- Best buy: new Sport FWD 73.1 kWh on 18" — from €42,160 on Toyota Ireland / Sandyford offers, heat pump standard, ~420–460 km real-world mild, full Toyota dealer network.
- Step up if kit matters: Premier — 20", panoramic roof, JBL, ventilated seats; accept ~510 km WLTP and mid-€50k OTR.
- Choose bZ over RAV4 Hybrid only if home charging is sorted and you want €120 tax + EV running costs.
- Choose ID.4 / Model Y instead for bigger boot (both) or Supercharger road-trip ease (Y) / MEB ubiquity (ID.4).
- Used trap: early 2022 hub-bolt recall + weaker real-world range — VIN proof + battery-era check mandatory.
At a glance — August 2026
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Irish market name | Toyota bZ (Sport / Premier); Touring from ~€44,881 |
| Engineering / SIMI / used ads | Still often bZ4X / BZ4X |
| New price — from | From €42,160 (toyota.ie / Sandyford — SEAI + VRT reflected in published offers) |
| Sport finance example | Retail €46,029 · OTR €47,029 (VRT relief) · from ~€415/mo PCP (May–Jul 2026 offer window) |
| Premier finance example | Retail €54,765 · OTR €55,765 · from ~€474/mo at 3.90% APR (offer window) |
| Trade-in booster (offer) | €1,500 Sport / €3,000 Premier (registered May 1–Jul 31 2026 — confirm live) |
| Used (2022–23 early pack) | ~€28,000–€36,000 on DoneDeal (mileage-sensitive) |
| Used (2024–25 Sport) | ~€34,000–€42,000; low-mile demos higher |
| Motor tax | €120/year flat BEV rate |
| Insurance bracket | Typically mid-20s groups — quote €750–€1,350 for a 35-year-old with 5+ years NCB |
| WLTP — Sport 18″ | Up to 567 km · ~420–460 km real-world mixed |
| WLTP — Premier 20″ | Up to ~510 km · ~380–430 km real-world mixed |
| Boot | 452 L (seats up) — behind ID.4 / Model Y |
| Charging | 11 kW AC (Sport) · 22 kW AC (Premier guide) · 150 kW DC · 10–80% ~30 min |
| Towing | 750 kg braked (Irish FWD) |
| Drive | FWD only on current Toyota Ireland range |
| Heat pump | Standard (energy-saving heat pump) |
| SIMI ranking | #2 new EV model YTD July 2026 after VW ID.4 |
bZ vs bZ4X — what Toyota Ireland actually calls it
Since the 2025–2026 refresh, Toyota Ireland's website, Sandyford offers and product guide all say Toyota bZ — Sport and Premier grades, plus a longer bZ Touring. The old “bZ4X” string survives in three places that still matter for buyers: SIMI Motorstats (BZ4X), DoneDeal listings, and global / European press. This page keeps the SEO slug /reviews/toyota-bz4x-ireland for search continuity while matching Toyota Ireland's live showroom name in the headline.
Full specs — every variant
Performance
| Variant | Battery | Power | 0–100 km/h | WLTP range | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bZ Sport (current IE) | 73.1 kWh (~69 kWh usable) | 165 kW / 224 hp | 7.4 s | Up to 567 km (18") | FWD |
| bZ Premier | 73.1 kWh | 165 kW / 224 hp | 7.4 s | Up to ~510 km (20") | FWD |
| bZ Touring | 73.1 kWh class | FWD electric | ~7.x s | Confirm build sheet | FWD — longer wagon body from ~€44,881 |
| Used pre-refresh bZ4X | ~71.4 kWh | ~150–160 kW class FWD | ~7.5–8.5 s | Often quoted ~400–450 km WLTP era | FWD (rare AWD imports) |
| Subaru Solterra (twin) | ~71–73 kWh class | ~160 kW combined AWD | ~6.9 s | ~414–466 km WLTP by trim | AWD only in Ireland |
Toyota Europe's refreshed e-TNGA line also offers a smaller 57.7 kWh battery and dual-motor AWD (up to ~516 km WLTP / 1,500 kg tow) in some markets — those are not the live Irish bZ price-list cars. Irish private buyers are shopping FWD 73.1 kWh Sport / Premier.
Dimensions & capacities
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | 4,690 mm |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,650 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,850 mm |
| Kerb weight | ~1,930–2,105 kg (grade / options) |
| Boot (rear seats up) | 452 L |
| Towing (Irish FWD) | 750 kg braked |
| Battery — current | 73.1 kWh gross lithium-ion NMC · e-TNGA |
| DC charging | Up to 150 kW · ~30 min 10–80% on a healthy rapid |
| AC charging | 11 kW Sport · 22 kW on Premier (Toyota IE product guide) |
| Standard wheels | 18" (Sport) / 20" (Premier) |
| Cd (2026 refresh) | ~0.27 (down from ~0.29) |
Charging speed
| Charging method | Time (73.1 kWh, indicative) |
|---|---|
| DC fast — 150 kW capable post | 10–80% in ~30 min |
| DC 50 kW (typical ESB ecars) | 10–80% in ~70–85 min |
| 11 kW AC home wallbox | 10–100% ~11 h · 10–80% ~8.3 h (Toyota guide) |
| 22 kW AC (Premier OBC) | 10–80% ~2.2 h on a true 22 kW post |
| Granny cable (3-pin domestic) | Up to ~31 h — emergency only |
Why it sells in Ireland
- SIMI #2 EV model YTD 2026 — only the VW ID.4 registers more battery cars; Toyota still leads the overall new-car brand table
- Dealer network strength — Toyota outlets in every county; service confidence beats challenger EV brands for first-time switchers
- Grant-aware entry price — from €42,160 with SEAI €3,500 + VRT relief already in the published offer maths
- 2026 range fix — 73.1 kWh pack, better e-Axle efficiency, heat pump + battery preconditioning standard
- Toyota Relax + EV battery extended care — service in the network and the ownership horizon stretches toward 10 years
- Physical climate knobs on the 2026 cabin — a quiet win versus pure-touch rivals
- Badge trust for hybrid owners “going electric” without leaving Toyota
- Honest limits: 452 L boot, 150 kW DC (not 800V), FWD-only on the IE list — buyers still choose it for trust and price
SEAI grants + VRT relief
- SEAI EV Purchase Grant: up to €3,500 for new BEVs under €60,000 OMV — Toyota finance examples include it in the deposit
- VRT Relief: up to €5,000 — full below €40k OMSP, tapers €40–50k, nil above €50k. Sport keeps more relief than Premier
- Published from-price: €42,160 (toyota.ie / Toyota Sandyford) — treat as incentive-aware retail, then verify OMV on your quote
- SEAI Home Charger Grant: up to €600 for a wallbox (confirm current SEAI.ie figure)
- Lower BIK rate: Category A1 (6–15%) plus the ~€30,000 OMV reduction framing used across odo.ie 2026 EV guides
- Motor tax: €120/year flat BEV
- LEVTI tolls: 75% off M50, 50% off other tolls — meaningful for Dublin commuters
- Offer windows rotate — May–Jul 2026 examples showed €1,500 / €3,000 trade-in boosters and 5.90% / 3.90% APR PCPs; always re-check live dealer terms
See our SEAI EV Grants Ireland 2026 guide for the full incentive map.
Range reality — early criticism vs 2026 car
Launch-era (2022–2024) cars with the smaller usable pack, conservative thermal strategy and weaker cold preconditioning often delivered mid-300 km mixed Irish miles — well short of brochure optimism. That “range reality” thread still colours forums and used-market pricing. Do not judge the 2026 bZ by those cars without checking the battery era.
- 2026 Sport: up to 567 km WLTP; CompleteCar mixed test ~445 km; odo.ie Irish planning band ~420–460 km mild / ~340–390 km winter
- Heat pump + pack preconditioning now standard — Toyota quotes ~80% of official range still available at −10°C in idealised claims; treat that as marketing, but winter behaviour is clearly better than launch cars
- AWD Europe exists on the refreshed platform (516 km WLTP / 1,500 kg tow) — not what Irish showrooms currently stock as bZ Sport/Premier
- Dublin→Cork (~260 km) is comfortable one-way on a healthy 2026 Sport; return usually wants one DC stop if you arrive low or run motorway speeds in winter
Did you know? — insider facts
Through July 2026, SIMI's top EV models were: 1) Volkswagen ID.4, 2) Toyota BZ4X / bZ, 3) Skoda Enyaq, 4) Tesla Model Y, 5) Skoda Elroq. Toyota is also Ireland's #1 overall car brand. If you are writing or shopping Irish EVs and skip the bZ, you are ignoring the second-most-registered battery car in the country.
Same e-TNGA bones as the bZ4X / bZ. In Ireland the Solterra is the way to get permanent dual-motor AWD from this platform while Toyota's live bZ range stays FWD. Expect similar range class, different styling / cabin, and a much thinner Subaru dealer map versus Toyota's national footprint.
Current national offer pages (toyota.ie and toyotasandyford.ie) both advertise from €42,160, from €415/month, and the same Sport/Premier trade-in booster structure. Use that as a negotiating floor, not a mystery “Dublin only” deal.
The 2026 cabin keeps rotary temperature controls and a volume knob — a daily usability win versus the ID.4's touch-slider reputation. The new 14" multimedia screen does the rest.
Keep annual EV Battery Health Checks inside the Toyota network and Toyota's extended care programme targets 70% capacity retention out to 10 years or 1,000,000 km. That is a residual and peace-of-mind lever few Irish EV rivals can match with a dealer in every county.
Early production (Apr–Jun 2022) bZ4X vehicles could suffer loosening hub bolts and potential wheel detachment. Toyota Ireland notified owners; remedy = redesigned bolts / wheels free of charge. Used buyers: VIN check before deposit — no paperwork, no deal.
The drivetrain choice
Sport FWD 73.1 kWh — the sweet spot
- 224 hp · 7.4 s · up to 567 km WLTP on 18"
- Heat pump, battery preconditioning, 11 kW AC / 150 kW DC
- From €42,160 published · finance examples from ~€415/mo
- Recommended for most private and BIK buyers
Premier FWD — the kit step
- Same motor / pack; 20" wheels cut WLTP to ~510 km
- Panoramic roof, ventilated front seats, heated rear, JBL, digital rear-view mirror, 22 kW AC on the IE guide
- OTR examples around €55,765 — run the gap carefully against Sport
bZ Touring — the long-roof option
- Sandyford / national pages from ~€44,881
- More load flexibility than the standard SUV silhouette
- Confirm live WLTP / boot figures on the build sheet before you assume Sport-class range
Used early bZ4X — value with homework
- 2022–2024 cars often €28k–€39k
- Weaker real-world range; verify hub-bolt recall + software + battery SoH
- Still a Toyota-backed EV if the paperwork is clean
Skip for most buyers: paying Premier money only for 20" wheels; assuming AWD is on the Toyota Ireland configurator when it is not.
Charging in Ireland
- Public DC: ESB ecars, EZO, Ionity, Applegreen, Circle K — bZ peaks at 150 kW, so 50 kW posts feel slow; filter apps for 100–150 kW+
- Home AC: 11 kW overnight is the ownership default; Premier's 22 kW OBC helps on workplace / destination AC
- SEAI Home Charger Grant: up to €600 — see our EV Home Charging guide
- Preconditioning: set a DC stop as destination or schedule via MyToyota so winter rapid sessions hit peak sooner
- Toyota notes DC power can be limited after multiple 10–80% sessions in 24 hours — plan long days accordingly
- Route reality at ~430 km real-world: Dublin→Galway / Cork one-way is fine; Kerry return in January wants a planned rapid
- See our EV Public Charging Networks guide
Irish trim breakdown
| Trim | Battery | Published from | Headline kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport (sweet spot) | 73.1 kWh | €42,160 band | 18" alloys, 14" multimedia + nav, heat pump, heated front seats / wheel, TSS3, panoramic view monitor, dual wireless chargers, 11 kW AC / 150 kW DC |
| Premier | 73.1 kWh | ~€54–56k OTR band | 20" alloys, panoramic moonroof, synthetic leather, ventilated fronts, heated rears, JBL 9-speaker, digital rear-view mirror, radiant heater, 22 kW AC |
| Touring | 73.1 kWh class | From ~€44,881 | Longer body / load focus — confirm kit row on configurator |
Sport is the rational Irish buy. Premier is justified when you will use the roof, audio and cameras every week — not when you only want a badge.
Heat pump — standard for Irish winter
Toyota Ireland's product guide lists an energy-saving heat pump as standard kit — no optional €1,000 trap. Combined with battery preconditioning, that is the ownership fix for the early “winter range cliff” criticism.
- Without a heat pump, cold sub-5°C days can cut EV range 25–30%+
- With the pump, winter loss more typically sits around 15–25% in Irish conditions
- Pre-condition the cabin on mains power (MyToyota) before leaving — free range versus heating from the pack on the move
- On used early cars, still verify the equipment list — grey imports can differ
bZ vs RAV4 Hybrid — the undecided buyer
| Factor | Toyota bZ Sport | RAV4 Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| New price band | From ~€42k incentive-aware | From ~€48k Sol HEV (see RAV4 guide) |
| Motor tax | €120 | €220 HEV |
| Energy | Home night-rate electricity | Petrol ~6.0–6.5 L/100 km |
| Range anxiety | Real if no home charger | Near-zero |
| Residuals | Improving with #2 EV volume | Class-leading hybrid halo |
| Best for | Home-charge households going EV | Apartment / rural / unpredictable miles |
Same dealer, same Relax culture — different energy contracts. If you cannot install a wallbox, the RAV4 Hybrid (or later PHEV) usually remains the calmer Toyota. If you can charge overnight, the bZ's €120 tax and electricity maths win on 20,000 km/year.
Real running costs — annual (Sport FWD, 20,000 km / year)
| Item | Sport FWD | Premier FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Home electricity (85% charging, €0.12/kWh night) | ~€350–€420 | ~€380–€450 |
| Public DC charging (15%) | ~€140–€180 | ~€150–€190 |
| Motor tax | €120 | €120 |
| Insurance | €750–€1,350 | €850–€1,450 |
| Service (Toyota dealer) | €280–€400 | €300–€420 |
| Depreciation (year 1, est.) | ~€4,000–€5,000 | ~€5,000–€6,200 |
| Annual total (excl. finance) | ~€5,800–€6,900 | ~€6,700–€8,000 |
Home night-rate charging is what makes the bZ beat a RAV4 Hybrid on cash cost. If you rely mostly on 50–67 c/kWh public DC, a large slice of the saving disappears — same honesty as our ID.4 and Model Y pages.
5-year ownership cost projection
| Item | Sport FWD | Premier FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity (5 yr) | ~€2,500 | ~€2,700 |
| Motor tax (5 yr) | €600 | €600 |
| Insurance (5 yr) | ~€5,200 | ~€5,800 |
| Servicing (5 yr) | ~€1,700 | ~€1,850 |
| Depreciation | ~€18,000–€21,000 | ~€22,000–€26,000 |
| Tyres + consumables | ~€1,000 | ~€1,200 |
| 5-year total cost | ~€29,000–€32,500 | ~€34,000–€38,500 |
| Cost per km (100,000 km) | ~€0.29–€0.33 | ~€0.34–€0.39 |
Rough peer check from our other Irish reviews: ID.4 Pro~€29k five-year band, Model Y~€31k, EV3 Long Range~€27k. Sport bZ sits with the volume EV set on TCO when you charge at home — paid for with Toyota dealer access rather than 800V peak charging.
Depreciation + resale retention
| Variant | 1-year retention (est.) | 3-year retention (est.) | 5-year retention (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport FWD (2026 pack) | ~82–87% | ~64–70% | ~52–58% |
| Premier FWD | ~80–85% | ~60–66% | ~48–54% |
| Used 2022–24 early pack | Live DoneDeal: often €28k–€39k — already through the steepest drop; range stigma still discounts vs 2026 cars | ||
#2 EV volume plus Toyota badge and Relax service history should prop residuals better than early forum reputation suggested. Facelift 73.1 kWh cars should hold a clear premium over early packs once buyers learn to read battery era on ads. Documented Toyota dealer history remains the resale lever.
Common Irish issues
- Early hub-bolt recall (2022 builds) — VIN remedy proof mandatory on used cars
- Launch-era winter range / slow cold DC — software + preconditioning improved on later cars; still educate expectations on early packs
- Firm ride on Premier 20" — Sport 18" is the Irish B-road comfort choice
- 452 L boot trails ID.4 (543 L) and Model Y (854 L) — measure the weekly shop / buggy before you commit
- 150 kW DC peak is mid-pack — not an 800V EV6 / Ioniq 5 coffee-stop hero
- No glovebox on the current cabin packaging — odd but real
- ADAS / speed-limit assist can nag — learn the menus on the test drive
NCT pitfalls (model-specific)
- Generally strong expected pass rates consistent with Toyota's broader Irish record
- Tyre wear on a ~2-tonne EV — rotate about every 10,000 km; watch inner shoulders
- 20" Premier sidewalls — more pothole risk; check for bulges before NCT
- Headlight aim after kerb strikes — cheap fix, common fail
- 12V auxiliary battery — warning-light cascades by year 4–5 on many EVs; scan before test day
- OBD pre-test scan recommended (Phase 2 — warning light = automatic fail)
- See our How to Read Your NCT Report guide
Side-by-side competition (August 2026)
| Model | From / effective | WLTP / real | DC peak | Boot | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota bZ Sport | €42,160 pub. | 567 / ~440 | 150 kW / ~30 min | 452 L | Toyota — every county |
| VW ID.4 Pro | ~€36,030 eff. | ~572 / ~445 | ~175 kW | 543 L | VW — every county |
| Tesla Model Y Standard | ~€34,490 eff. | 534 / ~380 | 175 kW + Superchargers | 854 L + frunk | Tesla centres + SC |
| Kia EV3 Long Range Air | ~€37,000 eff. | 605 / ~480 | 128 kW / ~31 min | 460 L | Kia — strong |
| Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | From ~€48k | n/a (HEV) | n/a | ~580 L class | Same Toyota network |
bZ's honest place: the Toyota-dealer EV for buyers who want grant maths, a fixed range story after 2026, and Relax-backed ownership — not the biggest boot, not the fastest charger. Loses to ID.4 on price ubiquity, loses to Model Y on cargo / Superchargers, loses to EV3 on pure WLTP theatre — wins when Toyota trust and national service density are the brief.
Best version to buy
- Best buy for most: new Sport FWD 73.1 kWh on 18" — heat pump standard, strongest range + grant story
- Best for kit: Premier if panoramic roof + JBL + 22 kW AC are must-haves
- Best load bay: bZ Touring if the longer body fits your life
- Best used bargain: late 2024–2025 Sport with full Toyota history, SoH printout and recall clear
- Avoid: unremedied early 2022 cars; Premier money for wheels alone; assuming AWD is standard
- Cross-shop before you commit: ID.4 (price/boot), Model Y (cargo/network), EV3 (budget EV), RAV4 Hybrid (no charger)
Used buyer's checklist
- VIN recall check — hub-bolt / wheel remedy on early builds; any later campaigns stamped
- Battery era — early ~71.4 kWh vs 2026 73.1 kWh; do not pay facelift money for a launch pack
- Battery State of Health — Toyota dealer printout; aim 90%+ under ~80–100k km
- Heat pump + preconditioning software present and current
- Warranty / Relax eligibility — months and km left; service book complete
- Full Toyota dealer service record
- Live DC charge test on viewing — watch for faults / limp warnings
- Tyre date codes + alignment (heavy EV wear)
- NCT VIR + OBD clear
- Water ingress / boot floor; panoramic roof drains on Premier
- Broader process: Used EV Buying Guide Ireland
The honest verdict
The 2026 Toyota bZ is the Irish EV the sales charts already chose — SIMI's #2 battery model after the ID.4 — and the one ownership guides ignored for too long. Toyota Ireland's naming is simply bZ; the engineering twin is still the bZ4X. Buy Sport if you have home charging: from €42,160 in the published SEAI + VRT maths, heat pump standard, ~420–460 km real-world, and a dealer network that still defines Toyota ownership here.
It is not the fastest-charging mid-size EV, and the boot loses to ID.4 and Model Y. Early cars deserved the range criticism; the refreshed 73.1 kWh car largely fixed that chapter. Undecided versus a RAV4 Hybrid? Choose on wallbox reality, not brochure emotion. Service in the Toyota network, keep Relax alive, and log every kWh in odo.ie from day one.
Bought a Toyota bZ? EVs only stay cheap if you track the kWh. Log every charge, watch real range versus WLTP, and protect Toyota Relax by logging dealer services in odo.ie.
Log every charge (date, kWh, cost, location, AC vs DC), track your real cost-per-km across home and public charging, and watch the trend over years. odo.ie sends 30 / 14 / 7 / 1-day reminders for tax, insurance and NCT. Solo free for 1 vehicle; Family €4/month for 3 vehicles; Pro €8/month for 10 with Revenue-ready trip logbook. 77+ Irish guides, no ads, EU data residency.