The new 2026 bZ has emerged as one of America’s best-selling EVs, outselling several of Toyota’s popular SUVs.
Toyota’s new electric SUVs drive growth in the US
Toyota now sells three electric SUVs in the US: the bZ, C-HR, and bZ Woodland. Plus, it sells another two under the Lexus brand, including the RZ and the all-new ES EV.
After introducing the new and improved 2026 bZ (still sold as the bZ4X overseas) in late 2025, Toyota’s electric SUV quickly began drawing in buyers with improvements where it matters the most.
The 2026 bZ offers 25% more driving range than the outgoing model, with up to 314 miles. It also features more powerful electric motors, a new battery preconditioning system, and a standard NACS charge port, allowing drivers to access Tesla Superchargers without an adapter.
Starting at just $35,000, it’s also one of the most affordable EVs in the US, alongside the Chevy Bolt EV, Nissan LEAF, and Hyundai IONIQ 5.
After it became the third-best-selling EV in the US in the first quarter, Toyota’s electric SUV has remained a hot seller over the past few months.
Toyota reported bZ sales reached 17,553 in the first half of 2026, up 90% from last year. To put it into perspective, Toyota’s electric SUV is outselling several popular SUVs in its lineup, including the Land Cruiser (16,412) and Sequoia (13,939).
The bZ is also outselling rivals in its segment, such as the Chevy Equinox EV, which saw sales drop 41% in the first half of 2026 to 16,249.
While it pulled ahead of the Equinox, the bZ has yet to catch the Hyundai IONIQ 5. Hyundai sold over 20,000 IONIQ 5s in the first half of the year, up 9% from 2025.
Toyota’s other electric SUVs are off to a strong start with 3,748 C-HR and another 554 bZ Woodland models sold through June.
Lexus is also seeing higher demand following the introduction of the new rZ, which features many of the same improvements as the bZ. Toyota sold 7,814 Lexus RZs in the first half of 2026. That’s more than any single Cadillac electric SUV, including the Lyriq (7,578) and Optiq (7,083).
Later this year, Toyota and Lexus will launch their first three-row electric SUVs, the 2027 Highlander BEV and Lexus TZ.
Electrek’s Take
Toyota is finally selling electric vehicles, and it’s not just in the US. After reporting that global sales fell 7.2% in May earlier this week, Toyota’s EVs were a bright spot, with 155,074 pure-electric vehicles sold, up 138% from last year amid higher gas prices.
The new and updated electric SUVs are driving growth, but Toyota remains committed to offering all powertrain types, including battery electric (EV), traditional hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and internal combustion engine (ICE).
While the strategy may work for now, it will likely only hurt Toyota in the long run. While it finally offers electric SUVs that people want to buy, Toyota will face a wave of new rivals, including the Rivian R2, Lucid’s midsize crossover, and Ford’s upcoming UEV-based models.
Will Toyota maintain the momentum? The Highlander BEV arriving later this year should help, but 2027 could be a whole different story.
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