Toyota has officially pulled the covers off its next electric car, the Tesla Model 3-fighting bZ3 sedan that is built with the help of Chinese brands BYD and FAW.
Although the bZ3 design leaked late in August, Toyota has now formally detailed the model that is set to steal the thunder away from the best-selling Tesla Model 3.
Utilising BYD-sourced battery – a brand known for producing electric vehicle technologies and has just launched its first model, the Atto 3, in Australia – the bZ3 features an “advanced, safe and reliable battery”, according to the Toyota release.
The size of the battery is yet to be detailed, but it has been confirmed to be a BYD lithium-ion LFP unit, which will enable a driving range of “over 600km” when tested on the Chinese testing procedures.
The new Toyota electric car’s slippery 0.218 drag coefficient will also help its range.
However, a key feature of the bZ3’s new battery will be its longevity, with Toyota targeting a 90 per cent capacity retention after 10 years of standard use.
This blows away the battery warranty of the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model 3, while also potentially being longer lasting that more expensive models like the Porsche Taycan and Mercedes-Benz EQS.
Nissan Australia warrants the Leaf’s battery for eight years/160,000km and guarantees 75 per cent capacity.
The Model 3 meanwhile, has an eight year/160,000km period for the rear-drive variant (eight years/192,000km for the Long Range and Performance grades), with a 70 per cent battery capacity retention.
Porsche’s Taycan and the Mercedes EQS is covered for eight years/160,000km, although battery retention information was not available at the time of publication.
Built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform that also underpins the bZ4X due to launch in Australia from mid-2023, the bZ3 measures 4725mm long, 1835mm wide, 1475mm tall and has a 2880mm wheelbase.
The five-seater sedan stacks up very closely to a Tesla Model 3 then, with measurements of 4694mm, 1933mm, 1443mm and 2875mm respectively for the length, width, height, and wheelbase.
And because the bZ3 is lower to the ground than the bZ4X SUV, Toyota is promising “responsive performance” and “excellent handling stability”.
In fact, the bZ3’s ethos is billed as the “Family Lounge”, according to Toyota, which aims to create an enjoyable space for occupants rather than being simply a mode of transport.
“With a people-centred focus, Toyota emphasises a coherent and comfortable interior space with enhanced digital features perfectly integrated inside the cabin to suit customer preferences,” said the Toyota release.
So, don’t expect sports car dynamics, as even the bZ3’s driving position “is configured to minimize muscle strain, reduce fatigue over long distances, and create an enjoyable driving experience”.
Inside, passengers are treated to a portrait-style multimedia system (sizing still to be confirmed), as well as features such as wireless smartphone charging, voice commands and a digital instrument cluster.
Although Toyota is at pains to state that the bZ3 is “developed for the Chinese market” and that it will be sold there “through the FAW Toyota dealer network”, a global launch remains a possibility at some point in the future.
Keyword: 2023 Toyota bZ3 electric car promises longer-lasting batteries compared to Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf