The Toyota bZ3X electric crossover, despite its Japanese badge, is built in China and has its own quirks. Auto expert Ilya Sviridov from the YouTube channel "Club Service" tested a used example and shared its strengths and weaknesses, reports infohub.kz.

The model was developed jointly with Chinese company GAC and is based on the GAC Aion V platform. The electric motor, inverter, and reduction gear are Japanese-made, while the body and interior are adapted for the Chinese market. The electric crossover is powered by a single front-axle motor and offers battery options of 50, 58, or 68 kWh.

Sviridov notes that in China, the model starts at about 1.5 million rubles (roughly 8.9 million tenge), while in Russia it reaches 4 million rubles (23.9 million tenge). In Kazakhstan, unofficial imports offer the bZ3X from 12 million tenge.

The owner reported that the car covers about 150 km daily, including winter driving. The only major issue was a failure of the battery thermal management pump, which handles cooling in summer and heating in winter. After replacing the part, the car ran without further complaints.

The biggest risk when buying is the traction battery. Although the manufacturer claims up to 500 km of range, real-world summer range is around 350 km, and winter range drops to 200–250 km. The car can be charged from a fast charger or a regular outlet. The expert stresses that the battery is the most expensive part of an EV, so it's crucial to check its condition when buying used. In some cases, the battery can be restored by replacing individual cells, but that's also costly.

Battery life is affected by frequent fast charging, deep discharges, severe cold, and the efficiency of the cooling system.

At the rear, the bZ3X uses a torsion beam instead of a multi-link suspension, and the electric motor, inverter, and reduction gear are integrated into one unit. Sviridov believes this design is simpler and potentially cheaper to maintain.

In conclusion, the blogger called the Toyota bZ3X a good option for daily city driving, especially if you have a home charger.