Toyota has unveiled its all-new compact SUV Urban Cruiser model at its state-of-the-art multi-million-pound new media centre in Crawley, West Sussex.
The all-electric model, that’s guaranteed to turn heads thanks to its chunky, robust and muscular styling, will be launching into what is already a competitive compact SUV arena, but has the advantage of a very a strong kerb appeal, a wealth of on-board technology and a generously sized cabin.
The car was first unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show, but we were invited to be amongst the first UK journalists to get up close with the five-door model at its UK debut in a glitzy photographic studio at the new centre.
The Urban Cruiser is Toyota’s smallest EV with dimensions slightly less than the BZ4X. There are three generously-equipped trims called Icon, Design and Excel, and while prices are yet to be announced, we have been guaranteed they will be highly competitive. And they certainly need to be as the B-SUV sector is fiercely aggressive with UK sales increasing at a rapid rate. And the BEV vehicles in that segment are proving equally as popular.
Urban Cruiser will be available with two battery options, a 49kWh and 61kWH. The smaller unit delivers 142bhp with 189Nm of torque and is fitted to the Icon grade, while the Design and Excel models get a 61kWh battery with 172bhp and 189Nm. All UK models are front-wheel drive, although all-wheel drive versions are available across Europe.
The static show car was the high-end Urban Cruiser Excel and it boasted plenty of cladding around the wheel arches and door sills to accentuate the vehicle’s adventurous character. Toyota describes the front end as having a hammerhead appearance - we have to agree it certainly has plenty of bite with slim headlight units flanking a grille that can open and close. This means it can be used for cooling when necessary or to improve the aerodynamics in other instances for an improved cruising range. And speaking of range, the official figures have not been finalised just yet, but expect about 250 miles between charges from the larger battery.
At the rear, the Urban Cruiser’s SUV-like strength is clear to see with a wraparound light bar. The wheels will be either 18 or 19-inches depending on the trim level and there is a wide range of colours to choose from including bi-tone options with a contrasting black roof.
Size-wise, the Urban Cruiser is slightly larger than the Yaris Cross. It stretches 4,285mm in length, is 1,800mm wide, 1,640mm tall with a 2,700mm wheelbase. Moving inside, the cabin oozes quality and it’s exceptionally spacious thanks to that large wheelbase. The rear seats can slide forwards and backwards to create additional legroom. They are set in a 40:20:40 configuration and can also be reclined for added convenience. There is bundles of rear leg space even when the front seats are pushed right back, although taller adults may find their hair brushing the headlining.
All models are well equipped with a low-set horizontal instrument panel and features that include a 10.1-inch multi-media display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, sat nav with cloud-based data for the latest traffic flow, along with a 10.25-inch driver display to view all the vital data. Mid-grade Design introduces the added comfort of heated seats, a heated steering wheel and auto-folding door mirrors, while a JBL premium sound system features on the Excel version, along with a fixed sunroof, 360-degree camera, powered front seats with part leather, part synthetic upholstery and 12 ambient lighting shades to flick through.
A large dial is used to select the gear and there are Eco, Sport and Trail drive modes to choose from too. And top marks for the separate climate settings panel which avoids driver distraction.
With family adventures in mind, the boot can accommodate 603 litres with all seats in an upright position. There is extra storage room beneath the floor that can easily be used to store the charging cables. Elsewhere there is a glovebox, door bins, a wireless charging pad, central cubby box, front cup holders, seat back pockets, USB-C ports and a large open storage area between the front occupants beneath the centre console.
As is the Toyota way, the Urban Cruiser is equipped as standard with an extensive suite of advanced active safety and driver assistance aids to help protect occupants and other road users alike. These include a pre-collision system, lane departure alert and lane keep assist, plus adaptive cruise control. The 360-degree camera system gives the driver a complete view of the car’s surroundings when manoeuvring across rough ground or parking in tight spaces and we should mention the vehicle’s impressively tight turning lock of just 5.2 metres making it ideal for navigating busy urban streets.
The Urban Cruiser is compatible with 150kW fast charging, as well as home charging which is more cost-effective. Additionally, there is the MyToyota App to help owners stay on top of charging levels, scheduling charging and numerous other functions via their smartphone.
Deliveries of the Toyota Urban Cruiser, which is built in India, are expected from this autumn. It’s certainly an exciting time for Toyota. As well as celebrating the opening of its state-of-the-art new media centre, the Japanese manufacturer has announced there will be two more all-new EVs by the end of this year into early 2026. And by the end of 2026 there will be six Toyota EVs for customers to choose from. So fun times ahead indeed.
