Toyota has been slow to adopt electric cars. While it was a leader in electrification with the Prius, introduced way back in 1997, its sole electric car is the bZ4X. That’s changing with the new Urban Cruiser, a compact SUV that’s a rival to the likes of the Kia EV3 and Volvo EX30.

Sharing with Suzuki

It’s not, however, all Toyota’s own work. Designed in partnership with Suzuki, much of what’s underneath is shared with the forthcoming Suzuki e-Vitara. You’d never tell by looking at them, at least from the front, as the Toyota wears a distinctive face that ties in nicely with its C-HR and Prius siblings — both available as plug-in hybrids. The further back you go, the more obvious the similarities between the e-Vitara and Urban Cruiser become, with the side profile and rear lights being all but identical.

That theme continues inside, where the two models share the dashboard. It’s neat and tidy, though, with switches to work the heating and ventilation and a knob to adjust the audio volume. In a world that seemingly insists on moving every function to a touchscreen, that’s something to be celebrated.

There is a touchscreen, of course. It’s a 10.1-inch unit with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Like every Toyota, it lacks the bright colours and interesting graphics of something like the system in a Renault Scenic, but it seems clear and easy enough to use, although we’ve yet to take the Urban Cruiser out onto the road to try it in the real world.

Clever space

Despite its compact dimensions — it’s just under 4.3m long, about the same as a Kia EV3 — there’s loads of space. The front seats go back and forth a long way, with even a 6’5” colleague able to slot themselves in behind the wheel. Impressively, my entirely average height frame could sit behind him in reasonable comfort.

That’s made possible by a rear seat that slides, splits, reclines and folds in myriad ways. The sliding mechanism allows one side or the other, or both, to move back and forth, extending either room for rear seat passengers or creating more boot space. The seat backs recline a little, or can be folded flat to leave a spacious cargo area. The seat base and back split, allowing you to carry a single rear passenger while carrying longer items in the back of the car — something that’s quite easy, too, as there’s no high lip to lift items over.

Power pack

Toyota is promising two motor and two battery pack options when the Urban Cruiser arrives in the UK. There’ll be a 49kWh version with a 144hp, but that will only be available with the entry-level Icon trim. Step up the range, and you get a 61kWh battery powering a 174hp motor. How does that affect range? Toyota won’t tell us yet, but expect around 250 miles from the larger battery pack.

While the e-Vitara will have a four-wheel drive option, thanks to a twin motor option, Toyota doesn’t think its customers are too bothered about that. Given the low sales of the 4×4 versions of the bZ4X, it’s probably right.

Recharging will be possible at up to 150kW on a suitable rapid charger, which means that a 10-80% charge should take roughly 20 minutes, but we’ll have to wait for Toyota’s official figures to be sure.

Toyota Urban Cruiser: Pricing and availability

Toyota is tight-lipped about pricing, but expect the range to start at around £32,000, with the top-spec Excel model giving you change from £40,000. Final pricing will be revealed in the spring.

Dealers will be open to take orders in the spring, with first customer deliveries expected in September.

Toyota Urban Cruiser: Verdict

We’ve only had a preview of the Urban Cruiser. To their credit, Toyota left us alone to poke, prod, pull and press everything we could, but wouldn’t give us the keys to drive this pre-production car.

That means I’ve got to stop short of reaching a definitive conclusion, but first impressions are that the car is as practical and sensible as anything on the market. What it doesn’t have is any degree of excitement, prioritising function over flair. It lacks the bright cab and eye-catching exterior design of the Kia EV3 or the tech-driven (and flawed) interior and premium edge of the Volvo EX30.

However, if Toyota gets punchy with pricing, then the Urban Cruiser could hold a place on many families’ shortlists.

Phil Huff has been writing for national newspapers, magazines, regional titles and countless websites since 2003. Specialising in travel and the automotive world, Phil is happiest when exploring foreign lands in foreign cars. Phil’s company, Huff Media, supplies automotive content for multiple titles and publishes CALIBRE, Professional Pickup, Professional Van, and, of course, Average Joes.

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