Is the 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland EV the Golden Child of the Toyota-Subaru Marriage?

On this week's episode, we share our first impressions of the 2026 Toyota BZ Woodland, a 375-hp all-wheel-drive EV that promises more space, extra ground clearance, and a little off-road attitude. But is the Woodland really built for the wilderness—or is it better thought of as a quick, practical electric station wagon? We discuss its surprising acceleration, EPA-rated range, cargo area, infotainment and controls, and overly sensitive driver-monitoring system. Plus, we answer an audience question about why cars don't have automatic rain-sensing rear wipers, which turned into a debate over whether cars really need rear windshield wipers at all.

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SHOW NOTES

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0:00 - Intro

00:36 Overview: 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland

01:18 What Does "Woodland" Actually Mean?

03:35 Toyota and Subaru's Growing EV Family

04:47 Performance

06:05 Interior Quality, Controls, and Usability

09:24 Driving Position and Storage

12:05 Cargo Space