The redesigned Toyota bZ4X returns to Malaysia:Minor tweaks won't break the stalemate, long behind the competitive market.

• The redesigned Toyota bZ4X Re-enters Malaysian Market
• Its power and charging capabilities lag behind competitors like the XPeng G6
• Conservative Innovations Struggle in a Competitive Market, Challenging Future Prospects

[PCauto] The Toyota bZ4X facelift, unveiled last year, is now confirmed for a return to the Malaysian market. This pure-electric SUV was previously criticized in the market for its insufficient range and slow charging speed.

However, the updates are merely incremental, leaving it struggling to match the rapid evolution of EVs in the local market.

It is worth recalling that the pre-facelift bZ4X was criticised for underwhelming performance and sluggish fast-charging, leading to tepid sales globally.

While it was initially hoped the facelift would address these shortcomings, the changes proved to be largely cosmetic. In the face of Malaysia's highly competitive EV landscape, such minimal updates demonstrate a lack of conviction.

As a mid-size SUV built on the e-TNGA pure electric platform, the size specifications of the bZ4X are indeed suitable for urban road conditions in Malaysia. Measuring 4,690mm in length and 1,860mm in width, it offers good manoeuvrability in city traffic, while its 2,850mm wheelbase provides ample rear-seat room for families.

However, in a segment where space is a key battleground for electric SUVs, the bZ4X's interior packaging can only be described as adequate.

It does not match the local adaptation advantages of the Proton e.MAS 7, nor does it compare to the space utilization of the XPeng G6 coupe SUV.

Its originally touted strengths—urban agility and family practicality—no longer confer a significant advantage amidst fierce competition.

Since we are talking about pure electric vehicles, range is always an unavoidable topic. In this regard, the bZ4X is clearly well-prepared. The facelifted model offers two battery options:

• a 71.4 kWh Standard Range;
• a 72.8 kWh Long Range variant.

Referring to the WLTP standard in other global markets, the range is highly likely to fall within the 400-500 km range.

This should suffice for daily commuting and short to medium-distance trips for most users, somewhat alleviating range anxiety concerns.

However, the performance gap is quite obvious. The bZ4X's front-wheel-drive variant produces 150 kW (~204 hp), while the all-wheel-drive version makes 160 kW (~217 hp). These figures may seem adequate for daily use, but when compared to the two versions of the XPeng G6 at 190 kW (approximately 255 horsepower) and 210 kW (approximately 282 horsepower), the performance difference is very significant.

The G6 can sprint from 0-100 km/h in as little as 6.2 seconds, enabling brisk acceleration and confident overtaking—attributes well-suited to Malaysia's hilly terrain.

Even though the bZ4X emphasizes smoothness and stability, it cannot hide its sluggish power response. This conservative tuning is likely to disappoint drivers seeking engagement and will handicap the bZ4X in performance-oriented segments.

Additionally, the inherent inefficiency in energy replenishment is a fatal drawback of the bZ4X.

Even post-facelift, it supports a maximum DC fast-charging rate of only 100 kW, requiring approximately 40 minutes to charge from a low state to 80%. Such speed is already lagging behind in the current pure electric market.

In stark contrast, the XPeng G6 employs an 800V high-voltage architecture. Its long-range variant supports peak charging rates of up to 280 kW, enabling a 10-80% charge in around 20 minutes.

More importantly, while the bZ4X’s 11 kW household AC slow charging only meets basic usage demands, the XPeng G6 is already equipped with a higher power home charging solution.

The gap in energy replenishment experience between the two just happens to address the core concerns of Malaysian users regarding charging convenience, significantly diminishing the practical value of the bZ4X.

Beyond the product itself, the competitive landscape in Malaysia's EV market presents a formidable challenge. The Malaysian pure electric market is no longer at a stage where launching a product guarantees successful sales.

In 2024, the total registration of pure electric vehicle models reached 21,789 units, a year-on-year increase of over 60%, but the penetration rate is still less than 8%. This growth masks intense competition among Chinese, local, and established international brands.

• BYD and Chery are vying for mid-market share with aggressive pricing.
• The locally-produced Proton e.MAS 7 has leveraged its home-ground advantage to become a market best-seller.
• The XPeng G6 competes on high value-for-money at RM 165,800 and has announced local assembly plans to bolster its long-term competitiveness.

In contrast, the bZ4X neither has the cost-lowering advantage of localized production like Xpeng and Proton nor the brand premium support to justify its pricing like BYD and Tesla. Moreover, it lags behind competitors in the three key areas of power, range, and charging.

Toyota’s brand legacy has long ceased to be an advantage in the pure electric market, where users place greater emphasis on the hard strengths of products. The practicality touted by the bZ4X has already been covered, or even surpassed, by competitors' products.

Unless the bZ4X adopts a highly competitive pricing strategy, its current product offering is likely to be overlooked in the intense market fray.

After all, consumers in Malaysia now have plenty of choices.

• Looking for cost-effectiveness: BYD, Chery;
• Looking for excellent smart features: Xpeng G6;
• Trusting local brands: Proton e.MAS 7;
• Looking for premium brands: Tesla.

Toyota's conservative style has caused the bZ4X facelift to miss the opportunity to catch up.

It fails to address the core shortcomings of its predecessor and falls short of the benchmark set by fierce competition, resulting in a competent but ultimately underwhelming product.

Under the harsh rule of the pure electric market where not making progress means falling behind, if the bZ4X cannot quickly adjust its strategy and address the product's shortcomings, it might not only fail to attract new users, but even consumers who originally liked the Toyota brand could be swayed by the sincere offerings of other brands.

The outcome could be relegation to a marginal role in Malaysia's evolving EV landscape.