2026 Toyota bZ Woodland First Drive: 375-HP Electric Adventure SUV

Toyota’s first-ever EV for the U.S. market, the bZ4x, was underwhelming, to put it mildly. It drove decently enough, but its range and charging performance lagged key rivals. Then there was its quirky interior layout, one that demanded too many compromises. Did we mention its name was bZ4xarre? In the end, although it was competent and comfortable in spurts, it proved to be an also-ran in the highly competitive and ever-growing compact electric SUV arena.

Its successor, the revamped Toyota bZ, gave us reason for optimism. The AWD variant’s improved acceleration and extended range addressed two of our biggest gripes, and its comfortable ride reminded us how well Toyota can tune a chassis for real-world comfort. But even with those improvements, charging speeds and some head-scratching interior decisions have continued to keep it from feeling fully realized.

Now comes the 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland, a larger, more rugged, adventure-leaning take on Toyota’s compact electric SUV. So, has Toyota finally turned the bZ’s steady competence into a compelling all-around package, or is the Woodland simply the same formula cosplaying as an off-road-capable EV? We set about attempting to figure out these existential automotive questions during a drive event held in and around the Southern California town of Ojai.

See All 47 Photos47

Probably the Quickest bZ

With 375 horsepower on tap, the Woodland stands as the most powerful variant with a bZ name, outgunning the standard AWD model by 37 hp. That’s serious muscle for a compact electric crossover, territory shared with more premium machinery like the gas Genesis GV70 and certain versions of the Porsche Macan, whether gas-fed or battery-powered.

True to form for a Toyota EV, the power delivery is smooth and linear. Toyota estimates a 0–60-mph time of about 4.4 seconds, matching the result we recorded in our test of the lighter 2026 bZ Limited AWD. If the Woodland repeats that feat (and it should), it would similarly outperform equivalent Macans and GV70s.

See All 47 Photos47

Straight-line speed comes easily and without drama. It’s in the corners where the bZ Woodland shows its limits, primarily through noticeable understeer. There’s some body roll, though the battery’s low placement helps keep the center of gravity down, lending the small SUV a flatter, more planted feel than its height might suggest. A set of stickier summer tires could further sharpen its responses, although that would sort of defeat the purpose of the Woodland’s mission as an off-road-themed machine.

In everyday driving, the Woodland delivers more than enough thrust for commuting and highway merging, paired with a composed, comfortable ride even at speed. Steering feedback is muted but reasonably direct, and the brakes inspire confidence, with consistent bite that’s easy to modulate (also, no weird brake regen transitions).

All Woodland models offer four levels of regenerative braking. There’s no true one-pedal driving mode (Toyota ultimately thinks it should be the driver that brings the vehicle to a complete halt), which may disappoint some EV shoppers, but we wouldn’t consider it a deal-breaker.

See All 47 Photos47

Soft Roader?

Toyota labels the bZ Woodland “adventure ready,” carefully avoiding a claim of it being any sort of serious off-roader. Fair enough. The last thing any automaker wants is for its owners to traverse trails their vehicle isn’t engineered to survive.

To demonstrate what that adventure-ready label means, Toyota sent us up a narrow, brush-lined gravel fire road, climbing and descending steep grades and traversing mud and loose, somewhat rutted surfaces. A few purpose-built obstacles highlighted the capability of the SUV’s X-Mode system, an all-wheel-drive setting that optimizes brake intervention and power delivery to improve traction. The system was developed in partnership with Subaru, an automaker whose reputation is closely tied to its all-wheel-drive expertise.

X-Mode also incorporates what Toyota calls Grip Control, essentially a low-speed off-road cruise function similar to most hill descent control features. When activated, it modulates motor output to maintain a steady pace over challenging terrain, allowing the driver to concentrate on steering rather than throttle inputs.

With 8.4 inches of ground clearance and electric motors that can shuffle torque quickly between wheels, the bZ Woodland feels capable of venturing well beyond pavement and extricating itself from most mild predicaments. That said, this is no rock crawler. Plus, the absence of engine and transmission noise means you hear everything else, including the motors and brake system, sorting out available grip. The sounds are mechanical and occasionally a bit disconcerting, even if the system itself is working as intended.

See All 47 Photos47

Still Needs More Plug Time

Every 2026 bZ Woodland comes standard with the bZ lineup’s larger 74.7-kWh battery pack, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and 18-inch wheels. Its EPA-estimated range varies only by tire choice: up to 281 miles on the standard all-season rubber and as little as 260 miles with the available all-terrain tires.

On paper, that sounds competitive. In practice, we’re a bit skeptical. In our real-world Road-Trip Range test of a less powerful 2026 bZ Limited AWD, the SUV delivered just 222 miles, 56 miles short of its EPA estimate. It raises questions about whether the larger, heavier, more powerful Woodland will crack 200 miles in comparable driving.

That doesn’t do much to change the perception that bZ models trail key rivals in usable range. Even accounting for the Woodland’s healthy 375-hp output, its real-world range numbers would almost certainly trail competitors such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally (up to 263 miles in our testing) and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT (234 miles).

On the plus side, charging access improves thanks to a Tesla Supercharger–compatible NACS port, though peak DC fast-charging remains capped at 150 kW. Toyota also includes a NACS-to-CCS adapter for broader network compatibility. Its battery preconditioning is a plus, and an upgraded 11-kW onboard charger supports faster Level 2 AC charging at home or on the go.

See All 47 Photos47

The Biggest bZ

The Woodland’s extra 6 inches of length pays dividends inside. Legroom remains a generous 42.1 inches up front and 35.3 inches in back, matching the standard bZ and Ford Mustang Mach-E and edging the Hyundai Ioniq 5 up front. Rear legroom trails the Hyundai’s sliding-bench advantage, but space is still ample for adults.

Rear headroom improves thanks to the longer roof, measuring 38.6 inches front and 37.5 to 38.4 inches rear, slightly better in back than the standard bZ and competitive for the segment. That stretched roof also enables longer standard roof rails, underscoring the Woodland’s utility bent.

Cargo capacity is the real win. At 33.3 to 33.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 71.8 to 74.3 cubic feet max, the Woodland easily outpaces the standard bZ (25.8–27.7 and 56.9 cubic feet) as well as the Ioniq 5 (26.3 and 58.5 cubes) and Mach-E (29.7 and 59.7 cubes). The available JBL subwoofer trims a bit of space, but a hands-free liftgate, rear privacy glass, and a tonneau cover add everyday usability.

See All 47 Photos47

Loaded But (Still) Funky

Standard equipment on the bZ Woodland is robust. Driver aids include automatic headlights with auto high-beams, rain-sensing wipers, a 360-degree camera, and a backup camera with dynamic grid lines. Toyota Safety Sense comes standard, though it’s worth noting this isn’t the newer 4.0 suite found on the latest all-electric Highlander.

Like the regular bZ, the Woodland features a responsive, 14.0-inch touchscreen with sharp graphics and straightforward menus. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are dual wireless charging pads and the ability to connect two phones via Bluetooth simultaneously. Heated front and rear seats, 64-color ambient lighting, power-folding mirrors, and phone-as-key capability are also included.

Some quirks remain. There’s still no traditional glove box, and the 7.0-inch multi-information display sits far forward nearly at the base of the windshield, slightly repositioned from the old bZ4X setup but still mounted in a way that can feel almost like a head-up display than a conventional gauge cluster.

See All 47 Photos47

The Best bZ?

The 2026 bZ Woodland doesn’t reinvent Toyota’s small EV formula, but it meaningfully sharpens it. With 375 hp on tap, acceleration is no longer a weak point, and the ride remains comfortably tuned for real-world use. X-Mode and a sizable cargo advantage give it credible soft-road capability. A lengthy list of standard features further strengthens the value equation.

It also undercuts more overtly off-road-themed rivals like the roughly $47,900 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT and the $59,700 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally, positioning the Woodland as a more attainable entry point into the rugged-EV aesthetic. How it will stack up against the related Subaru Trailseeker remains to be seen, though past experience suggests Subaru will continue to lean into its off-road-capable rep (and probably charge more for it).

That said, some familiar drawbacks remain. Its real-world range will almost certainly trail EPA estimates; DC fast charging still tops out at 150 kW, and the unconventional dash layout won’t be to every taste.

We’ll reserve final judgment until a Woodland undergoes our full instrumented testing to verify acceleration, range, and charging performance. For now, however, we’re cautiously optimistic. The Woodland feels like tangible progress as a quicker, roomier, and more purposeful bZ—even if it hasn’t yet climbed to the top of the class.