Toyota was among the first automakers to introduce environmentally friendly cars with the Prius. And though the company has been slow to electrify its lineup, the first fully electric production model has finally arrived. Here’s a look at the all-new 2023 Toyota bZ4X, including tech features such as Apple CarPlay.
Toyota’s new EV with a quirky name
Toyota shared its intention to produce cars with zero emissions with the bZ4X lineup. The “bZ” in the name stands for “beyond zero” and nods to the company’s environmental pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
The bZ4X has a traditional family-SUV-like exterior design and shares elements with the best-selling RAV4.
As for powertrains, the bZ4X’s base model has standard front-wheel-drive and an electric motor producing 201 hp and 196 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version making only slightly more horsepower, at 214 hp and 248 lb-ft, according to Toyota.
The dual-motor AWD model accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds in Car and Driver testing and 5.8 seconds in MotorTrend testing. Although the bZ4X’s acceleration time doesn’t come close to the Tesla Model Y’s 3.5 seconds, it’s not far off from the Volkswagen ID.4’s 7.6-second split.
In addition, the bZ4X has a 64.0-kWh battery pack. The battery pack for the FWD setup gets about 230 miles of electric range, while the AWD system drops to about 200 miles.
The interior is futuristic compared to other Toyota models, but passenger and cargo space are comparable to the RAV4. The 2023 Toyota bZ4X’s starting price ranges from about $42,000 to $48,000.
Does the Toyota bZ4X have Apple CarPlay?
Every 2023 Toyota bZ4X model comes with wireless Apple CarPlay integration.
Apple CarPlay has changed the driving experience since debuting in 2014. The feature provides iPhone connectivity in vehicles, allowing drivers to access device apps without touch their phones.
The feature has improved since its introduction and has evolved to allow drivers to enjoy their favorite songs and podcasts, make phone calls, and navigate without taking their eyes off the road. When Apple debuted CarPlay, automakers didn’t rush to embrace it but soon recognized its efficiency and popularity.
At first, the feature was optional in only a few cars and was used to entice buyers. But today, it’s a highly coveted feature in new vehicles and could be a dealbreaker to iPhone users who view CarPlay as a necessity.
Apple recently announced iOS 16, containing massive upgrades for CarPlay. With this upgrade, the feature will work on not only the infotainment display but also every screen in the car. That offers more functionality and integration and essentially helps drivers better mirror their iPhones. So far, there’s no set date for the update launch, but Apple shared that vehicles with the upgrade will be announced in late 2023.
Other tech features in the 2023 Toyota bZ4X
The 2023 Toyota bZ4X has a large 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 7.0-inch digital gauge display. Aside from providing wireless Apple CarPlay integration, the EV also has standard wired Android Auto. In addition, the system includes cloud-based navigation. Wireless smartphone charging and onboard Wi-Fi hotspot are also available.
All models also come with SiriusXM Satellite Radio integration, and a six-speaker sound system. However, Toyota allows buyers to upgrade to a nine-speaker JBL stereo system on the Limited trim.
Other valuable features include advanced driver assists such as pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist.
RELATED: 3 Reasons to Buy a 2023 Toyota bZ4X, Not a Hyundai Ioniq 5
