Toyota Urban Cruiser

The confusion is partly caused by marketing. Car manufacturers like to reuse popular names so that a new model is instantly known. Toyota already had an Urban Cruiser from 2009 to 2013 and it was easy to reuse that name. However, even at first sight it is clear that this Urban Cruiser is meant for much more than just city driving. Its tall build, large ground clearance, raised bumpers and tough looks give the Urban Cruiser anything but the look of a goody-goody city car.

The difference with the Suzuki e-Vitara is in the trim. The Suzuki looks much more rugged, while Toyota opts for modern elegance. In this way, thanks to minor modifications, the same car still appeals to very different target groups.

Space

The space in front is good, with easy entry followed by a high seating position. Thereby, the bonnet is clearly visible, giving the powerful feeling that comes with an SUV.

The rear seat is on rails, so that more legroom or more luggage space can be chosen depending on the situation. With the rear seats in the rearmost position, the legroom in the rear is sufficient for adults. Note that just before the launch of the e-Vitara, Suzuki developed an alternative rack with compartments (together 80 litres!) for under the  floor. This was not found in the Toyota. Also unfortunate, most of the tailgate is not lined. Although that is adequate for a Suzuki, one might expect more from Toyota.

The dashboard has the same angular and robust shapes as the exterior of the Urban Cruiser. Many panels are made of hard plastic, which again is not up to Toyota's standards. On the other hand: the whole thing feels sturdy and durable, as if this car will still be like new after many years of use. The cabin has many storage compartments, making the Urban Cruiser lend itself to long and intensive use.

The equipment is obviously provided by Suzuki, as the audio, communication and navigation system is not that of Toyota. Strangely enough, the voice of the sat nav is precisely the same voice that Toyota has been building into its navigation systems for decades. The infotainment system is complete and easy to operate, but sometimes responds just a little too slowly. The navigation system is also frequently late with instructions. The safety systems imposed by the European Union can be easily switched off.

The user can keep in touch with the car remotely using the Toyota app for the smartphone. However, this is limited to reading the status and pre-heating (or cooling) the car. The Urban Cruiser cannot be started using the app, so a key is still needed.

Electric car

The Urban Cruiser is available with two different batteries, with which the range varies from 344 km to 426 km. This is a so-called LFP battery, which is the most modern of the currently common types. LFP tolerates more charge and discharge cycles before wear and tear occurs, is less dependent on temperature and ignites less easily when damaged.

In addition to the choice between two batteries, Toyota offers a choice of three engine powers. If front-wheel drive is chosen, electric motors of 144 hp and 174 hp are available. There is also a variant with a second motor (not available in the UK). That provides all-wheel drive and a total power output of 184 hp. The 144 hp variant has been tried in the Suzuki e-Vitara and it is only enough to keep up with the flow of traffic. The 174 hp and 184 hp variants are hardly inferior to each other in practical terms. Invariably, the Urban Cruiser has a mild response to the accelerator, but if pressed, this electric Toyota can bite hard. Then the Urban Cruiser is not only quieter and smoother than a similar internal combustion engine car, but also faster and more economical.

Toyota is not exploiting all the benefits that electric driving offers. Releasing the throttle only recovers energy to a very limited extent. As engine braking is hardly possible, single-pedal driving is out of the question. Partly for this reason, test consumption is very high. During a test drive in unfavourable weather conditions and on a demanding course, consumption with the Urban Cruiser AWD came to 21 kWh per 100 km. The two-wheel-drive version was slightly more economical at 19 kWh per 100 km. This is very high for a car of this size and power. The low temperature also has an effect on the range, as it was 333 km for the AWD instead of the promised 395 km. Regardless of the temperature, the Urban Cruiser is no star at fast charging. It can do so with up to 67 kW, and that speed is disproportionate to the battery's capacity.

Driving behaviour

The platform on which the Toyota Urban Cruiser and the Suzuki e-Vitara sit was developed jointly by Toyota and Suzuki. Suzuki took care of the entire build. Toyota took care of fine-tuning the chassis. Both cars are meant for off-road and on-road use, and so the handling is a compromise between the two.

On public roads, the Urban Cruiser has a solid chassis, so little is noticeable of the weight of the battery. This also makes for an extremely confident ride. Overview is good and driving noise is limited.

For off-road use, the Urban Cruiser has plenty of ground clearance and long suspension travel. Therefore, the car has no trouble with rough surfaces, substantial potholes and serious inclines. Thanks to the electric drive, maximum tractive power is available from low revs. That power can also be metered very precisely, making off-roading easy with the Urban Cruiser. The all-wheel-drive version (again: not in the UK) also has a special "trail"mode and with it the anti-slip control provides extra grip off-road.

Conclusion

An extensive test drive in the city and off-road put an end to the confusion. The Toyota Urban Cruiser and Suzuki e-Vitara are technically identical, only the appearance differs. Therefore, it is impossible that one car is meant for the off-road and the other for the city. The only possible explanation is that the Urban Cruiser and e-Vitara feel at home anywhere, and the test drive shows that this is indeed the case.

As compared to other compact, electric-powered SUVs, the Urban Cruiser, like the e-Vitara, has a conservative character. And that has everything to do with its Japanese origins. Japanese car manufacturers do not pioneer or market half-products that gradually mature with software updates. Moreover, Japanese manufacturers do not want to alienate themselves from customers, which is why they innovate in small steps.

The Urban Cruiser is not about technology, but usability and reliability. Many people therefore feel right at home in this electric car. The driving characteristics are geared towards safety and convenience. In short: the Toyota Urban Cruiser feels at home in the city and beyond.