Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Like many automotive journalists, I walked away from the original Toyota bZ4X feeling...underwhelmed.It wasn't a bad vehicle. In fact, it had a few genuinely good qualities. It rode well, it was comfortable, and, well...it was a Toyota. Unfortunately, in a class packed with EV heavy hitters from Tesla, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Ford, Kia, and others, "not bad" simply wasn't good enough.Cole Attisha/AutoblogRather than double down on mediocrity, Toyota did something refreshingly uncommon.AdvertisementAdvertisementThey listened.For 2026, the company didn't just give its electric crossover a fresh coat of paint and a couple of new cupholders. It addressed nearly every major complaint. The awkward name? Gone. It's now simply the Toyota bZ. More importantly, the performance, charging capability, technology and driving range have all taken meaningful steps forward.The question is no longer whether it's better than before.It absolutely is.The real question is whether it's finally competitive.ToyotaView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articlePerformance & DrivingThis remains one of the most competitive segments in the industry. Nearly every manufacturer has an electric crossover now, and almost all of them are pretty good. Truth be told, most aren't really SUVs anyway. They're tall hatchbacks wearing hiking boots and pretending they're ready to summit Everest.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Toyota bZ joins the club.Under the skin, there are now multiple battery and powertrain choices. The big news is the all-wheel-drive model, which now produces a healthy 338 horsepower. That's a massive improvement over the outgoing model and finally gives the Toyota the kind of acceleration buyers expect from an EV.More importantly, it no longer feels like it's apologizing every time you merge onto the freeway.ToyotaHighway cruising remains one of this vehicle's strongest traits. The ride is smooth, road noise is well controlled, and the cabin feels noticeably more solid than before. Everything seems tighter, more refined and better assembled. The previous model occasionally felt like a group project where nobody talked to each other. This one feels like everyone finally showed up to the meeting.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe steering is still fairly light, and there's not much feedback coming through the wheel. If you're looking for sports-car reflexes, keep shopping. But for commuting, road trips and everyday driving, it's perfectly pleasant.Parking and maneuverability are equally easy. Visibility is good, the controls are intuitive, and after about thirty minutes I even got used to Toyota's unusual high-mounted instrument cluster. It's still a little odd, but at least it stops feeling odd after a while.ToyotaView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleTechnology & ChargingToyota finally caught up here.Every 2026 bZ gets a huge 14-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The interface is clean, responsive and easy to navigate, which is more than I can say for some systems that seem to require a computer science degree just to change the radio station.AdvertisementAdvertisementCharging also gets a welcome upgrade.Thanks to a native North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, owners now have access to Tesla's expanding Supercharger network, and DC fast charging peaks at 150 kW. Toyota says charging from 10 to 80 percent takes roughly 26 to 30 minutes.No, it isn't class-leading, but it's competitive. That's a sentence I couldn't honestly write about the previous model.ToyotaRange & PricingRange anxiety also gets kicked to the curb.The new XLE Plus front-wheel-drive model offers an EPA-estimated 314 miles, making it the longest-range version in the lineup. Interestingly, stepping up to all-wheel drive actually reduces range to between 278 and 288 miles.AdvertisementAdvertisementHere's how the power and horsepower correspond with the batteries.Base XLE FWD: 57.7 kWh battery, 168 horsepower, and 236 miles of range.XLE Plus FWD: 74.7 kWh battery, 221 horsepower, and 314 miles of range.XLE and Limited AWD: 74.7 kWh battery, 338 combined horsepower, and 278–288 miles of range.Pricing is very competitive. This is one of the strongest arguments in favor of the 2026 Toyota bz, except for... it's a Toyota.XLE (Base FWD): $34,900XLE Plus: $37,900XLE AWD: $39,900Limited FWD: $43,300Woodland $45,300Limited AWD: $46,750ToyotaView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleInteriorToyota interiors have always been more about function than flash, and that philosophy continues here. Still, as I mentioned, that distant cluster and steering setup is an odd combo. Some people may take a moment to adjust to the unique steering setup. It's a long distance to the gauge cluster, but it works quite well for some.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe seating is comfortable, cargo space is generous, and there are thoughtful touches like dual wireless phone chargers that keep daily life a little easier. It isn't trying to reinvent the automobile, and honestly, that's perfectly fine.Sometimes you just want buttons that work and seats that don't make your chiropractor rich.ToyotaFinal ThoughtsThe biggest compliment I can give the 2026 Toyota bZ is this:Toyota actually fixed it.It's quicker, charges faster, goes farther, has better technology and finally feels like a vehicle designed to compete rather than simply participate.Related: This is How The Citroën 2CV Became France's People's CarAdvertisementAdvertisementIs it the most exciting EV on the market?Not really.Is it the sharpest handling?No.Will it make you giggle every time you mash the accelerator?Maybe once or twice.ToyotaBut it does something arguably more important. It feels like a well-built Toyota that happens to be electric. For a lot of buyers, that's exactly what they've been waiting for. It's a solid effort.Would it make my personal top five electric crossovers? That's still a difficult call because this segment has become incredibly competitive. But unlike its predecessor, the new Toyota bZ deserves to be on the shopping list.Just make sure you drive it back-to-back with its biggest competitors before making a decision.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe good news?For the first time, Toyota won't be embarrassed by the comparison.Related: The 2026 Honda Accord Starts Under $30K, And It's a Killer Deal!This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.