Toyota has just shown off its new electric SUV, and it’s bringing back a name from the early 2000s to go with it.
One of six new EVs due by 2026
This is the Urban Cruiser (should we say Urban Cruiser MkII?) which will be Toyota’s all-electric compact SUV, one of the six new all-electric models the brand will launch between now and 2026. It’s part of Toyota’s plan to reach, through hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, and fuel cell vehicles, carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040.
At 4.2 metres long, the new Urban Cruiser is quite compact and is only slightly longer than a Yaris Cross Hybrid. It gets Toyota’s distinctive new ‘Hammerhead’ lights and grille arrangement at the front, and the rest of the slightly boxy styling has been developed around the ‘Urban Tech’ style that Toyota has developed.
Tight turning circle
Those tight dimensions mean that the Urban Cruiser will be highly manoeuvrable in town — its turning radius is just 5.2 metres, which means the full turning circle is only 10.4 metres, which is pretty tight. The Urban Cruiser will get 18 or 19 inch alloys, which will be fitted with aerodynamic covers to improve the car’s wind-cheating nature.
While the Urban Cruiser is only slightly larger than an Yaris Cross on the outside, it’s bigger inside thanks to a wheelbase that’s 140mm longer. There are sliding rear seats, so you can move things around depending on whether you need more luggage space or more rear legroom. With the seats all the way back, Toyota says that the interior space is on a par with a RAV4-sized SUV.
There’s also a new look to the interior, with two big 10.25-inch digital screens under a single frame, robust-looking upright air vents, and a squared-off steering wheel.
Lithium-iron phosphate batteries
Underneath, the Urban Cruiser shares much of its electric tech with the new Suzuzki e-Vitara (the two companies have been technical partners for some time). So there’s a choice of front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, and either a 49kWh battery or a 61kWh battery. Front wheel drive models get a choice of 144hp or 174hp motors, while the all-wheel drive model will have 184hp, and will only be available with the bigger battery. Both batteries use robust lithium-iron phosphate technology.
Toyota isn’t talking about range at the moment, but a range of around 400km on one charge for the larger battery would be competitive in this class. All Urban Cruiser models will get an energy-saving heat-pump heating system.
Off-road capable
Four-wheel drive models will be properly off-road capable, and will come with electronic enhancements such as Downhill Assist Control and Trail Mode which detects and brakes a spinning wheel while directing drive torque to the opposite wheel. Even front-wheel drive Urban Cruisers will have a ‘snow mode’ that finds extra traction in slippery conditions.
Safety features will include a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and lane keep assist, as well as a 360-degree parking camera, although obviously specifications for the Irish market have not yet been set.
Toyota will also be introducing its own Toyota HomeCharge domestic charger, which you’ll be able to control remotely through the MyToyota smartphone app.
The new Urban Cruiser will make its public debut at the Brussels motor show in January, and will go on sale later in 2025.