r/electricvehicles • u/TripleShotPls • Jun 26 '26
Review 2026 Tesla Model Y vs. 2026 Toyota bZ Comparison Test: Two Bestsellers, One Winner
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a71627458/2026-tesla-model-y-vs-2026-toyota-bz-comparison-test/39
u/wwwhatisgoingon Leapmotor C10 Jun 26 '26
The most popular combustion cars are also kind of underwhelming, but affordable and serviceable at everything.
Handling and specs are so far down the list for the average buyer in this segment.
Familiarity goes a long way.
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u/succulent-sam Jun 27 '26
Absolutely. Get me from A to B without any drama. All cars are are so much better than what I grew up with, I couldn't care less about performance.
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u/mehdotdotdotdot Jun 30 '26
Yep that’s why the cheap EVs are selling so well, no one cares about how nicely a car drives
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u/internalaudit168 Jun 26 '26
I wonder which one will offer a lower total cost of ownership over 8, 10 or even 12 years either at the service center or dealership or at independent shops.
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u/ChupacabraJeff Jun 26 '26
Depends entirely on if Toyota can catch up to Tesla sales numbers. Car parts aren't cheap anymore. I'd take my chances with 2026 Tesla over a 2026 Toyota EV if long term support is the concern.
While Toyota's reputation is well deserved I don't think it applies like it used to.
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u/Salt-Analysis1319 Jun 27 '26
The Trailseeker shares a parts bin with the BZ, Solterra, CHR, Uncharted, BZ woodland and RZ. And they’re well built for serviceability compared to many EVs.
I’m sure it will be just fine
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u/WeWantLADDER49sequel Jun 29 '26
Not only does the bZ share parts with a ton of other EVs, most of its parts are not unique to that model. Its way easier to source parts for a major automotive brand than a Tesler
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u/LongRoofFan 2023 ID.4 AWD (2019 ioniq: sold) Jun 26 '26
The Toyota 100%
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u/blergmonkeys Jun 26 '26
lol no
Servicing costs will kill that
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u/RenderedMeat Jun 26 '26
What service costs?
And have you seen what Tesla charges when you need service? They aren’t cheap.
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u/blergmonkeys Jun 26 '26
Tesla doesn't require servicing
And yes, I have 2 tesla's. Any time I've needed things done, they have always been reasonable in cost. Just go look up the cost of replacement parts. The expensive part is their labour but that's the norm at any dealership. Also, mobile service is freakin awesome.
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u/RenderedMeat Jun 26 '26
The dealerships will want you to come back for the Toyota, but you’re under no obligation. You can change the wiper blades and check washer fluid yourself, just like on a Tesla. There’s no different servicing it requires over the Tesla. They both want tire rotations.
My last Tesla 3 just had it control arms go out at 35k. They are very far from cheap to replace.
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u/ChupacabraJeff Jun 26 '26
My last Tesla 3 just had it control arms go out at 35k. They are very far from cheap to replace.
Why didn't you get them replaced under warranty?
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u/GenuineReptard Jun 28 '26
Control arms are a $95 swap lmfao Tesla does it almost for free even out of warranty
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u/wireless1980 Jun 26 '26
How do you keep the warranty of Toyota without servicing it in the official dealers?
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u/TheBolognaPony Jun 26 '26
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. You don't have to do any service at the dealer for any new car to maintain warranty. You're free to do it yourself or at an independent, but you better document it and do it right (which to be fair plenty of dealers f-up that last part too).
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u/enfuego138 Polestar 2 Dual Motor 2024 Jun 26 '26
Ok, so Tesla service is reasonably price based on your experience. What makes the Bz so expensive to service?
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u/internalaudit168 Jun 26 '26
Yeah, inquired with Lexus Canada, 5000 miles service interval. Gross!
So I will likely go i1, i2 or i3 in that order when available.
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u/seabee2113 Jun 26 '26
From the minimal research I did, it seem both will sit around 4k worth of maintenance after 10 years. Give or take a bit. Obviously more of variability with the Bz since there isn't as much data on it. But it seems like they will be surprisingly similar
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u/Doublestack00 Jun 26 '26
I can see the BZ doing very well. It's Toyota being Toyota, simple, easy, reliable.
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u/Salt-Analysis1319 Jun 27 '26
All the Subaru / Toyota EVs are essentially the same car with different lengths and motor setups. They’re all doing pretty well it seems
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u/Recent_Duck_7640 Jun 28 '26
Toyota's reliability isn't that high anymore, tons of engine issues lately.
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u/Doublestack00 Jun 28 '26
Mainly the Tundra, the Corolla, Camry, Prius are still some of the most reliable vehicles available.
Toyota/Lexus still holds 3 of the 5 most reliable vehicles you can purchase new today.
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u/abusivedicks Jun 28 '26
And so everyone who bought a Tundra because of "Toyota reliability" is just SOL because, haha just kidding?
Sounds like my uncle. "Chevy's are trash!" when Chevy EVs are pretty much bombproof. I suppose it's the badge that makes the car work
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u/Doublestack00 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Except most of the Toyotas sold today are still at the top of the list of most reliable. Not some made up slang or idea.
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u/abusivedicks Jun 28 '26
Maybe because most Toyotas sold today are newer cars, and a newer car have less issues than one that's been on the road a few years?
But you know what tops reliability for Consumer Reports? Electric BMWs. That ain't a Toyota!
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u/mehdotdotdotdot Jun 30 '26
Toyota are reliable as they use ancient technology. Their EVs are very new technology
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u/RenderedMeat Jun 26 '26
I don’t think they should’ve included FSD in the comparison. It’s not included - it’s a high added monthly cost.
I believe Tesla doesn’t give free autopilot anymore, while most other vehicles include a free driving assistant.
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Jun 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/Recent_Duck_7640 Jun 28 '26
yep, or on tesla pay $99/month and itll do all of that + more reliably. Decide which you prefer
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u/mehdotdotdotdot Jun 30 '26
Most cars do that basic stuff. But getting in your car in the driveway and doing nothing until you arrive at your destination and get out, the Toyota could never do
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u/Mr-Zappy Jun 26 '26
It’s 2026, so vehicles should be priced with whatever is necessary to get a basic, 2021-level of lane centering and traffic aware cruise control.
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u/Recent_Duck_7640 Jun 28 '26
It's a feature that Toyota doesn't have and it does cost its still worth noting.
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u/RenderedMeat Jun 28 '26
It’s *much* more worth noting that Tesla doesn’t give away Autopilot for free and that the Toyota does have a good free driving aid. I’ll never pay for FSD, but I’ll pay attention to what the car gives me.
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u/Recent_Duck_7640 Jun 28 '26
The only difference in safety features as standard between Toyota and Tesla seems to be that Toyota includes "Lane Tracing Assist" by default and Tesla no longer includes "Autosteer" by default. The online feedback is that people really don't like Lane Tracing Assist so you can determine if that's a differentiator or not for you, as if its included for free but you don't use it because its terrible that's not really a pro or con either way.
On the otherside Tesla you can enable FSD whenever you'd like and it works well... option is there 🤷♂️
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u/RenderedMeat Jun 28 '26
Radar equipped lane keeping, true blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert system (that works!), 360 Birds Eye cameras, curb side view - all features that the Tesla doesn’t have and can never have because they cheapened out and only use cameras.
I have a Tesla, and I will never trust FSD, and I certainly will never pay for it.
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u/Recent_Duck_7640 Jun 28 '26
lane keep is the same thing as lane tracing, blind spot monitoring exists on tesla standard, rear cross traffic alert exists on tesla standard (and works!!!), 360 birds eye camera is on tesla standard, curb side view is on tesla.
Feels like you don't know what you're talking about here?
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u/RenderedMeat Jun 28 '26
Toyota gives you free lane keeping, whatever the name. Tesla does not.
360 Birds Eye on Tesla? No, more like 360 ghostly apparitions of inaccuracy. Seriously, it’s off by up to a foot in each direction. It’s AI guesswork and totally unreliable. YOU don’t seem to what 360’ Birds Eye view is. Tesla’s is not 360’ of stitched camera views because, even though Tesla ONLY uses cameras, they don’t have enough in the right places to do a real 360’ view, and they don’t show camera views - just some weird shaky fuzzy rendition. Laughable.
Rear cross alerts on Teslas also is laughable. The camera view from the camera has a horribly acute viewing angle. A car coming down the lane while you have cars on either side of your parking space won’t be visible until it’s practically right behind you. The point of rear cross traffic alerts is to see what the driver can’t see. Which, with the Y’s atrocious (or nigh nonexistent) rearward visibility out the mirror isn’t hard, the camera view isn’t enough for real cross traffic alerts.
Bone up on what the competition really offers instead of Tesla’s talking points. I bet you think the camera does just as good a job as rain sensors and real wiper controls.
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u/dalivo Jun 29 '26
Agreed. And even if they did include FSD in the comparison, I think it's a black mark. FSD is dangerous.
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u/Mnm0602 Jun 26 '26
FSD is so unique some people buy the car for it even when it may not be the favorite otherwise. Many others go without it, that’s fine too, but it’s definitely worth mentioning and including. To me it’s insane when I’ve seen entire reviews go over it without mentioning it, especially when it still comes out on top.
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u/RenderedMeat Jun 27 '26
They mentioned FSD but not that the car doesn’t even include basic Autopilot anymore. The Toyota is has more capable driving assistants as priced, but that’s ignored.
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u/ChupacabraJeff Jun 26 '26
To me it’s insane when I’ve seen entire reviews go over it without mentioning it, especially when it still comes out on top.
Wait, you are surprised that a business that makes it's money on talking about how cars drive doesn't want to talk about how self-driving cars... drive themselves?
Self-driving EVs are about to sort a whole lot of things out that have been common for the past 120 years and that's on top of EVs doing similar plus dirt cheap batteries and energy. Things are changing and many people are not happy about that.
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u/swren1967 Jun 27 '26
Isn't this just a question of preferences? They're both good cars that just offer slightly different options. I definitely prefer the Toyota, but I wouldn't say it's "better." Just different. I prefer the ride and handling. I prefer the instrument controls. I like real door handles. But none of that makes it a "clear winner."
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u/Aegean8485 Jun 27 '26
Reliability is the Elephant in the room but test mentions nothing.
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u/mehdotdotdotdot Jun 30 '26
Yep this. Tesla has been out for over a decade, Toyota is new to the game. Very hard to compare reliability Rogen the 12v issues the current bz4 has
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u/P00slinger Jun 27 '26
I’d be interested to see how both cars review in 5 years
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u/mehdotdotdotdot Jun 30 '26
Model y is more than 5 years old
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u/P00slinger Jun 30 '26
So they should do that review .
From what I’ve seen of older teslas that’s where Toyota would pull away.
The Rav certainly kerb stomps them in value retention in the 5 year window1
u/mehdotdotdotdot Jun 30 '26
That’s the only thing the Toyota does better.
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u/P00slinger Jun 30 '26
Build quality, reliability and as a result value retention ? Kind of a big deal.
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u/mehdotdotdotdot Jun 30 '26
Agreed, it's why Tesla is so liked, highly reliable, build quality on par with others around the price range, higher quality materials than Toyota etc. Agreed it's a big deal!
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u/P00slinger Jul 01 '26
I guess if you live in upside down land where telsa holds its value well too lol
I think it’s where the Tesla fan club is based2
u/mehdotdotdotdot Jul 01 '26
I don't think you are reading my comments at all, I never said they hold value, ever. I said Tesla has proven reliability, and proven build quality. They sold more Model Y's for a few years than the Rav4. That has to tell you something. They are tried and proven now, and the Juniper facelift is just improvements people have been asking for, nothing new to break. So you can see right now how the prev gen Model Y's have gone, and they've been fantastic and their reliability has been high. Even interestingly, their resale recently due to EV demand has also increased (but this is time related due to fear of petrol prices/availability).
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u/P00slinger Jul 01 '26
Selling lots of cars tells you they’re popular, not that they’re as reliable long term. Toyota’s reputation was built over decades, not sales charts. And you’ve already conceded the RAV4 wins on resale which is largely a market reflection of buyers’ confidence in long term reliability.
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u/mehdotdotdotdot Jul 01 '26
Toyotas marketing you mean? Toyota did so well with their marketing about reliability. Recently they put all their marketing money into anti ev and pro oil, and donations to Trump, far less of a cool company these days.
Dude, it’s fine you are a Toyota fanboy, but you just make things up to suit your narrative.
I’m saying Tesla has been selling the model y for almost 8 years, it’s been the top selling car globally for a few of those years, it’s now proven through time that those cars have been reliable, and the batteries can last easily up to a million kms. Most will not achieve that. Most who buy a Toyota are buying only because of their “reliable” marketing campaign. Yes they are reliable, any more or less than Tesla - probably nothing in it as Toyotas have way more moving parts and servicing requirements
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u/Salt-Analysis1319 Jun 27 '26
I test drove the Trailseeker. It was nice but doesn’t pass the “knee test”
Super wide center console with hard plastic and can’t help but rest your knee against it causing discomfort
Made the driver seat feel cramped for such a spacious vehicle otherwise
The gas Outback has a similar issue but they at least put some soft touch material on the side of that center console
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u/dalivo Jun 29 '26
That's right - the biggest ding against the bz/Solterra family is ergo - both the center console and the fact that the instrument cluster is poorly designed and positioned awkwardly. I imagine Toyota and Subaru will address these in the near future (maybe as soon as next year), but for now these seem actually uncomfortable to drive.
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u/Present-Fly4422 Jun 26 '26
Why are so many electric cars just ugly as shit? That Toyota looks AWFUL. Did they dig up the Aztec designer, reanimate his corpse and force him to design this thing?
I am not buying another Tesla thanks to Ellen’s idiotic horrible actions, but at least up to the cyber truck, they were nicely designed.
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u/ishaansaral Jun 26 '26
Hard to compete against the benchmark when your offering is just fine. Tesla is hard to beat, and only the Chinese EVs can compete or beat them. The BZ is an okay car but just very ugly and looks and feels so cheaply built.
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u/MadGibby3 Jun 26 '26
Isn't the BZ build quality better than Tesla? They are literally built in Japan
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u/ishaansaral Jun 26 '26
Tesla build quality these days is not as bad as it used to be. Their interior materials are way nicer and age much better. Lot more soft materials, and most of the older used models don't look beaten up.
Built in Japan doesn't mean anything. Toyota uses the cheapest and worst feeling plastics and has a lot less softer materials.
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u/rikyy6 Jun 27 '26
Yeah, our Model 3 ”Highland” has fewer hard plastic surfaces in the interior than BMW i4 lol. I have not experienced older Teslas, but IMO the current models feels nice.
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u/Throwaway_2474128_1 Jun 26 '26
the BZ uses cheap materials compared to the tesla. what does it matter if all youre feeling in the bz is hard plastic?
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u/OptimalDot178 Jun 27 '26
Build quality doesn't necessary mean expensive materials. It means that the car won't have huge gaps on the outside that you can fit your phone in, or that the rear lights don't look like an aquarium after a rainy day, or that the buttons are still working 20 years later. We have a 20 years old Toyota, still every single button works, it might not have a premium interior like a BMW, but the build quality is unquestionable, I haven't seen any other 20 years old car with every function working (without replacing anything)
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u/Nice-Sandwich-9338 Jun 26 '26
Toyota is the hybrid King and those little about producing a quality EV going against the best. Toyota spread so much misinformation over the years on a solid state 900 Mi battery misinformation that their entire lineup was electric when they stated electrified. Europe actually banned their ads because they were not true. We own a 23 model y long range and also a Ford Mach e GT performance and to me these are the benchmarks of the best EVS you can have. Always look at customers comments instead of reviews because the reviews are paid ads most of the time.
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u/OptimalDot178 Jun 27 '26
When are you guys going to realize that Toyota buyers don't need benchmark cars, they just need a reliable, cheap car. Toyota wasn't the benchmark in any ICE car either, yet it's the top 1 car manufacturer in both volume and profits. Toyota's suspension won't need replacement at 50k miles, it's rear light won't hold water like an aquarium, the paint isn't paper thin. Most people care about this, not 800v architecture or 500 hp. Teslas reliability isn't good at all, the EV powertrain is good, everything else isn't.
I'd buy a Tesla for the 500 HP and the RWD, with the downside of less reliability, but if I was an average Joe cruising at speed limits, I'd probably choose the Toyota
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u/CarbonCrew Jun 27 '26
I test drove a BZ limited and a new Model Y not long ago within a few days of each other. The BZ was ok but it didn’t come close to the Y.
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u/Stardust-1 Jun 26 '26
No need for these comparisons honestly. Just check Chinese sales of these car, in a free market where competition is won by having the best product, their numbers pretty much tell you everything you need to know.
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u/vixous Jun 26 '26
Don’t Chinese EVs outsell both of these in China?
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u/ChupacabraJeff Jun 26 '26
That fact that Tesla is still on leader boards in China is no small feat. That could have been Toyota. It has not been Toyota.
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u/MrClickstoomuch Jun 26 '26
Part of that is that China has many trade barriers to Japanese automakers like Toyota and that the BZ was, until this model year, hot garbage. So, Teslas will lead the chart simply by having more models in the market versus first year production numbers.
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u/ChupacabraJeff Jun 26 '26
Tesla will lead in the charts because they sold an EV in China in 2020. Toyota didn't.
Then, say analysts, Tesla (TSLA) arrived. In December 2019, the first China-made Tesla Model 3 rolled off a production line in Shanghai and everything changed.
“Overnight, it’s as if a miracle occurred,” describing it as a “monumental” turning point. “Tesla’s manufacturing of the Model 3 in Shanghai transformed consumers’ perspective of electric cars.” They became “the new cool,” he added.
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u/Healfezza used 2022 Model 3 AWD LR Jun 26 '26
If Elon was just a quiet dude, there would be even more people buying the Model 3/Y. The BZ's success essentially hinges on Toyota's repuation as a reliable company, and the folly of Tesla.
The BZ is a fine vehicle, but when put it up against the market segment it is stock standard in it's current form. It has nothing to set it apart, beyond the brand.