The Federation of Danish Motorists (FDM) has revealed the test results for two different versions of the Toyota bZ4X. The technical editor called the available driving range of the electric SUV ‘disappointing’, claiming that it amounted to only half the OEM-rated range in both cases. Toyota has already started its own investigation into the issue.
The single-motor variant of the bZ4X is WLTP-rated for 504 kilometers (313.2 miles) of continuous driving, but the Danish test crew managed to cover only 246 km (153 mi) before running out of power.
The dual-motor top spec consumes more current than its single-motor counterpart and has 461 km (286.5 miles) of range as per the official specification. In the test, it hit zero percent after mere 215 km (133.6 miles).
FDM calculated the maximum EV range by cruising smoothly at a highway speed of 110 km/h (68/4 mph) with the cabin heating on. With the outdoor temperature of around +4ºC (+39ºF), it is perhaps little wonder that the car wastes plenty of its battery power keeping the interior warm. But the authors of the test still argue that such details cannot serve as an excuse for manufacturers to claim overly optimistic range figures.
As a footnote, the publication mentions other Scandinavian teams who had tested the bZ4X only to arrive at the same or comparable results. To top things off, it says the few customers in Norway who had the opportunity to buy the EV early were complaining about its range, too.
Toyota importer in Denmark has already come out with a statement that the issue is under scrutiny both at the Toyota HQ in Tokyo and its branch office in Brussels. An official statement will be made once conclusions are reached.
