Toyota Urban Cruiser Review 2026: A Mixed Bag of Electric Driving
Toyota's second electric car, the Urban Cruiser, is a small crossover that's essentially a rebadged Suzuki eVitara. While it shares the same platform, motors, batteries, and interior design, the Urban Cruiser looks different with Toyota's 'hammerhead' front end. The car comes in two flavors: a 144bhp motor with a 49kWh battery for 214 miles of range, and a 174bhp motor with a 61kWh battery for 265 miles. Both are front-wheel drive, with an all-wheel drive version on the cards.
The Urban Cruiser is easy to drive, with responsive throttle and brakes, and it sits comfortably on the motorway. However, it's sluggish in its natural environment up to 30mph, and the ride is unforgiving on 19-inch wheels. The interior is drab, with a slow and poorly designed touchscreen, and the car is laughably inefficient.
The Urban Cruiser doesn't qualify for the Electric Car Grant, so Toyota has had to offer a £1,500 discount, bringing the starting price to £28,495. Upgrading to the bigger battery adds another £4,500, putting it in the same ballpark as more talented electric cars like the Kia EV3, Volvo EX30, and Renault Megane E-Tech Electric.
Despite its flaws, the Urban Cruiser is a straightforward electric crossover that's easy to drive, making it a good choice for those transitioning from internal combustion to electric vehicles. However, it's not Toyota's finest hour, as it fails to live up to the company's strong efficiency USP.
