Toyota Europe is broadening its battery-electric crossover lineup with the introduction of the B-segment Urban Cruiser, described as “an authentic SUV in both design and performance.” The new model rides on a dedicated BEV platform and will be offered with a choice of two battery packs.
The Japanese automaker, currently the world’s largest car manufacturer and its most valuable automotive company, is continuing to grow its Toyota-branded electric vehicle family as it targets key segments of the European electric SUV market.
Following the recent mid-cycle refresh of the compact bZ4X, the Urban Cruiser signals what’s coming next, previewing the arrival of the all-new Toyota C-HR+, bZ4X Touring, and Hilux BEVs scheduled for next year.
Unlike the bZ4X compact crossover, the coupe-style C-HR+, and the larger bZ4X Touring mid-size CUV, this new electric SUV was not developed alongside Subaru, which fields the related Solterra, Uncharted, and E-Outback. Instead, Toyota partnered with Suzuki, making the Urban Cruiser a close sibling to the newly introduced Suzuki e-Vitara.
That collaboration will come as no shock to longtime followers of the brand. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor has been sold since last year as a rebadged Suzuki Fronx, while the standard Urban Cruiser has effectively been a rebadged Suzuki Grand Vitara since 2022.
Before that, another Urban Cruiser variant was based on the Suzuki Vitara Brezza, sold starting in 2020. In Europe, the new model also traces its lineage back to the XP110 Urban Cruiser, which was marketed as a version of the second-generation Toyota Ist.
Turning to the new BEV itself, the all-electric Urban Cruiser is positioned as an alternative to the Yaris Cross Hybrid, intended “to give B-SUV customers a choice of zero and low emission powertrains, with options to best meet their mobility needs while also helping achieve meaningful reductions in CO2 emissions towards ultimate carbon neutrality.” The model will be offered in three configurations, with two different battery sizes available across the range.
The entry-level version features front-wheel drive and a 49 kWh battery. Buyers can also opt for front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive variants equipped with a larger 61 kWh battery.
WLTP combined driving range is rated at 344 km (214 miles) for the base FWD model, 426 km (265 miles) for the FWD version with the larger battery, and 395 km (245 miles) for the AWD model. Both battery packs use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, “which provides enhanced durability and cost advantages.”
Toyota has also equipped the Urban Cruiser with a thermal management system designed to maintain performance in both very cold and very hot conditions. The Toyota Battery Care Program guarantees at least 70% of the battery’s original capacity for up to 10 years or one million kilometers (over 621,000 miles).
When it comes to charging, DC fast charging from 10 to 80% takes around 45 minutes. Power output varies by configuration, with 144 hp for the 49 kWh FWD model, 174 hp for the 61 kWh FWD version, and 184 hp combined for the AWD variant.
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