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Let’s not beat around the bush: the new Toyota Urban Cruiser is actually a Suzuki e-Vitara with different logos and a different nose. Designed in Japan, built in India, and with a battery pack from China underneath. Will the European consumer line up for this dish with a mix of Asian ingredients? Patience is required; it won’t be at the dealer until the first quarter of 2026.
Does Toyota often borrow?
Suzukis that were born as Toyotas have been around here for a while; the Swace (a Corolla) and the Across (a RAV4) are good examples of this. A Toyota that is internally from another car manufacturer is seen less often. But those also exist: the Supra (BMW Z4), the BRZ (a Subaru GT86), and the commercial vehicle Proace, originating from Stellantis. In other markets, Toyota sells the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza as the Urban Cruiser. So the idea of the new, electric ‘Toyzuki’ is not entirely new, and Toyota emphasizes that the car was developed in collaboration with Suzuki. Just like with the new, also electric C-HR+, Toyota says goodbye to the bZ label in Europe with the Urban Cruiser.
The interior is the same as that of the Suzuki e-Vitara, a 10.25-inch screen is always standard.
Is the Toyota Urban Cruiser bigger than a Yaris Cross?
In Toyota’s range, the electric Urban Cruiser, with its length of 4.29 meters, is slightly above the 4.17-meter-long Yaris Cross, a hybrid that also has a high entry. In any case, it is a lot bigger than the Urban Cruiser that accompanied the RAV4 as a compact cross-over from 2009 to 2014. The new electric stands on an EV platform and has a wheelbase of 2.70 meters, which is generous for a car in this segment and promises a lot of legroom for rear passengers.
The luggage space (244 liters) is smaller than that of the current Yaris (286 liters). By sliding the rear seat forward, you get 310 liters.
Does all the technology come from China?
Suzuki and Toyota designed and developed the appearance and drive technology of this car together. But for the battery pack, the Japanese turned to the Chinese BYD, after CATL the world’s largest battery manufacturer. BYD introduced the so-called blade battery in 2020. It is flatter than a regular battery pack, much more resistant to heavy collisions, and very fire-safe. In addition, it is an LFP battery, without cobalt and nickel. The downside is the lower energy density, which means that more battery capacity is needed and that makes the car heavier. In any case, Toyota has every confidence in the quality, given the 10-year or 300,000-kilometer warranty on this part.
What about the space in the Toyota Urban Cruiser?
We already mentioned the long wheelbase, and that indeed results in an acceptable amount of centimeters for the people in the back seat. The headroom is also fine, although your crown does rub against the headliner if you are around 1.90 meters tall. The seat is sliding and that has its reason: the trunk with a volume of only 244 liters is smaller than that of a Toyota Yaris. You don’t expect that in an apparently reasonably large SUV. With the seat in its front position, the volume is 310 liters, but then no one can sit in the back anymore.
The legroom is still okay even with a height of 1.90 meters, but your head will touch the headliner.
Is this electric SUV also available with four-wheel drive?
Toyota supplies the Urban Cruiser in three power variants: 144 hp / 193 Nm in combination with the smallest battery, 174 hp / 193 Nm with the large battery, which is also in the four-wheel-drive version with 184 hp / 307 Nm. Indeed, that is only 10 hp more, despite an extra motor on the rear axle. The top speed is 150 km/h for all versions, and there is also unanimity in terms of towing weight: a maximum of 750 kg.
The Executive is available as AWD, but you don’t need that in the flat Netherlands.
What is the range of the Toyota Urban Cruiser?
The figures that Toyota gives us are still provisional. There are two battery options available: 48.8 kWh and 61.1 kWh, both gross. The front-wheel-drive Urban Cruiser has a range of 344 kilometers with the small battery, 426 kilometers with the large battery, and 395 kilometers in combination with four-wheel drive. A quick calculation shows that you have to stay below 15 kW/100 km to achieve these values. From experience, we know that there are very few EVs that actually achieve this in practice. About charging: that is possible with 80 kW if you have the small battery and with 125 kW with the larger variant. A heat pump is standard.
Charging is possible with 11 kW or with 80 kW (small battery) or 125 kW at the fast charger.
Poor recuperation, not surprisingly driving characteristics
For this first acquaintance, we hit the road with an Urban Cruiser with the designation ‘prototype’ in large letters on the side. It is the version with a large battery and 4WD. You will quickly find your way around the controls, for many things there are physical buttons and you don’t have to go into a menu first. Except for the degree of recuperation, which is adjustable in three positions and that is not possible while driving. You activate it by pressing a small button next to the gear lever. Don’t expect a one-pedal experience, you still have to brake yourself often. The driving characteristics are in no way surprising. The outgoing stroke of the springs is not too strongly damped, the road down slightly firmer. Transverse ribs in the road surface are clearly felt through.
You activate the recuperation with the button next to the rotary knob of the transmission.
How much does the new Toyota Urban Cruiser cost?
Toyota delivers the Urban Cruiser in three flavors: Active, Dynamic and Executive, the latter also with 4WD. The Active is only available in combination with the smallest battery (49 kWh), the other two have a battery capacity of 61 kWh. You can get in for €32,995 and then you get all the safety systems and adaptive cruise control, 18-inch wheels (light alloy) and the same 10.25-inch screen for the infotainment system as the more expensive versions. The Dynamic adds seat, steering wheel, wiper, and exterior mirror heating, together with the larger battery and is available from €35,795. If you choose the Executive, you get a JBL sound system, a panoramic roof, 19-inch wheels, electrically adjustable seats covered with (vegan) leather, adaptive high beam and a 360-degree camera. In that case, you will pay €38,295 or €39,975 if you want 4WD. We will have to be patient: the Urban Cruiser will not come to the Netherlands until early 2026.