On December 31, the FAW-Toyota joint venture introduced a new version of its bZ3 electric sedan for the Chinese market called the bZ3 Smart Home Edition. The model arrives with two variants and pricing that positions it as an affordable mid-size EV option in China. The line-up includes the Joy grade, priced at about US$15,700 and rated for 517 km of range, and the Pro grade, priced at roughly US$18,600 with a longer 616 km range claim.
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This Smart Home Edition can be viewed as an updated take on the bZ3 that was refreshed for 2024. The biggest change is the addition of the Momenta 5.0 driver-assistance suite and, importantly, the inclusion of a lidar sensor, along with small revisions to both exterior and cabin presentation. For context, the bZ3 first appeared in China in 2023, and it received another update in 2024 that brought Level 2-style advanced driving assistance, but those earlier versions did not offer lidar hardware. In terms of recent sales performance, the FAW-Toyota bZ3 recorded 2,118 deliveries in November in China.
From the outside, the Smart Home Edition largely follows the look of the 2024 bZ3. It uses Toyota’s newer “hammerhead” front-end styling, paired with a full-width headlamp treatment that visually links the lights across the nose. The most noticeable new piece of hardware is the roof-mounted lidar unit, which signals the upgraded assistance system underneath. At the rear, the car keeps its through-type taillight bar, but the signature shapes at each end have been revised: the earlier “Y”-style elements are replaced with a more horizontal graphic. The bZ3 also continues to use flush, hidden-style door handles for a cleaner profile.
Technology is the main headline. Every Smart Home Edition comes standard with the Momenta 5.0 advanced driver-assistance system, which is said to enable more than 30 functions. These include features such as urban NOA (Navigation on Autopilot), highway NOA, and remote parking assistance. Momenta 5.0 relies on a sizable sensor suite—32 sensors in total—including 1 lidar, 5 millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and 11 cameras. Computing is handled by a processor platform rated at 544 TOPS (trillion operations per second).
The bZ3 remains classified as a mid-size sedan, and its body measurements carry over unchanged at 4725 mm long, 1835 mm wide, and 1475 mm tall, riding on a 2880 mm wheelbase. Buyers also gain a fresh paint option called Dark Cloud Green.
Inside, the dashboard layout has been noticeably revised. The centrepiece is now a 15.6-inch widescreen display mounted horizontally, replacing the prior 12.8-inch vertical screen design. It is joined by a slim, rectangular instrument display and a traditional steering wheel layout. The cabin also includes ambient lighting and an AI-based voice assistant to support infotainment and vehicle controls.
Under the skin, the Smart Home Edition keeps a single-motor, front-wheel-drive configuration. The Joy version uses a motor rated at 181 hp, paired with a 49.9 kWh BYD Blade battery (lithium iron phosphate chemistry), delivering a 517 km CLTC range rating. The higher-spec Pro model upgrades to a 241 hp motor and a larger 65.3 kWh Blade battery for a 616 km CLTC figure. When connected to DC fast charging, the battery can reportedly be topped up from 30% to 80% in as little as 27 minutes.