Toyota bZ3: Model 3 rival revealed

The Toyota BZ3 has been revealed in China as the Japanese brand’s answer to the Tesla Model 3.

Toyota’s BZ3 electric sedan is its second Beyond Zero (BZ) model, following the BZ4X midsized SUV that’s coming to Australia in 2023.

The sedan was developed by the Toyota and BYD joint venture, BTET, and combines Toyota’s e-TNGA vehicle architecture with BYD’s space-efficient and energy-efficient lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.

JUMP AHEAD

• Battery and driving range
• Size and space
• Australian launch?

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BZ3 specifications are limited for a model destined only for the Chinese market from 2024 at this stage.

Toyota says only that the BZ3 sedan will have a maximum range of 600km, which all but matches the 602km WLTP figure of the Long Range Model 3.

The battery is also claimed to hold 90 per cent of its charge after 10 years.

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At 4725mm long, 1835mm wide and 1475mm tall, the BZ3 is similar in size to the Model 3. Its 2880mm wheelbase is also only 5mm longer than the distance between the Tesla’s front and rear axles.

Toyota’s electric sedan claims slightly superior aerodynamics, with a co-efficient of drag of 0.218 versus 0.23. The BZ3’s slippery shape is complemented by air guides and air curtains on each corner of the front bumper, flush door handles, and partially flat aluminium wheels.

The BZ3 features what Toyota calls a ‘Family Lounge’ interior concept, with a “stretched driving space”.

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The front cabin features a tall, vertical “digital island” touchscreen that is responsible for most vehicle functions and includes voice command. There are more than 10 “intelligent” driving assist functions, according to Toyota. A monitor on the steering wheel suggests driver attention alert is one of the features.

Driving modes comprise Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow, based on the touchscreen in the same image.

Toyota is promising the BZ3 will be comfortable on long journeys yet also entertaining to drive thanks to a low centre of gravity, stable handling, and responsive controls.

The BZ3 press release also included a silhouette teaser image for a third, crossover-style BZ model.

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Will the Toyota BZ3 come to Australia?

Toyota has been open about its plans to launch the electric BZ4X in Australia, where SUVs have grown to be the most popular body style, but the BZ3 is likely to remain a China-only offering.

In October, the brand's local sales boss Sean Hanley told Wheels Media that the BZ4X will arrive in the second half of 2023, and while exact allocation is unclear (Hyundai and Kia have struggled to supply enough of their popular Ioniq 5 and EV6 models), he said Toyota is confident it will at least sell more than the original; Prius managed in its first year on the market – 137. Of course, it launched in October of 2001, making for a short launch year.