During the third test drive of the BZ4X, we drove around the Fuji Subaru Line and Fuji Five Lakes, mainly testing its performance on mountain passes and rough roads.
Test vehicle specifications and price
It is a Z-grade FWD model because it does not have an X mode and the passenger seat is an electric seat.
The new car price is 6 million yen .
The G grade is a grade with reduced equipment to lower the price when general sales are lifted, so it is a FF model that is cheap and has good electricity consumption but inferior motor output.
Let’s write down the specifications as an example.
- Vehicle size is 4690mmx1860mm x1650
- Vehicle weight is 1920kg (2010kg for AWD)
- Motor output for AWD model is 218PS and 338Nm
- FF model output is 203.9Ps and 266Nm
- Battery capacity is 71.4kWh
- Minimum turning radius is 5.6 meters
- Wheelbase is 2850mm
The FF model is 14.1 horsepower and 72 Nm slower than the AWD model and 90 kg lighter.
Current route and pace
I ran the following route mainly on the downhill route. The total mileage is approximately 112km . I rented it for 4 hours .
I was trying my best to climb Mt. Fuji, resulting in an electricity consumption of 2.2km/Kwh, I was completely attacking empty winding roads, and I was caught up in a slow car and was forced to drive at a speed of less than 50km/h.
“ attacking empty spots, but letting go when I got stuck in residential areas or slow cars .” I ran at the pace of
The air conditioning was only used to cool the aircraft moderately occasionally and was not used at a level that would reduce the cruising range by more than 10%.
It should have been able to drive in a practical way as a long-distance drive that mainly consisted of downhill roads.
The expected cruising range when driving mainly on down roads, calculated from the electricity costs for the entire route, is approximately 400km.
Actually, the winding driving is more agile than AWD.
Compared to the AWD model, the FF model has an image of modest output, but when I actually rode it, I didn’t feel any difference in acceleration and it was also faster.
However, it not only accelerates quickly, but also has high stability and controllability, making it easy to overtake on mountain roads. There is no shortage even in eco mode. Because it has torque, you can pick up speed just by stepping on it lightly.
It also has very high turning ability, and the high-grip tires support neutral and flat cornering. It’s a lot of fun to play this kind of winding.
there is no reason to choose the AWD model other than X-mode and improved drivability on icy roads . The driving performance of the FF model is so good that
Even when taking a moderately sharp curve, it cuts with ease, just like an ND roadster.
The tires are 20 inches, and there is no difference other than the fact that the car is a little lighter. However, his movements are nimble, as if he were fluttering. However, it is highly stable and accelerates quickly.
It’s hard to believe that it weighs 1,920kg.
My recommended grade for Bz4x has changed to FF.
Downhill can be driven using regenerative braking only
This car is also equipped with a regeneration enhancement function similar to one-pedal drive.
If you turn it on and take your foot off the accelerator on a downhill slope, it will probably apply regenerative braking with the maximum force the motor can produce.
It is difficult to smoothly control the deceleration G, so you will probably turn on the regenerative braking enhancement mode only before making a sharp curve.
You can go down a mountain without ever using the hydraulic brakes.
Electricity costs, which dropped to 2.2km/kWh on the way up, improved to 6.8km/kWh on the way down.
Entering the rough road surface of Lake Shojiko
Lake Shoji is where you can descend onto the gravel slope beside the lake. I also tried entering bz4x.
Well, it’s a place where even the Prius PHV GR that rubs all over the place can fit in without rubbing if you’re careful, so it’s not worth going out of your way to drive an SUV.
With the help of the around-view camera, I was able to run around comfortably without worrying about getting scratched.
The figure is so big that you can’t see anything when you enter. The bz4x’s ease of handling is due to its around-view camera.
The large body is inconvenient on narrow forest roads.
I tried going onto a forest road along a certain lake, but it was just so wide that it was hard to pass each other.
I got tired of it so I made a U-turn and headed back, but this doesn’t work like a light car.
The idea that “it’s an SUV, so I’ll go on forest roads” is strange.
What is needed on Japan’s mountain roads is not the ability to travel on rough roads, but narrow width so that vehicles can easily pass each other.
Scene around the 5th station
Although it was a place that seemed isolated from the surrounding area, it was very busy with many buildings and people.
Unfortunately, it was in the fog so there was no view.
Even during the private car ban, EVs are allowed, so I saw more EVs than usual, such as the EQS, Aria, Leaf, Sakura, Model 3, and e-tron GT.
If you show this pass, you can get in.
I took a photo of the restaurant’s menu to do a quick price check. Considering the recent rise in prices, my honest opinion is that it’s not as expensive as I expected.
You can see an idea menu reminiscent of Mt. Fuji, vegan options, and English descriptions.
The shop sells a lot of Mt. Fuji related goods, and there are a lot of staff on duty, probably to prevent shoplifting.
With so many people coming even during the private car ban period, it looks like it’s going to be a rough day on a normal holiday.
It may be surprisingly optimal to rent an EV during the regulation period.
