2026 Toyota bZ Woodland Road Test and Review

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Lots of automakers are now offering crossover SUV variants with off-roadish names and looks, such as the Honda CR-V TrailSport, Hyundai Tucson XRT, Nissan Rogue Rock Creek, Subaru Outback Wilderness, and Volvo EX30 Cross Country, as well as Toyota’s own RAV4 Woodland. A common thread with these offerings are such features as available all-wheel drive, traction-enhancing off-road drive modes, protective body cladding, and available all-terrain tires, but no serious off-road hardware like low-range gearing, adjustable suspension, or underbody skid plates. It makes sense since the vast majority of new SUV buyers likely are attracted to the rugged appearance of these outdoorsy looking soft-roaders but may not want to risk scratching or banging up their shiny new purchases in more challenging, rock-strewn terrain.

Into this market segment rides the all-new and all-electric 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland. It bolsters the brand’s growing number of battery-electric crossover offerings including the re-imagined C-HR, recently refreshed bZ, and later this year, the all-electric Highlander. The 2026 bZ Woodland arrives with a choice of two well-equipped trim levels. Including the $1,450 destination shipping fee the base bZ Woodland is priced at $46,750, and the range-topping bZ Woodland Premium at $48,850. Both are equipped with all-wheel drive.

The bZ Bits

Shown here in Premium trim and Stepping Stone exterior paint, the bZ Woodland is about a half foot longer than the regular bZ with a squared-off rear roof section. Compared to the regular bZ, the Woodland offers significantly more cargo space, slightly more rear headroom, a tiny bit more ground clearance, added off-road driving modes, more standard horsepower, quicker acceleration, standard all-wheel drive with X-Mode, a larger standard propulsion battery, and available all-terrain tires. On the outside, it comes with larger applications of black plastic body cladding over the wheel wells, revised light-bar style tail lamps, a functional roof rack with raised rails, and exclusive exterior paint colors. Inside, it features a higher level of standard equipment such as all-weather rubberized floor and cargo mats.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Power and Range

All EVs are quick by virtue of electric motors that can deliver maximum torque from zero rpm. In the bZ Woodland’s case, two motors capable of delivering 198 pound-feet of torque, one each at the front and rear axles, combine to make a healthy 375 horsepower and 396 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough grunt and scoot to push the bZ Woodland from rest to 60 mph in a manufacturer-estimated 4.4 seconds, making the small SUV crossover EV the quickest vehicle in Toyota’s U.S. lineup once the GR Supra sports car gets retired later this year. It can tow up to 3,500 pounds, as well.

Range estimates aren’t as superlative but quite respectable at the bZ Woodland’s price point. The generously sized 74.7 kWh lithium-ion propulsion battery gives the new AWD EV an EPA-estimated driving range of 281 miles on the standard all-season tires, but drops to 260 miles if the Woodland is shod with no-cost optional all-terrain rubber.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Charging Ahead

Greatly expanding the bZ Woodland’s access to DC fast charging is its North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port. This greatly eases range anxiety, especially on longer trips outside major metropolitan areas, by enabling charging at Tesla’s vast Supercharger network. Additionally, DC fast charging at other networks such as EV GO and Electrify America is enabled via an included NACS-to-CCS adapter. The bZ Woodland can be DC fast charged at up to 150 kilowatts and, according to Toyota, can be juiced from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. Or using the included 120/240-volt charging cable and 32-amp 240-volt AC power source, the new Toyota EV can be fully charged from a low-battery notification in just over 7 hours.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Command and Control

As with the newly freshened regular bZ and the new C-HR, the bZ Woodland features a clean and modern cabin with easy-to-use controls. There are two digital screens, a 7-inch one in front of the driver for instrumentation, charging, and range information and a 14.1-inch center-mounted touchscreen for tasks such as navigation, point-of-interest search, audio, connectivity, vehicle settings, and dual-zone climate control. Included is a three-year trial of Drive Connect with continuously updated data from the cloud and the “Hey, Toyota” advanced personal voice assistant. The bZ Woodland also features standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

The heated, power-operated front seats offer comfortable support and durable-looking Softex synthetic coverings with perforated inserts. The Premium grade adds front-seat ventilation and driver-seat memory settings. Radiant heat grids under the dash of the bZ Premium warm the legs and feet of both front seaters, but unfortunately eliminate the traditional glovebox. Compensating for that loss is a large, wide, two-tier center console with added storage under the dual-hinged center armrest and a floor-level tray which also brings a pair of USB-C ports and a 12-volt power point. Additionally, the console includes two cup holders with tensioning fingers and a pair of wireless cellphone charging pads.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Roomy Back Seat

For a small crossover SUV, the bZ Woodland offers more than sufficient space for rear seat passengers, including my 6-foot, 2-inch frame. Compared to the regular bZ, the Woodland’s taller roof line aids rear-seat headroom, although some of that is given back in the Woodland Premium grade with its airy panoramic sunroof due to room needed for the power retracting sun shade. Both base and Premium grades get heated outboard bottom cushions, USB-C charge ports, and climate-control vents and the 60/40 split bench includes a fold-down padded center armrest with a pair of cup holders. As with the front seats of the bZ Woodland, the rears come with premium, rubberized floor mats which were a big aid to keeping mud and grit off the carpets during the test drive after a major rain storm.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Cargo Considerations

Thanks to the bZ Woodland’s additional half-foot of space behind the rear wheels compared to the regular bZ, there’s a generous amount of cargo space available. The base bZ Woodland offers a commodious 33.8 cubic feet behind the raised rear seat, expanding to 74.3 (which tops that available in the RAV4) behind the first-row seats with the 60/40 split rear seatback folded down. Cargo space drops a few cubic feet in the bZ Woodland Premium due to the added JBL speakers that come standard with that model. Helping to make up for the fact that the bZ Woodland doesn’t have a front trunk (frunk) for concealed storage, the Woodland comes with a deep well under the cargo floor and standard rubberized cargo mat for storing the charging cable and stashing valuables such as a computer bag, camera, or purse away from larcenous eyes. Cargo access is via a hands-free, height-adjustable power lift gate.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

On-Road Performance

Quick and quiet sums up the bZ Woodland’s dynamic character. While its chassis is tuned more for comfort than ultimate handling, the steering is precise and nicely weighted and the SUV’s vertical motions competently damped over a variety of road surfaces. Tire sizzle or whine at speed on paved roads was not an issue, despite the more aggressive and open tread blocks of the 235/65R18 all-terrain tires fitted to the test vehicle. Braking response was crisp and confidence-inspiring with the bZ Woodland’s generously sized 12.9-inch front and 12.5-inch ventilated disc brakes. Additionally, paddles on the steering wheel allowed for four levels of regenerative brake intensity, but one-pedal driving with the accelerator is not possible as even the strongest setting does not bring the SUV to a complete stop.

With 4.4 second 0-60 accelerative capability and nearly 400 lb-ft of torque just a toe tap away, the bZ is a lively performer in the daily stoplight grand prix, merging onto freeways, and overtaking slower vehicles on the highway.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

All-Terrain Rubber

Dunlop Grandtrek AT30 235/65R18 all-terrain tires are a no-cost option to the standard 235/60R18 all-season rubber. Having a bit more traction in the dirt for no extra cost would seem to be a no-brainer for those who might want to take occasional off-pavement excursions or muddle through winter weather, but know that the grippier tires reduce driving range by 21 miles, or about 7 percent, according to EPA estimates. The good news is the bZ Woodland all-terrain tires are not noisy on pavement.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Multi-Terrain Monitor Off-Road Camera

Always working in the background is a full complement of safety and advanced driver-assistance systems including, but not limited to, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, safe-exit alert for passengers, eight airbags, and front and rear parking assist. The standard backup camera in the bZ Woodland offers a panoramic overhead view and, key to better-informed driving off-road, a Multi-Terrain Monitor. The latter not only shows the fore-aft or side-to-side tilt of the SUV on off-road trails but delivers multiple camera views of terrain near both sides of the vehicle and what’s otherwise blocked from view immediately ahead of the front bumper and front tires as well what direction the tires are turned, as if you were Superman with X-ray vision.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Down and Dirty

Wouldn’t you know it, the night before the bZ Woodland road test saw torrential rains turn the steep, clay-soil ascent to the off-road course into a greasy, treacherous mess beyond the light off-road design parameters of the vehicle. But we were able to venture a short distance in the glop, time enough to try pushing the console button and activating the bZ Woodland’s standard all-wheel-drive X Mode feature. It can be toggled between a Snow/Dirt setting which directs drive torque to the wheels with the most traction or Deep Snow/Mud which sends an equal amount of drive torque to all wheels. Grip Control, also engaged via a console button, is akin to an electronic low range that allows the driver to creep up or down steep hills at one of five selected low speeds without using the throttle or foot brakes. The bZ Woodland’s 8.4 inches of ground clearance won’t give anyone a nosebleed, but every little bit helps to avoid underbody scrapes over rocks and even steep speed bumps and driveway ramps back in civilization.

2026 Toyota bZ Woodland ・ Photo by Ron Sessions