Toyota is enhancing its underwhelming EV lineup with the all-new Urban Cruiser EV, a compact electric SUV that closely resembles the Suzuki e-Vitara. This model is set to make its debut at the Brussels Motor Show in January 2025, providing a preview of Toyota’s electric future, despite its significant similarities to the Suzuki model.
While the Urban Cruiser shares its underpinnings and much of its design with the e-Vitara, Toyota has given it a unique face with different headlights and distinctive tail lights. The interior also gets some Toyota-specific touches, but the overall layout and features remain largely the same, including a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch infotainment screen.
Even though it is on the rather compact side of things, the Urban Cruiser has a surprisingly spacious cabin, thanks in part to its generous 2,700 mm wheelbase. The rear seats offer sliding and reclining functions. Toyota claims the interior can be as spacious as a midsize SUV, a bold claim for a vehicle that measures just 4,285 mm in length.
The Urban Cruiser will be available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, with three power outputs and two lithium-ion-phosphate (LFP) battery options. FWD models offer either 142 hp or 172 hp, while the AWD version gets 182 hp from a dual-motor setup. Battery options include a 49 kWh unit (FWD only) and a 61 kWh unit (FWD and AWD).
Toyota has yet to release official WLTP range figures, but the Urban Cruiser incorporates features like an energy-saving heat pump for the A/C and a manually activated battery preheating function to optimize efficiency, especially in colder climates.
The Urban Cruiser joins Toyota’s growing European lineup. The company aims to have 15 zero-emission vehicles in its lineup by 2026, including six battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) built on dedicated platforms.
