Toyota continues to expand its electric vehicle lineup in North America and Europe, but not all models make it outside of China. Among them is the compact electric sedan bZ3, produced by the FAW Toyota joint venture. This model has just received an update for the 2026 model year, while retaining its attractively low price.
Launched in October 2022, the bZ3 became Toyota’s first fully electric sedan.
The 2024 version already received improved driver assistance systems, but for 2026, the company went even further, adding new features without losing sight of the car’s original concept.
What’s New in the Updated Model?
The updated model is called the Toyota bZ3 Smart Home Edition. Visually, it remains very similar to the previous version. The most noticeable change is the LiDAR installed on the roof, increasing the total number of sensors to 32. This paves the way for more advanced autonomous functions, although the technology is still classified as Level 2.
Furthermore, exterior updates are limited to a new paint variant called “Dark Cloud Green” and slightly simplified graphics for the LED taillights. Dimensions remain unchanged: the bZ3 is 4,725 mm long with a wheelbase of 2,880 mm, making it slightly larger than the long-wheelbase Chinese Corolla sedans.
Larger Screen and Better Interior Equipment
The interior has received more substantial updates. First and foremost, there is a new 15.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, replacing the old 12.8-inch one. It works in tandem with a conventional digital instrument cluster. The equipment is complemented by technologies such as ambient lighting, two wireless chargers, a panoramic sunroof, and an AI-based voice assistant.
Under the software “hood,” the 2026 bZ3 received improvements based on Nvidia 5.0 and a new Snapdragon processor capable of performing 544 trillion operations per second, significantly increasing the system’s computing power.
Despite the more powerful hardware, the car officially remains in the Level 2 autonomy class. However, the update brought new remote parking functions with route memory, as well as improved assistance for city and highway driving.
Power Up to 241 HP
Built on the Toyota e-TNGA platform, the bZ3 uses BYD’s Blade battery technology and is offered in two powertrain variants. One version has a single electric motor with 181 hp, while the other increases output to 241 hp.
The less powerful model is paired with a 49.9 kWh battery, providing a range of 517 km according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. The more powerful variant received a 65.3 kWh battery, increasing the range to 616 km.
Prices and Availability
Currently, the FAW Toyota bZ3 Smart Home is offered at a promotional price starting from ¥93,800, but this offer will not last long. At this price, it is the most affordable electric vehicle under the Toyota brand in China, even cheaper than the technically related bZ3X crossover.
Standard prices start from ¥109,800 for the base Joy trim, ¥129,800 for the Pro version. If a more powerful motor and longer range are needed, one can choose the Pro+ trim for ¥139,800 or the top Max for ¥159,800.
Chinese buyers can now choose from five Toyota electric models produced locally through joint ventures with FAW and GAC. The lineup includes the bZ3 sedan, bZ3X crossover, bZ4X SUV, bZ5 coupe-crossover, and the flagship bZ7 sedan.
The bZ3 update clearly demonstrates Toyota’s strategy in the key Chinese market: to quickly implement cutting-edge technologies, such as LiDAR and powerful processors, into affordably priced models. This allows the brand to maintain competitiveness among the vast number of local electric vehicle manufacturers. Notably, even with such updates, the car retains its status as one of the most budget-friendly electric sedans in its segment, making autonomous driving technologies more accessible to the mass consumer. The success of this model could influence Toyota’s decision to export similar affordable electric vehicles to other markets in the future.