Toyota bZ3 Corolla-size EV sedan range, charging, design, interior, performance and launch details
The bZ3 is based on Toyota’s bespoke EV platform and uses battery tech from BYD.
Toyota has revealed the bZ3 as its second born EV after the bZ4X SUV and it will go on sale next year first in China and then likely to other markets in Europe and Asia. The new Toyota bZ3 sedan gets battries from BYD and promises a range of up to 599km on a single charge. The exterior design had surfaced earlier and now we have more details about the Corolla-sized EV sedan.
- The bZ3 is Toyota’s second born EV
- Has a drag coefficient value of 0.218Cd
- Toyota readying Creta-rivalling EV for India
Toyota bZ3: exterior and interior design
The bZ3 EV sedan borrows design elements from the Toyota bZ4X SUV including the split headlamp design with and an LED strip running the length of the bonnet. In terms of dimensions, the bZ3 measures 4,275mm in length, 1,835mm in width and 1,475mm in height. This makes it marginally larger than its chief rival – the Tesla Model 3.
Toyota claims that the bZ3 provides a drag coefficient value of 0.218Cd, thanks to air guides and air curtains found throughout the sedan’s exterior. Additionally, it also benefits from a wind resistant rear bumper and aluminum wheels making it more aerodynamic than the Tesla Model 3 which has a value of 0.23Cd.
The interior of the sedan has been designed with Toyota’s “family lounge” concept which sees cars more as a family space than just a mode of transportation.
It features a “digital island” which makes use of a large portrait-oriented central touchscreen and what Toyota calls a “tray-type console” with smartphone integration and wireless charging. The touchscreen controls various functions including air conditioning, music, boot release and voice functions.
Toyota bZ3 gets BYD batteries
Under the skin sits a bespoke lithium-ion lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, built by BYD, which has been developed to retain 90% of its charge capacity after a 10-year period.
The bZ3 is based on a bespoke EV platform – eTNGA, internally known as the 40PL. The EV sedan gets BYD’s innovative Blade lithium-iron-phosphate battery technology that has been designed to retain 90 percent of its charging capacity after 10 years. Toyota is yet to reveal specific powertrain details like performance and charging times but the carmaker claims that the bZ3 has a range of around 599km.
BYD, on the other hand, recently launched their second EV for the Indian market – the Atto 3 SUV.
Additionally, Toyota has also confirmed that the third global model for the bZ series is also in development, previewed in a low-lit image revealing the roofline of a compact crossover. More details on the model will be revealed later this year.
Toyota-Suzuki readying tailor-made EV line-up for India
While the bZ3 is unlikely to come to our markets, Toyota along with its alliance partner Suzuki has plans of introducing a host of born EV SUVs and MPVs on the 27PL platform which is a derivative of the 40PL. The first of the models will be a Creta-rivalling mid-size SUV which will be unveiled in 2025.
Toyota currently sells Camry, Vellfire and the Urban Cruiser Hyryder with a strong hybrid powertrain. The carmaker recently brought the Corolla Hybrid to showcase the flex-fuel technology.