Toyota unveiled its second electric model this Thursday, the brand new Urban Cruiser, developed from the Urban SUV Concept, which promises to give Toyota a strong presence in a rapidly growing and highly competitive market segment in Europe.
The striking design of the Urban Cruiser is a quality that sets it apart from its competitors. Developed based on the theme “Urban Tech,” its sophisticated and robust style gives it a bold appearance from every angle.
The front end features a “hammerhead shark” design – the latest design language from Toyota – which is a key element. The front and rear bumpers are powerful, and the lighting signature extends across the width of the tailgate, highlighting the athletic stance of the wheel arches.
The new electric Urban Cruiser has slightly larger dimensions than Toyota’s full-hybrid compact SUV, the Yaris Cross, measuring 4.28 meters in length, 1.80 meters in width, 1.60 meters in height, and with a wheelbase of 2.70 meters.
Manoeuvrability is one of the highlights of the model, which features a turning radius of just 5.2 m. The new Toyota Urban Cruiser is equipped with 18’’ or 19’’ alloy wheels, depending on the version, fitted with futuristic-style wheel covers that enhance the aerodynamics of the new electric SUV from the Japanese brand.
Additionally, Toyota announced that the Urban Cruiser comes with a wide range of exterior color options, including a version with a night sky black roof.
Inside, there is an emphasis on a spacious and versatile interior, benefiting from a generous wheelbase and a sliding rear seat system that allows the distance between front and rear passengers to be easily adjusted to create a space equivalent to that of a D-segment SUV. The seats can be folded in a 40:20:40 configuration and can also be reclined. This flexibility allows the interior to be easily adapted for greater passenger comfort or increased cargo space, depending on needs.
The versatility of the interior is complemented by a robust design and a minimalist, airy look, featuring a 10.25’’ instrument panel and a 10.1-inch screen for the multimedia system.
The seats and finishes combine black and dark grey. The ambient lighting offers 12 different colors to create a suitable cabin atmosphere for travel or the time of day.
The Urban Cruiser will be available with two battery capacity options and the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Both utilize lithium iron phosphate technology, which offers durability, safety, and reduced cost. Acceleration is quick and linear, both from a standstill and at overtaking speeds.
A 49 kWh capacity battery will be available in the front-mounted electric motor variant with front-wheel drive (FWD), providing a power output of 144 hp. Additionally, for the FWD model, there will be a 61 kWh capacity battery that powers a motor producing 174 hp and 189 Nm of maximum torque.
In certain European markets, the Urban Cruiser will also be offered with all-wheel drive, adding an electric motor to the rear axle to increase power to 184 hp and 300 Nm of torque. The two electric motors are powered by a 61 kWh battery.
All versions of the Urban Cruiser are equipped with an energy-saving heat pump for the air conditioning system and a manual battery pre-heating feature to optimize performance in colder conditions.
Toyota has not yet revealed the range of the new Urban Cruiser, which will be presented to the public at the Brussels Motor Show in 2025, taking place from January 15 to 19.
