Toyota outs its first EV with built-in NACS port for direct Tesla Supercharger access

Back in 2023, Toyota announced that it will adopt Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its electric vehicles sold in the US starting in 2025, and it now delivers with the 2026 bZ SUV.

Besides the built-in NACS port, the new bZ line is a big specs upgrade over the bZ4X predecessor that Toyota sold in the US.

2026 Toyota bZ price and range

• 314 miles: XLE FWD Plus with 75 kWh battery
• 299 miles: Limited FWD with 75 kWh battery
• 288 miles: XLE AWD with 75 kWh battery
• 278 miles: Limited AWD with 75 kWh battery
• 236 miles: XLE FWD with 58 kWh battery

The new Toyota bZ line can now cover more than 300 miles on a charge with the XLE FWD Plus trim that carries a 75 kWh battery, a whopping 25% range upgrade.

Toyota will list the 2026 bZ SUV price closer to the release date in the US, but the world's largest car maker teased that it has managed to cut manufacturing costs by 40% thanks to the use of improved gigacasting and its LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) EV battery.

Besides the NACS charging port that gives the new Toyota EV direct access to the whole Tesla Supercharger network in the US, the 2026 bZ also comes with Level 1/2 AC charging via the faster 11 kW on-board charger and a dual-voltage charging cable.

Toyota says that a 10%-80% charge session now takes 30 minutes, and it has added battery preconditioning technologies for improved charging speeds in cold weather.

The AWD models offer up to 338 HP output and up to 288 miles on a charge, while the 50% performance increase is marked by a new, more aggressive design.

Toyota hasn't overlooked interior comforts, too, with heated seats and steering wheel coming standard, but vented seats are optional. Inside the cabin, a new sleeker dashboard with larger multimedia display and two wireless chargers, as well as a 64-color ambient lighting take care of the driver and passengers' mood.

Addressing the complaints about its predecessor, the 2026 bZ now offers more space for people and cargo, too, with 42 inches of legroom for the front seat and 35 inches in the rear, as well as 28 cubic feet of cargo volume in the trunk.

Toyota says that the new bZ line offers much improved throttle feel and dynamic suspension capabilities with its patented Grip Control and X-Mode driving functions that adjust automatically to the changes in road conditions.

In short, Toyota now finally has a viable electric SUV contender in the US that can top off at Tesla Superchargers directly, though its market success will depend on the final bZ line pricing that will be announced after June.

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