The Toyota bZ Woodland Is A Toyota That’s A Subaru That’s Basically Another Subaru, Which Is Actually A Toyota

Ever heard of carcinization, the phenomenon of non-crab invertebrates become crabs? Well, there’s sort-of an automotive equivalent, and that’s how seemingly almost all new products in a manufacturer’s lineup are now crossovers. For example, Toyota’s about to offer eight different crossovers in America, and the eighth is something called the bZ Woodland, not to be confused with the regular bZ.

In some ways, the bZ Woodland is close to a Tropic Thunder moment, because it’s almost a crossover playing another crossover, disguised as another crossover. This is a Toyota-altered version of the Subaru Trailseeker, which is an embiggened version of the Subaru Solterra, which is the Subaru-branded version of the Toyota bZ, which is also the mechanical basis for the new C-HR. Think of it almost like the Taco Bell approach to cars, more-or-less the same core ingredients remixed countless ways.

This means you get front and rear electric motors kicking out a combined 375 horsepower, 260 miles of range, a 74.7 kWh battery pack, and a NACS port, along with a few Subaru powertrain-related goodies. Toyota hasn’t rebranded X-Mode, an off-road traction control mode that limits wheel speed and tries to simulate a limited-slip differential, but it’s here for some of the trickier fire trails you might encounter if you’re outdoorsy. If you’re more into sportiness, the superleggera variant pictured below won’t be available to buy, chiefly because it’s a cutaway rendering only meant to show the powertrain, but you can expect a zero-to-60 mph time just under five seconds if this thing’s Subaru Trailseeker twin is anything to go by.

Unlike most Toyotas, the bZ Woodland will simply be available in one main trim level. The only option beyond premium paint and all-terrain tires is a Premium Package that includes ventilated front seats, a fixed glass roof, a JBL audio system, a love-it-or-leave-it digital rearview mirror, radiant heaters, and a memory system for the seats and mirrors. That last one’s unusual to be optional at this sort of market position, but if omitting it gets the base model to a certain price point, I could see why the product planners would shuffle it into an option package.

Taking a step back from the minutiae, I reckon the styling of the Toyota bZ Woodland is a bit more successful than that of the Subaru Trailseeker, in that the front light bar seemingly borrowed from the regular bZ complements the full-width taillight treatment well, and the unpainted fender flares don’t wrap around as far on the front bumper of the Toyota as they do on the Subaru. Other than the front-end treatment and the wheels, few exterior alterations have been made, and that feels like the right call.

What does having two virtually identical cars at pretty much identical market positions from two different brands do, other than economize development and dilute individuality? It hasn’t been a huge problem for Chevrolet and GMC trucks, but the North American truck market is insular, and brand loyalty is fierce. Taking a look at EV sales, the outgoing Toyota bZ4X sold nearly 50 percent more units last year than its Subaru Solterra twin, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Trailseeker actually outsells the bZ Woodland. Not only is the Crown Signia a closer product in execution to these EV twins than the new Subaru Outback, a wagonoid soft-roady crossover seems like an extremely Subaru thing.

Either way, this sales race between two largely identical electric crossovers will kick off early next year. Both seem pretty dope, wagon-ish EVs for North America that should offer some serious practicality, but we won’t learn where pricing lands until closer to the on-sale dates of the Toyota bZ Woodland and its Subaru Trailseeker brother.

Top graphic credit: Toyota