2026 Toyota bZ: Green Brook Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: The 2026 Toyota bZ at a Glance
Toyota dropped the "4X" for 2026 — it's simply the bZ now, and the whole lineup got a real update. Two trims, XLE (from $34,900 MSRP) and Limited (from $43,300), plus a $1,450 destination charge. XLE splits into three configurations depending on battery and drivetrain, topping out at an EPA-estimated 314 miles of range on the FWD Plus — Toyota's longest-range EV to date. Every 2026 bZ charges through a native NACS port, so Tesla Supercharger stalls work without an adapter, and ToyotaCare covers the first two years of scheduled maintenance at no cost. Empire Toyota of Green Brook, on Route 22 in Green Brook Township, has the bZ on the lot now and is currently advertising a $299/month, 36-month lease on the XLE FWD.
What actually changed for 2026
The name change isn't cosmetic. Toyota cut the starting price by roughly $2,170 versus the outgoing bZ4X while adding both range and power, which is a different value argument than whatever a shopper remembers from the 2023-2025 model. The base XLE now runs a smaller 57.7-kWh battery exclusive to that one configuration, priced under $35,000 and rated for about 236 miles — a genuine entry point that didn't exist before. Everything above it carries the larger 74.7-kWh pack. All-wheel-drive output jumped from 214 horsepower on the old bZ4X AWD to 338 on every 2026 AWD configuration, a jump north of 50%, and the onboard AC charger grew from 7.6 kW to 11 kW for faster Level 2 charging at home. The charging port itself switched from CCS1 to NACS, which matters daily if a road trip runs through a Supercharger — no dongle, no adapter cable rattling in the glovebox.
Two trims, five ways to configure them
The trim ladder looks simple on paper — XLE and Limited — but the real decision is battery and drivetrain, and the differences are large enough that "the XLE" isn't one car. The base XLE FWD, at $34,900, runs the smaller battery and 168 horsepower for about 236 miles. Step up to XLE FWD Plus at $37,900 and the larger battery brings 221 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 314 miles, the longest range Toyota has ever put on a production EV. Add all-wheel drive to either XLE at $39,900 and the motor count doubles to 338 combined horsepower with a 4.9-second 0-60 time, though range drops to 288 miles for the tradeoff. Limited starts at $43,300 with 20-inch wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, a fixed glass moonroof, and available Advanced Park automated parking; Limited AWD at $45,300 carries the same 338-horsepower system as XLE AWD — Limited buyers pay for equipment, not more power.
bZ XLE
from $34,900 MSRP
Three configurations under one badge: base FWD, longer-range FWD Plus, and AWD. The value entry.
bZ Limited
from $43,300 MSRP
20-inch wheels, heated/ventilated seating, glass roof, JBL audio, and available Advanced Park.
Charging, range, and what that means around here
The headline 314-mile figure belongs to one specific configuration (XLE FWD Plus); every other version lands somewhere between 236 and 299 miles, and AWD trims sit lowest at 278-288 because the second motor and extra hardware cost some efficiency. DC fast charging on any 2026 bZ goes from 10% to 80% in roughly 30 minutes at a compatible station, and because the port is native NACS, that includes the Tesla Supercharger network directly. One thing worth setting expectations on before a New Jersey winter: cabin heat draws off the traction battery like it does in any EV, so real-world cold-weather range on Route 22 commutes runs meaningfully below the EPA combined number. It's not a bZ-specific quirk — every EV does this — but it's worth planning around rather than discovering in January.
What buyers at this store say about the bZ
Empire Toyota of Green Brook carries a 4.69-star average across more than 2,400 Google reviews, and its electric-SUV buyers show up in them by name. One recent lease customer: "Byron helped us with our lease of a BZ4X, he was super patient with our requests and questions. We walked in one day thinking about the crown but came back the next day happy with a great deal on the BZ." Another, leasing one as a gift: "Just leased a BZ4 Toyota Electric car on Valentine's Day for my wife... George is the best sales person I have worked with in my life." And a buyer who drove the outgoing model home: "I recently purchased my 2024 TOYOTA BZ4X, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the entire experience! Dean Aly was exceptional throughout the process." Those reviews predate the 2026 rename, but the sales team and the buying process they describe are the same ones handling the redesigned car today.
Owning one in Green Brook
The ownership side of this guide lives in two places: the bZ service & repair guide covers ToyotaCare, the maintenance rhythm for an EV (spoiler: there's a lot less of it than a gas Toyota), and what Route 22 winters do to any vehicle's tires and alignment. The money questions — New Jersey's flat 6.625% sales tax, current lease specials, and what actually separates the trims dollar-for-dollar — are in the pricing & leasing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2026 Toyota bZ the same as the bZ4X?
It's the direct successor with the same basic platform, but Toyota dropped "4X" from the name and made real changes: lower starting price, more range and power, a new entry battery option, faster AC charging, and a switch to the NACS charging port. If a listing anywhere still says "bZ4X," it's describing the outgoing 2023-2025 car.
How much does a 2026 Toyota bZ cost?
MSRP runs $34,900 to $45,300 depending on trim and configuration, before the $1,450 destination charge, taxes, and any dealer-installed options. Empire Toyota of Green Brook's current advertised lease on the XLE FWD is $299 per month for 36 months with approved credit; the pricing guide breaks down every configuration.
Is the bZ worth buying over a gas Toyota SUV?
That depends on charging access more than anything else. A driver who can charge at home or work and mostly does local and commuter miles gets a genuinely low running cost and a quiet, quick-off-the-line SUV, especially in AWD form. A driver who road-trips constantly without reliable charging along the route may be better served by a RAV4 Hybrid. It's a fit question, not a quality one.
What's the range of the 2026 bZ?
EPA estimates run from 236 miles (base XLE FWD) to 314 miles (XLE FWD Plus), with AWD configurations landing at 278-288 miles. Every figure is manufacturer-estimated and real-world range varies with weather, speed, and climate control use.
Where can I see one in Green Brook?
Both trims are on the lot at Empire Toyota of Green Brook on Route 22, and current lease and finance offers are posted on the specials page.
Two trims, one test drive
The trim guides below go deep on which XLE configuration and which Limited configuration actually fit a given driver, but the fastest way to settle it is still sitting in both. Empire Toyota of Green Brook keeps the bZ lineup alongside its Camry, Tacoma, and Tundra stock on the same Route 22 lot, with online tools — KBB Instant Cash Offer for a trade and online financing pre-approval — that can have most of the paperwork done before a test drive.
MSRP figures exclude the $1,450 destination charge plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. EPA range and efficiency figures are manufacturer estimates and real-world results vary with weather, driving style, and vehicle configuration. Lease figures are current advertised offers, subject to credit approval, and expire per posted terms — confirm current offers before visiting. Federal and New Jersey EV tax incentive eligibility depends on vehicle assembly location, battery sourcing, and program rules that change; confirm current eligibility with the dealer's finance office. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Empire Toyota of Green Brook.