Toyota bZ3 was unveiled! Electric sedan with LiDAR at half the price of Corolla

Japanese automobile giant Toyota has updated the bZ3 sedan model, developed specifically for the Chinese market, for 2026. The model, produced in partnership with FAW Toyota and attracting attention with its affordable price, comes with new hardware features. Toyota’s first fully electric sedan, which was first introduced in October 2022, has now undergone a make-up operation for the 2026 model year after the 2024 update. A LIDAR SENSOR HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE CEILING Although the renewed model, launched under the name “Smart Home Edition”, remains visually faithful to its predecessor, it has the biggest change in the ceiling. The roof-mounted LiDAR unit added to the vehicle increases the total number of sensors to 32. A new color option called “Dark Cloud Green” and simplified LED rear taillights stand out in the exterior design. The vehicle, which has not undergone any changes in its dimensions, is positioned just ahead of the long-chassis Corolla sedans in China with its 4,725 mm length and 2,880 mm axle distance. Much more significant improvements welcome users in the cabin. The old 12.8-inch screen is replaced by a huge 15.6-inch infotainment panel positioned vertically. While the digital instrument panel remains, features such as ambient lighting, dual wireless charging section, panoramic glass roof and artificial intelligence-supported voice assistant are also available. In addition, the system is powered by Nvidia 5.0 improvements and the new Snapdragon processor with a capacity of 544 trillion operations per second. RANGE INCREASES UP TO 616 KILOMETERS Built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform and using BYD’s Blade battery technology, bZ3 is It comes with two different power options. While the entry-level model produces 181 horsepower (135 kW), the more powerful version offers 241 horsepower (180 kW). While the version with 49.9 kWh battery capacity provides a range of 517 km, the large battery pack with 65.3 kWh carries the range up to 616 kilometers. IT IS OFFERED FOR SALE AT HALF THE PRICE OF COROLLA. Toyota bZ3 Smart Home Edition is listed at a discount in China with a starting price of 93 thousand 800 yuan (approximately 13 thousand 400 dollars). In other words, it can be purchased for half the price of the Corolla model. Normal sales prices start at 109 thousand 800 yuan (15 thousand 700 dollars) for the “Joy” package and 129 thousand 800 yuan (18 thousand 600 dollars) for the “Pro” version. The top equipment level, “Max”, is waiting for buyers at a price of 159 thousand 800 yuan (22 thousand 800 dollars).

Automobile Magazine – English