Toyota Urban Cruiser: New electric SUV for Cat A

Toyota is introducing a new and more compact electric SUV to its lineup. It’s called the Urban Cruiser, and if it looks somewhat familiar to you, it’s because it’s essentially a Suzuki e Vitara but with a Toyota badge.

That’s not a bad thing. The e Vitara is quite the looker (to my eyes) and so is the Urban Cruiser. It’s also a much smaller car than Toyota’s other electric SUV, the bZ4X. The Urban Cruiser measures 4,285mm, while the bZ4X is 4,690mm. To give these numbers further context, the Urban Cruiser is about the size of a Kia Niro Hybrid.

Powering the Urban Cruiser is a single electric motor that produces around 106kW (~142hp) and 192nm of torque, which enables it to qualify for a Cat A COE. It powers only the front wheels and can get from a standstill to 100km/h in 9.6 seconds. Top speed is 150km/h. 

Feeding the electric motor is a 49kWh battery. According to Toyota, it has a claimed range of 326km. Maximum DC charging speed is up to 53kW, which means it can get from 10% to 80% charge in around 45 minutes. The onboard AC charger supports up to 7kW.

Judging from the press images, the interior looks suitably contemporary. Dominating the cockpit is a 10.1-inch infotainment display, and to its right is a 10.25-inch instrument cluster. The system supports both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In terms of practicality, the claimed boot capacity is 306L, and that can be expanded to 562L with the rear seats folded down.

It’s no secret that Toyota has been under a lot of pressure from Chinese EV makers. In fact, it’s not just Toyota; it’s everyone who operates in that price range. Having a cheaper alternative to the bZ4X certainly helps, but at its price, it remains to be seen how customers will take to it. At over 200 grand, it’s still considerably pricier than many Chinese options. Will customers be alright with the premium? We’ll have to wait until we get some time behind the wheel to find out.

Availability and pricing

The Toyota Urban Cruiser is available to view now at the Toyota Leng Kee showroom. It will be available for viewing and test drives at both Toyota showrooms from the end of October. Prices start at S$209,888.

For more information, visit Toyota’s website.