Sunday Drive: Home from Colorado in the all-electric Toyota bZ4X
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- The 2024 Totota bZ4X in front of the Grand Junction, Colorado, Latter-day Saint temple that is almost complete.
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- Charging the Toyota bZ4X in Vail, Colorado, in a parking garage located within walking distance of downtown gave Craig and Marci something to do while they waited to charge.
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- Charging in Grand Junction, Colorado, where Craig and Marci got to eat dinner while they waited for the car to charge.
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- Charging in Green River for the last part of the trip home. This one has to happen to make it all the way into Utah Valley.
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- After arriving home, the Toyota bZ4X had 34% range left or 69 miles. It did quite well coming down off of Soldier Summit in Spanish Fork Canyon into Utah Valley, barely using up any range.
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- Inside the all-new 2024 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWD.
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- Inside the all-new 2024 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWD.
Another trip out to Denver for the annual Rocky Mountain Driving Experience, put on in June by the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, or RMAP, gave Craig and his sister Marci the chance to drive home in an all-electric Toyota bZ4X.
Having done the trip back to Utah in an electric car before, Craig figured it would be easy, even in a Toyota that only posts a 100% full range of up to 236 miles in the Limited trim that they were coming home in. Getting the folks at Driveshop to charge the Toyota to full near their departure point was also a great thing, so leaving the hotel in Meridian, Colorado, with a 93% charge and just under 220 miles of range, they hoped to make Vail their first stop to charge.
Other than the name bZ4X, which is just kind of hard to remember and get right, the new all-electric Toyota is a great SUV that comes with all of the fantastic amenities that other vehicles in the Toyota stable include. This all-electric SUV, they felt, marked a bold move by Toyota, a company renowned for its hybrid technology, into the fully electric vehicle space.
The bZ4X promised to combine Toyota’s awesome reliability with new cutting-edge EV technology, making it a compelling option for those considering a switch to electric mobility.
As they set off for their first afternoon and evening in the bZ4X, it boasted a sleek, futuristic design that set it apart from its competitors. Its aerodynamic profile is both stylish and functional, helping to maximize efficiency.
The front end featured a distinctive closed grille, a common trait among EVs, flanked by sharp, angular LED headlights. The sculpted body lines and a floating roof designed to give the bZ4X a modern, upscale appearance are sure to turn heads and help with getting as many miles per kilowatt as possible.
The first jump was only 114 miles via Interstate 70. However, they had to make two very steep climbs into the Rocky Mountains, one over the continental divide and the other over Vail Pass. The discussion in the SUV was if they got to Frisco, where they had just spent the last two days, there was a charger there, but if they felt the range was still in the bZ4X, then it would be on to Vail.
Arriving in Frisco, they had just over 90 miles of range left and only 26 miles to Vail. However, the drive up had taken a chunk of mileage off of the batteries, so they deiced to head on into Vail for their first charge of the trip.
Discovering that the DC fast charger in Vail is located in the public parking garage within walking distance of downtown was a great feature. The fact that electricity was only 20 cents a kilowatt-hour was a bonus as they charged to 81% in just 28 minutes.
Now with just over 175 miles of range, the next jump would be one of the longest, getting to Grand Junction, Colorado, which was a mere 147 miles away, where charging would be a necessity.
Getting to spend so much time in a vehicle is always a great experience, as it was in the Toyota, as they noticed that the bZ4X offered a spacious and airy cabin thanks in part to its flat floor architecture made possible by the absence of a traditional transmission tunnel.
High-quality materials and a minimalist dashboard design contributed to the premium feel. The large, centrally mounted infotainment screen proved to be user-friendly and integrated seamlessly with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring that they were connected and entertained all the way home to Springville.
Arriving in Grand Junction around 7:30 p.m., they decided to go to the DC fast charger at Starbucks, as there was also a Mexican restaurant within walking distance where they could eat while they waited to charge.
With only 22% left on arrival, it took 49 minutes to get the Toyota to 89% and 181 miles of range and cost $22.90, which would be perfect for the trip to Green River in the morning.
The bZ4X was powered by a robust electric motor that delivered a smooth and responsive driving experience for them all the way home. The instant torque from the electric powertrain provided brisk acceleration, making it an engaging drive in both city and highway conditions. Toyota offers both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants, catering to a variety of driving preferences and needs.
Charging each time was straightforward and convenient, with support for both standard Level 2 home charging and DC fast charging. They did find that having apps on their phones for both Charge Point and Electrify America made the process easier. The chargers would connect to their phones much better than trying to use a credit card to start the process.
Getting to Green River was a breeze as there was no breeze and the outside temperature went from 75 to 85 in the 100-mile trip, providing almost the perfect conditions for electric car performance.
Charging in Green River can be a challenge if the chargers (all four) are full, but there was no one there when they arrived at 11:30, so they were able to charge from 33% to 90% in just under 45 minutes at a cost of $22.23.
The last leg from Green River to Springville is the most challenging as there is only a single charger in Price if needed and it is usually occupied, so they wanted to make it all the way. It is uphill until reaching the top of Soldiers Summit, and with any kind of wind along way, it can make a difference.
They made the 135-mile trip pulling into Springville with 34% and 69 miles left! Again, it was an interesting and challenging trip in an all-electric coming home from Denver; however, Craig has found it gets easier each time with less range anxiety involved.
He and Marci did discuss along the way that they really couldn’t do any side trips without researching the availability of charging along a differing path home, which is something to think about if you want to take a side excursion while traveling in an electric car.
The 2024 Toyota bZ4X has turned out to be a great first for Toyota in the EV market. With its blend of futuristic design, good range and advanced technology, the bZ4X is poised to attract a new and differing driver to the Toyota. Be it a longtime EV enthusiast or a newcomer to the electric vehicle world, the bZ4X is certainly worth a closer look.
Base price: $49,260
Destination charge: $1,350
Price as driven: $53,883
