Toyota has pulled the wraps off the bZ Woodland, a rougher, more rugged version of its compact electric SUV aimed squarely at buyers who might otherwise look at a Subaru Outback or Jeep Compass. It is also the first Toyota EV built on a battery bay designed from the outset to accept the company’s upcoming solid-state cells.
Built for Rough Roads
The Woodland trim adds all-terrain tires, revised suspension tuning and extra underbody protection. Toyota says the goal was a vehicle that feels at home on a gravel forest road, not just a taller hatchback dressed up for a brochure photo.
A Platform Ready for What’s Next
What Toyota is most keen to talk about is what’s underneath. The bZ Woodland’s battery enclosure is physically sized and wired to accept the solid-state packs Toyota has been testing for years, meaning a future update could add range or charging speed without a full redesign of the car.
- 8.3 inches of ground clearance, up from 6.7 on the standard bZ
- Dual-motor all-wheel drive standard on every Woodland
- An estimated 270 miles of range on the all-terrain tires
- Battery bay engineered to accept solid-state cells without a body change
Pricing and Timeline
The bZ Woodland starts at roughly $52,000 and reaches dealers late this year. Toyota was careful to note that the solid-state version itself remains further out, with production not expected before 2028.
