The 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland Is Toyota’s Most Interesting EV: Review
What Car Shoppers Need to Know
- Dual electric motors with 375 horsepower make for one of the quickest production Toyotas.
- The extra cargo and passenger space are meaningful compared to a standard bZ.
- The bZ Woodland’s $46,750 base price (all prices include destination) is relatively pricey.
The new Toyota bZ Woodland is as simple as it seems: Against the existing electric bZ crossover, it gets nearly 6 inches of extra length, standard dual electric motors with 375 hp, X-Mode drive modes and available all-terrain tires. You can attribute most of these differences to the direct influence of tech partner Subaru, whose Yajima plant in Japan the Woodland is built in.
Related: How Much Is the 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland?
This is, as far as I can tell, an all-electric Subaru Outback by way of Toyota. And as much as this statement might ruffle feathers at its titular automaker, the Woodland is all the more intriguing and noteworthy for its status as a lifted, all-wheel-drive, 375-hp rally wagon. Interestingly, the Woodland represents a whole heap of features and hardware that aren’t necessary to render the standard bZ a compelling vehicle — we already liked Toyota’s compact electric crossover, and this is just “more” by most parameters.
How Much Power Does the 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland Have?
- Takeaway: Its dual electric motors provide 375 hp.
My favorite bit is also the most superfluous. The standard 375 hp is a 37-hp boost over the regular dual-motor bZ, and it feels unnecessarily motivated out on the mountain roads snaking north of Ojai, Calif. Acceleration from 0-60 mph is 4.4 seconds, a ridiculous figure for a vehicle that is sure to live much of its life creeping between suburbia, the office and the occasional local trailhead.
I’m a fan of this excess, of course. Blasting by trundling Ojai locals in passing zones and scrambling up a steep ranch road was trifling, often rushing to speeds on a twisted canyon pass that far outpaced the tires, all-terrains or otherwise. Not that there’s any inherent danger here, you just might want to consider stickier tires if you often tackle winding roads.
Or don’t, because the odds are overwhelming that you will drive this like the sensible, unsporting crossover that it is. You also might want to skip the optional all-terrain tires; 8.3 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode terrain profiles mean that yes, it can go off-road, but you’re better off going for something a bit more focused if you often find yourself splattering mud across your car doors.
Related Video:
Is the Toyota bZ Woodland Good Off-Road?
- Takeaway: It’s capable enough for hiking and camping trips and the occasional fire road, but not so much for serious off-roading.
The moderate ground clearance means you’re unlikely to place the Woodland in an environment which the standard road tires couldn’t handle — think of this as the perfect national-park shuttle that won’t leave you stranded in a snowstorm or severe downpour. This is provided the 260-281 miles of estimated range (depending on tire) is enough for your bucolic lifestyle, with a 10%-80% DC fast-charge taking roughly 30 minutes at a peak rate of 150 kilowatts if it isn’t.
The off-road experience was understandably limited on this media drive program, with a 5-mile out-and-back cruise up said ranch road that emerged on an Ojai mountaintop. There, a series of off-kilter moguls demonstrated traction and articulation, while a moderately banked berm tilted the Woodland enough to see it’s capable, but a 4Runner it ain’t. I have already spilled enough digi-ink on this, but: Take it where you’d take a standard AWD RAV4 and expect nothing more if the way turns treacherous.
The biggest benefit of the bZ’s Woodlandification is the additional passenger and cargo space. There’s 5.6 inches added to the overall length, the wheelbase is unchanged at 112.2 inches, and rear folks enjoy an extra 1.3 inches of headroom. That’s fine, but you’ll love the additional 6.1 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, swelling to a cavernous 74.3 cubes with the second row folded, by Toyota’s measurements. Toyota doesn’t offer this figure for the standard bZ, but compared to the nearly identical Subaru Solterra, it’s up 10.8 cubic feet.
Related Video:
How Nice Is the Interior of the Toyota bZ Woodland?
- Takeaway: As the Woodland arrives somewhat loaded, it’s packed with a good number of standard features.
Everything else, for the most part, is as you left it in the standard bZ. I’m not the biggest fan of the bZ family’s funky steering wheel and the occasionally odd funky-futuristic aesthetic that’s spritzed throughout the cabin, but it’s nearly as inoffensive as the rest of Toyota’s crossover lineup. The Woodland arrives fairly loaded, with standard synthetic-leather upholstery, dual wireless charge pads, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system. There’s just a single Premium version as a step up that adds JBL audio, a panoramic roof, ventilated front seats and a front radiant heater.
That’s the primary gist of the Woodland, with minor details mixed in here and there to bring it more in line with its purported “active-lifestyler” customer base. Rubber all-weather floormats are standard — including for the rear cargo area — and towing capacity has increased to a usable 3,500 pounds. Standard roof rails make it nearly stowage ready, and a textured step area in the rear door sills makes for easier access to anything you do end up mounting to the roof.
Along with the twin Subaru Trailseeker, the 2026 bZ Woodland is about the most outdoorsy, muddy-mountain-bike-and-filthy-hiking-boots electric crossover you’ll find short of a Rivian R1S. And though it’s a solid $30,000 cheaper than the R1S, expect to pay no less than $46,750 for the privilege, which is a whopping $5,305 more than a Trailseeker. The bZ Woodland is one of the better electric mid-sizers — I’d for sure take this over a Chevrolet Blazer EV — but how much is the Toyota badge worth to you?
More on the Toyota bZ Woodland From Cars.com:
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