2026 Toyota bZ Woodland Brings Rugged Fashion, 375 HP, and NACS Charging : Automotive Addicts

Automotive

Toyota is including some actual edge to its EV lineup with the first-ever Toyota bZ Woodland, a brand new all-electric SUV that leans tougher into utility and trail-ready design than the usual bZ. It’s anticipated to reach in U.S. dealerships in March 2026, and Toyota says pricing will begin at $45,300 earlier than seller processing and dealing with. For consumers who need an EV that feels much less like an equipment and extra like a go-anywhere every day driver, this one seems like a step in the fitting path.

The headline quantity is energy. Normal all-wheel drive groups up with a dual-motor setup for a internet mixed 375 horsepower, making this probably the most highly effective bZ but. Toyota additionally claims a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, which places it in fast territory for a midsize SUV. Add X-MODE with Grip Management, 8.4 inches of floor clearance, and a towing score as much as 3,500 kilos, and the Woodland clearly goals on the outside crowd that also desires fast acceleration on the best way to the trailhead.

Vary ought to land in a usable candy spot for many commutes and weekend journeys. Toyota lists an EPA-estimated 281 miles, with the elective all-terrain tires bringing that estimate right down to 260 miles. A 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery sits low below the ground to assist maintain the middle of gravity down, and steering wheel paddles allow you to dial regenerative braking up or down relying on the way you just like the one-pedal really feel. It’s a easy characteristic, however it’s one which tends to make EVs really feel extra partaking while you use it repeatedly.

Charging also needs to be simpler for extra individuals, due to the usual NACS port, which opens entry to a wider community of DC quick chargers throughout the U.S. Toyota says 10% to 80% can take round half-hour below preferrred DC quick charging situations, and there may be additionally a battery pre-conditioning operate designed to assist enhance fast-charging efficiency by warming or cooling the pack to a greater temperature. Plug & Cost functionality additionally joins the combo on supported networks, and Toyota contains an 11 kW onboard charger for Stage 1 and Stage 2 charging, plus a dual-voltage 120V/240V house charging cable and the wanted adapters.

The Woodland is not only a trim bundle, both. Toyota says it’s practically 6 inches longer than the common bZ and sits just below an inch taller on the rear, which helps clarify the added cargo area. With the second row folded flat, Toyota lists 74.3 cubic ft of storage, in contrast with 67.1 cubic ft for the bZ. Roof rails come commonplace, and the styling will get more durable with black overfenders up entrance and out again, plus 18-inch wheels with aero covers for a contemporary look that also reads rugged.

Inside, Toyota retains issues effectively geared up even earlier than you step as much as the Premium mannequin. SofTex-trimmed seating comes commonplace, together with a 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, twin wi-fi Qi chargers, and a protracted listing of on a regular basis consolation options like heated entrance seats and heated outboard rear seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automated local weather management, and ambient inside lighting. Digital Key functionality can be included via Toyota’s linked companies construction, so the phone-as-a-key crowd has an possibility right here, too.

If you’d like the nicer model, the bZ Woodland Premium provides significant upgrades as a substitute of simply beauty touches. You get ventilated entrance seats, a driver reminiscence operate, a panoramic fixed-glass roof with an influence sunshade, entrance radiant foot and leg heaters, and a digital rearview mirror with HomeLink. Audio additionally steps up with JBL premium sound, together with a subwoofer and amplifier, which tends to be the sort of improve you recognize on lengthy drives.

Toyota can be positioning the Woodland as half of a bigger EV push, not a one-off experiment. It joins a refreshed bZ and an all-new C-HR compact crossover as the subsequent battery-electric additions, and Toyota says its broader electrified lineup now totals 21 fashions while you depend hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and gas cell automobiles. Exterior colours embody a brand new Stepping Stone shade together with Halo, Metal, Pavement, Raven Black, and Trueno Blue, with inside choices in Stone Brown or Black to match the outdoorsy theme.

On the tech and security aspect, the Woodland comes loaded. The infotainment setup helps wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, twin Bluetooth cellphone connectivity, and a Wi-Fi Join trial that turns the car into an AT&T hotspot for as much as 5 units. Toyota Security Sense 3.0 is commonplace, together with Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Site visitors Alert, Secure Exit Alert, and a Panoramic View Monitor with a Multi-Terrain Monitor for tight areas or tough floor. Toyota backs all of it with its fundamental 36-month/36,000-mile guarantee, plus EV element protection as much as 8 years or 100,000 miles, and ToyotaCare upkeep for 2 years or 25,000 miles with three years of roadside help.

Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate fanatic with over 15 years of expertise immersed on the planet of vehicles. Whether or not it’s exploring the most recent developments in automotive expertise or holding an in depth pulse on breaking trade information, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all issues automotive. His writing blends technical perception with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and fascinating for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or below the hood, Lloyd enjoys check driving the latest fashions and staying forward of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive panorama.