(Full Disclosure:\u00a0Toyota covered my travel and lodging in Southern California so I could drive the 2026 bZ Woodland)<\/p>\n
2026 Toyota bZ Woodland: What Is It?<\/p>\n
![\"2026](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/16x9-tr.png\")
<\/p>\n
Photo by: Tim Levin\/InsideEVs<\/p>\n
The bZ Woodland is a stretched-out, off-road-ified version of Toyota\u2019s bZ electric crossover<\/a>. Its unmistakably Subaru Outback-like shape is no coincidence; the Woodland is one of several EVs Toyota codeveloped with the seven-star brand, which will sell its own version called the Trailseeker<\/a>, just as it’s turned the bZ into the Solterra<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s based on the same 400-volt e-TNGA platform that underpins the bZ and C-HR and is only available in dual-motor, all-wheel-drive guise. The bZ Woodland goes on sale in March, with a starting price of $46,750, including destination fees. For anybody who wants to go a bit farther afield, all-terrain tires are a no-cost add-on\u2014but they do decrease the estimated range from 281 miles to 260.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland<\/p>\n
The Woodland joins a growing Toyota EV lineup. And it brings a bigger, more capable option to an EV market dominated by small crossovers.<\/p>\n What\u2019s Good: Lots Of Cargo Space In A Wagon That Rips<\/p>\n I grew up in a steady parade of Subaru Outbacks, so I have a soft spot for lifted wagons. You might think that bZ extended by 6 inches would look weird or forced, but the Woodland wears the silhouette well. And you really feel the extra room on the inside. Cargo space comes in at 74.9 cubic feet with the seats folded flat, about eight cubes more than the regular bZ.<\/p>\n EV fans will lament the lack of a frunk, however\u2014the first sign of several compromises that still dampen Toyota’s electric game.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland cargo space<\/p>\n Photo by: Tim Levin\/InsideEVs<\/p>\n Pair that space with 8.4 inches of ground clearance, and you\u2019re left with a rare combination in the EV world. Anyone in the market for a compact, sleek electric crossover has their pick of the litter. Bigger, more off-road-friendly EVs are hard to come by, as my colleague Mack Hogan learned when he went EV shopping<\/a>. That is, unless you have Rivian, Hummer or Mercedes G-Wagen money.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019m no expert off-roader. But during a five-mile out-and-back off-road adventure in Ojai, California, the Woodland took care of business. It comfortably cruised down rut-filled dirt roads, taking bumps like a champ. And it crawled up a very steep, off-camber section with the help of the X-Mode settings, which help conquer snow and dirt by modulating braking and torque delivery to maximize grip.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Woodland\u2019s 375-horsepower dual-motor setup kicks ass on the pavement, too. Hit the accelerator, and the Woodland blasts forward much more aggressively than you\u2019d expect from a family crossover, which should make it great for highway passes. Toyota says 60 mph arrives in 4.4 seconds.\u00a0<\/p>\n Photo by: Tim Levin\/InsideEVs<\/p>\n Range is respectable but short of the 300 miles many buyers demand, coming in at an EPA-estimated 281 miles from a 74.7-kilowatt-hour battery. Charging performance is average for the segment, but behind 800-volt rivals: 150 kilowatts and 10%-80% in a claimed 30 minutes via a native Tesla-style NACS charging port.\u00a0<\/p>\n Notably, Toyota says it took to heart the customer complaints about the early bZ4X’s weaknesses and reacted accordingly. That had poor range and, in some trims, very slow 100 kW charging. The Woodland and new bZ\u2019s specs aren\u2019t groundbreaking, but they get the job done much better than earlier efforts.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s Not As Good: So-So Software, No Glove Box<\/p>\n 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland<\/p>\n Photo by: Tim Levin\/InsideEVs<\/p>\n Still, Toyota has some more work to do for its future EVs. Mainly, it\u2019s still behind on software<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the bZ Woodland, you get a large 14-inch touchscreen that\u2019s fairly responsive and easy to use. It just doesn\u2019t do all that much and feels at least a generation behind the competition.<\/p>\n The Toyota interface isn\u2019t nearly as attractive or feature-rich as something you\u2019d get in a General Motors or Hyundai product, and it’s light years behind what Tesla and Rivian offer. It also lacks basic capabilities that upgrade the EV ownership experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n Photo by: Tim Levin\/InsideEVs<\/p>\n There\u2019s still no built-in route planner<\/a>, meaning that the navigation system won\u2019t plot out charging stops based on one\u2019s destination and the vehicle\u2019s charge level. Toyota does offer the ability to do this via Apple Maps and CarPlay, but that’s limited too, as it doesn’t automatically start battery preconditioning when you’re approaching a fast-charging stop.\u00a0<\/p>\n On the navigation screen, there\u2019s also no one-tap shortcut to find charging stations, which you\u2019ll find on many EVs and which helps a lot while driving.\u00a0<\/p>\n One thing I actually like about Toyota\u2019s interface: The digital gauge cluster sits way back, close to the windshield, and acts more like a heads-up display. I like that you don\u2019t have to peer through the steering wheel to see vital driving information.\u00a0<\/p>\n The latest RAV4<\/a> debuts a new user interface, which will offer apps and which I hear is a big upgrade. Toyota says that this system will make its way into other new models over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n One last gripe about the Woodland: There’s no glovebox. I mean, come on.<\/p>\n 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland<\/p>\n Photo by: Tim Levin\/InsideEVs<\/p>\n 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland: Early Verdict<\/p>\n Toyota needs to step up its software game and deliver on basic EV features that help buyers navigate this new world. But the bZ Woodland hits the mark in other ways that I think will make it popular among a certain crowd. Its wagon shape, distinctly rugged styling and off-pavement capability set it apart from mainstay crossovers like the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ford Mustang Mach-E.\u00a0<\/p>\n Above all, it\u2019s a Toyota. Americans have been clamoring for more electric options from the brand, which has a reputation for reliability and efficiency. With the launch of the bZ Woodland, those people have not just another solid option, but one that stands out from the pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n Contact the author: Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBase Price
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t$46,750 (incl fees)
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBattery
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t74.7 kWh
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGround clearance
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t8.4 inches
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDrive Type
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDual-motor AWD
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOutput
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t375 hp
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpeed 0-60 MPH
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t4.4 seconds
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCharge Time
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t10-80% in 30 min; 150 kW max
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEV Range
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUp to 281 miles
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"Toyota](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-0143.jpeg\")
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-toyota-bz-woodland-13.jpg\")
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"2026](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-toyota-bz-woodland-12.jpg\")
<\/a> <\/p>\n