2026 Toyota bZ Woodland: Green Brook Buyers Guide

Why Toyota built a truck-ish EV

Toyota's first bZ generation was a fine grocery-getter and not much else — no real ground clearance, no towing to speak of, styling that tried hard to look adventurous without doing anything adventurous. The Woodland fixes the second half of that sentence. It rides on a stretched version of the bZ platform, about 5.6 inches longer overall than the standard car, wrapped in matte-black wheel-arch cladding and sitting on 18x7.5-inch wheels. Ground clearance climbs to 8.4 inches, there's a genuine 3,500-pound tow rating, and Toyota bolted on the same X-Mode torque-vectoring and Grip Mode low-speed traction software that shows up on the brand's actual off-road models. None of that exists on the regular bZ XLE or Limited — those two stay front-drive-optional, street-only, no-tow appliances. The Woodland is the one bZ built to survive a gravel boat-ramp lot at the Shore or a snowed-in driveway in the Watchungs without a second thought.

It isn't a rock crawler and Toyota doesn't pretend otherwise — there's no low-range gearing, and this is still a unibody crossover on a battery platform. Think "capable in the conditions a Route 22 winter and a Jersey Shore boat launch actually throw at you," not "expedition vehicle." That's a genuinely useful middle ground for buyers cross-shopping compact SUVs who also want to tow a small utility trailer, a couple of kayaks, or a pop-up camper without stepping up to a truck.

What both grades share

Every 2026 bZ Woodland — Woodland or Woodland Premium — is dual-motor AWD only; there's no cheaper front-drive version of this trim, unlike the standard bZ. Both share the 74.7-kWh battery, the 375-hp combined output, a 4.4-second 0-60 time, and a 103-mph top speed. Both come with navigation, a power liftgate, adaptive cruise control, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, an 8-way power driver's seat with lumbar, a power front passenger seat, WiFi hotspot capability, a 14-inch center touchscreen, and a 7-inch digital gauge cluster mounted a bit higher on the dash than the outgoing bZ4X's, specifically so it doesn't disappear behind the steering wheel. Seating is SofTex synthetic leather, with all-weather floor mats and a cargo cover thrown in — sensible choices for a vehicle that's going to see beach sand and salted driveways in the same calendar year. Cargo space runs 33.8 cubic feet with the second row up. Seven exterior colors are available: Stepping Stone, Raven, Halo, Pavement, Steel, Trueno Blue, and Premium Bronze.

Pick your 2026 bZ Woodland

One tire choice that actually changes the numbers

Both trims ship on 235/60R18 all-season tires rated at 281 miles of EPA range and 117 combined MPGe (127 city, 107 highway). Toyota also offers a 235/65R18 all-terrain tire for buyers who want more confidence on gravel or light snow, and that swap is EPA-tested as its own configuration, not a marketing footnote: range drops to 260 miles and combined efficiency falls to 109 MPGe. It's a real trade — knobbier tread for genuine grip loss, versus about 21 fewer miles of range per charge. Worth deciding before you sign, not after.

What Empire Toyota of Green Brook buyers say

The bZ Woodland is new enough that we don't have model-specific reviews to quote yet, so take this as a read on the dealership rather than the car: Empire Toyota of Green Brook carries roughly a 4.6-star average across more than 2,400 Google reviews. Buyers moving into Toyota's electrified lineup have had good things to say about the sales process. Katrina M., who picked up a 2026 RAV4 Hybrid this spring, wrote that her salesperson "was professional, patient, and very knowledgeable... took the time to answer all my questions, made sure I was comfortable with every step, and never made me feel pressured." Patti D., an eight-year repeat customer who traded into a Corolla Cross Hybrid, said the whole team was "very pleasant and helpful," with no hard-sell tactics and transparent pricing.

That pattern — patient, low-pressure, willing to walk through a newer kind of powertrain step by step — is exactly what a first-time EV buyer wants from a salesperson. If you're coming from a Camry or a Tacoma and the bZ Woodland is your first plug-in vehicle, ask your salesperson to walk through the charging setup and the ToyotaCare coverage before you leave the lot.

Owning one on Route 22

Maintenance basics — the ToyotaCare no-cost coverage, the EV battery warranty, and what a Jersey winter does to range — are covered in the bZ Woodland service & repair guide. What it actually costs to drive one home, including New Jersey's sales tax, is in the pricing & leasing guide.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the regular bZ and the bZ Woodland?

The Woodland is a distinct, longer variant with standard AWD, X-Mode and Grip Mode traction software, 8.4 inches of ground clearance, and a 3,500-pound tow rating — none of which exist on the standard bZ XLE or Limited. Those two stay front-drive-optional and street-focused; the Woodland is the only bZ built with light off-road and towing hardware.

Is the bZ Woodland related to the Subaru Trailseeker?

Yes — the two are platform-mates from Toyota and Subaru's joint EV program, similar to how the bZ4X and Subaru Solterra were related. The Trailseeker starts lower, around $39,995, so expect to field questions from shoppers cross-referencing the two. Ask your Empire Toyota of Green Brook salesperson to walk through what the Woodland's price difference actually buys.

How much does the 2026 bZ Woodland cost?

$45,300 for the Woodland grade, $47,400 for Woodland Premium, both before the $1,450 destination charge and before New Jersey's sales tax. The pricing guide runs the full out-the-door math.

Is the bZ Woodland worth buying over a gas SUV?

Depends on your charging situation more than anything else. A Green Brook household with a driveway or garage and a predictable commute is the easiest case — home charging covers most weeks, and the fuel-cost math tends to favor the EV. Buyers without reliable home charging access should have that conversation with their salesperson before falling in love with the towing spec sheet.

Does Empire Toyota of Green Brook have the bZ Woodland in stock?

Inventory shifts week to week on a new trim like this one. Check current new inventory or call the sales line at (732) 658-9299.

Two grades, one Route 22 test drive

The trim guides below spell out exactly what the $2,100 gap between Woodland and Woodland Premium buys. Both are worth sitting in back to back — the panoramic roof and JBL system are the kind of thing that's obvious in five minutes and easy to underrate on a spec sheet. Empire Toyota of Green Brook keeps new bZ inventory alongside its certified pre-owned Toyota stock, at 220 Route 22 West.