Toyota Urban Cruiser: new images and details of brand’s next EV
Toyota has shared more information about its upcoming Urban Cruiser electric SUV ahead of the car’s launch later this year.
EV Powered was given early access to a pre-production version of Toyota’s entry-level EV complete with near-finished interior ahead of the car’s dynamic launch in the coming months.
The Urban Cruiser is the smaller sibling to the Toyota BZ4X and an all-electric alternative to its popular Yaris Cross hybrid in the B-SUV segment. With sales set to start in quarter two of this year, it will go toe to toe with the likes of the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3.
Visually, there are similarities with the boxy design of the EV3. The (roughly) 4.3m Urban Cruiser borrows the slimline lighting of the BZ4X but has a chunkier, more rugged look, with squarer edges, thick black-wrapped wheel arches and a more upright body shape with shades of the famous Land Cruiser about it.
The interior follows the same rugged aesthetic with a thick padded dashboard with chunky rectangular air vents and a rubberised finish. Two digital screens – 10.25 inches for instruments and 10.1 inches for media – stick out above the dashboard and while many of the car’s functions are managed via the screen there are still sensible physical controls for the air conditioning system and driving functions.
A brief spell inside suggests there’s decent room for four average-sized adults. The rear bench is split 60/40 and slides to allow users to prioritise passenger or luggage space – up to 306 litres. The seat backs also split 40/20/40 to allow long loads to fit through the centre of the seats.
Urban Cruiser battery, range and specs
As well as letting us poke around the new Urban Cruiser, Toyota also confirmed more technical and specification details of its baby EV.
The Urban Cruiser will be the first Toyota EV to come with a choice of battery sizes. Entry level cars will get a 49kWh unit, while higher-specification cars will get a 61kWh battery with a targeted range of 250 miles. Toyota has also confirmed that, like the Suzuki E Vitara, which shares the same underpinnings, the Urban Cruiser will use a 142bhp single motor with the smaller battery and a 172bhp unit with the larger one.
Both versions will offer 11kW AC charging and DC charging up to 150kW will be available on 61kWh variants.
Unlike the Suzuki E Vitara, the Urban Cruiser will not be offered with four-wheel drive in the UK. Toyota said that decision was based on sales data for the Yaris Cross which showed the vast majority of buyers opted for the front-wheel drive variant.
The Urban Cruiser will come in three trims, following Toyota’s established pattern. Entry-level Icon specification will only be sold with the smaller battery and will feature 18-inch alloys, the two digital screens, keyless entry and a reversing camera.
Design trim is expected to be the line-up’s best-seller, featuring the larger battery as standard for the best range, along with heated seats and steering wheel, and auto folding mirrors.
Top-spec Excel cars get 19-inch alloy wheels as well as partial faux-leather upholstery, a JBL sound system, panoramic sunroof and two-tone paint.
Toyota wouldn’t give pricing details but said it would be ‘competitive’ with key rivals. Since such rivals include the Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq, we predict a starting price of around £32,000.
The car is due to make its official premiere before the end of March, with customer orders opening in quarter two of 2025 and first deliveries in the late summer/autumn.
