, though, and once we got used to the view, we liked having the speedometer up high, close to our line of sight.
The bZ4X also features a large infotainment screen, a boxy cargo area, a roomy back seat, and lots of big, clearly marked buttons—pretty much what you’d find in a garden-variety gas-powered SUV. Aside from the button for regenerative brakes, all…