Mongrel Prius-styled Toyota bZ3C to get BYD power to help it beat the Tesla Model Y
The battery-electric 2025 Toyota bZ3C has been leaked in China ahead of its launch there before the end of this year, and it might be the firm’s most advanced EV yet.
Borrowing its styling from the very latest-generation Prius hybrid not offered in Australia, the new Toyota bZ3C is the latest victim of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that frequently posts images early of cars as part of the homologation process ahead of their official reveal.
Confirming that the mid-size all-electric SUV will measure in at 4780mm long, 1866mm wide and stand 1510mm tall, with a wheelbase that measures 2880mm long, the new leak reveals that the Tesla Model Y rival will tip the scales at a considerable 1920kg.
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Featuring the same smiley face LED light graphic as the Prius, the new Toyota SUV is surprisingly sporty and features rakish rear styling and large 21-inch alloy wheels.
Other new design details include pop-out door handles, and a Prius -style split roof spoiler.
Instead of employing the bZ4X powertrain, Toyota has shopped locally and snapped up a powertrain from BYD.
The energy capacity of the battery has not been revealed, but the bZ3C is said to cover up to 600km on the lenient CLTC cycle when it’s combined with a single 200kW electric motor.
No acceleration figures have been released but the Chinese-made Toyota will be limited to 160km/h.
When launched, buyers will have the option of alloy wheels that range from 18-21-inch wheels. Later on, a top-mounted LiDAR binnacle will be an option, suggesting fully autonomous Level 3 driving aids are in the pipeline.
There’s no word on when Toyota plans to roll out what could be its most convincing alternative to the Tesla Model Y yet, but production will take place at the Toyota-FAW joint-venture factory in the coming months.
The new bZ3C will join the bZ4X SUV and bZ3 sedan in China but it’s thought it’s highly unlikely there’s any plans for exporting the new mid-size SUV.
