Toyota’s $16,900 EV packs 201 HP, 232 miles of range, and massaging seats — but it’s China-only

Toyota has launched a China-exclusive electric SUV that undercuts every US-bound Toyota EV by a mile.

The GAC-Toyota bZ3X Knight Edition is a stealthy, all-black subcompact crossover with a 201-horsepower electric motor, a 58 kWh battery, and up to 232 miles of range. It starts at just $16,900, a price no US Toyota can touch.

The Knight Edition is essentially a blackout package on the standard bZ3X, swapping chrome for matte black badges, adding unique 18-inch wheels with black-and-silver aero covers, and packing in a long list of comfort features.

Up front, buyers get heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, an 11-speaker Yamaha audio system, and fold-down tray tables behind the front seats—just like in a business-class airline seat.

Two trims are on offer: the base 520 Pro Knight Edition at 114,800 yuan ($16,900) and the 520 Pro Lidar Knight Edition at 134,800 yuan ($19,900), the latter adding a roof-mounted Lidar sensor for advanced driver-assistance systems.

Under the skin, both versions use the same 58 kWh battery and front-mounted electric motor, delivering 201 HP and a WLTP-rated range of up to 232 miles (520 km).

That’s despite the SUV’s compact footprint—4,600 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,645 mm tall on a 2,765 mm wheelbase—making it slightly lower and longer than a RAV4, with a wheelbase nearly three inches longer for extra rear legroom. At 1,835 kg, it’s a typical weight for an electric crossover of this size.

For comparison, non-Knight Edition bZ3X models can be specced with more power and range in the 610 Max guise, which packs a 68 kWh battery, 221 HP, and up to 379 miles (610 km) of range.

But the Knight Edition’s blend of affordability, stealth styling, and creature comforts makes it a standout in China’s crowded EV market—and a reminder of what US buyers are missing out on.