Today, Toyota released information on its brand new EV, the Urban Cruiser. Its public world premiere will be at the Brussels Motor Show in January. The car is likely to be the sister model of the upcoming Suzuki eVX, but Toyota doesn’t hint at this collaboration in any way.
With the Urban Cruiser, developed from the Urban SUV Concept, Toyota wants to give a strong presence in a fast-growing and highly competitive compact SUV market segment in Europe and increase the breadth and reach of its all-electric line-up.
Multi-path
In the press release, Toyota again stresses its faith in following a multi-path approach regarding drivetrains. “The introduction of the Urban Cruiser marks another important step in Toyota’s wider multi-path strategy to offer customers a broad choice of electrified drivetrain technologies across Europe. By 2026, Toyota will have 15 zero-emission vehicles in its range, including six battery electric vehicles using a dedicated platform.”
“The expansion of Toyota’s battery electric line-up, combined with a wide range of plug-in hybrid, full hybrid, and fuel cell electric vehicles, will progressively lower Toyota’s emissions across the region, towards the goal of a 100% CO2 reduction by 2035, contributing to Toyota Motor Europe’s goal of full carbon neutrality by 2040,” the press release adds.
Compact but spacious
The Urban Cruiser’s compact dimensions are slightly larger than those of Toyota’s full hybrid compact SUV, the Yaris Cross. It has an overall length of 4,285 mm, is 1,800 mm wide, and is 1,640 mm high. It sits on a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. The car’s manoeuvrability is reflected in a turning radius of just 5.2m.
Wheels are 18 or 19-inch diameter alloys, according to model grade, fitted with sharply styled full wheel covers that save weight and support the car’s wind-cheating aerodynamic quality. A wide range of exterior colors will include bi-tone options with a contrasting black roof.
The Urban Cruiser’s comparatively long wheelbase (+140 mm compared to the Yaris Cross) is key to a spacious and versatile interior. Thanks to a sliding rear seat system, the couple distance between front and rear passengers can easily be adjusted to create space on par with much larger D-segment SUVs. The seats split-fold in a 40/20/40 configuration and can also be reclined.
“This designed-in flexibility allows the interior to be easily adapted for extra passenger comfort or extended load space, according to need,” says Toyota. “The versatility of the interior is matched by a robust design true to the car’s SUV-inspired character.”
Powertrain options
Toyota claims the Urban Cruiser will be offered with two battery packs and a choice between front or all-wheel drive. Both use lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) technology, which offers durability, safety, and reduced cost.
A 49 kWh battery will be available exclusively in the FWD version, giving an output of 106 kW / 144 DIN hp. Additionally, a 61 kWh battery produces 128 kW / 174 DIN hp for the FWD model. The Urban Cruiser will also be offered with all-wheel drive. The 61 kWh battery delivers 135 kW / 184 DIN hp in this version.
All Urban Cruiser versions are equipped with an energy-saving heat pump for the air conditioning system and manually operated battery pre-heating to optimize performance in colder conditions. No indications are provided yet about the range and performance on the road.
New platform
The car is constructed on a new platform dedicated to battery electric vehicles. It is strong yet lightweight and provides a spacious interior with built-in protection for the car’s high-voltage parts. The structure’s design avoids the need for cross members in the floor, freeing up more space to accommodate the battery.”
One key quality of the new Urban Cruiser is its availability of an all-wheel drive system, affirming its status as an authentic SUV, says Toyota. “Adding a 48 kW motor to the rear axle gives stable and secure performance on loose and slippery surfaces, giving both peace of mind in difficult conditions and a more rewarding driving experience.”
The system also provides Downhill Assist Control and a Trail Mode, which detects and brakes a spinning wheel while directing drive torque to the opposite wheel. The front-wheel drive model benefits from a “snow mode,” which controls drive torque to help reduce wheel slip when driving on snow-covered roads.
Equipment
“All Urban Cruiser versions will benefit from a comprehensive package of active safety and driver assistance systems, helping recognize and avoid a wide range of common accident risks. Features include a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, and lane keep assist. A 360-degree camera system gives the driver a complete view of the car’s surroundings when maneuvering across rough ground or parking in tight spaces,” says the press release.
The instrument panel integrates the driver’s 10.25-inch digital combi meter and 10.1-inch multimedia display into a single unit. The multimedia system is designed for fast, intuitive operation, with satellite navigation that uses cloud-based data to factor in the latest traffic flow intelligence. Smartphone integration is also provided.
The Toyota HomeCharge domestic wall box provides a recharging facility designed for seamless operation with Toyota models. The MyToyota app allows owners to check the state of their vehicle’s battery charge, locate convenient charging stations, and schedule and monitor charging sessions.
Comments
Ready to join the conversation?
You must be an active subscriber to leave a comment.
Subscribe Today