First impressions: The new Toyota Urban Cruiser is a small electric SUV set to take on the Volvo EX30

This is the new Toyota Urban Cruiser, and it’s the brand’s second fully-electric model after the bZ4X was launched a few years ago. It’s a small SUV which has been designed in tandem with Suzuki, and as a result it’s pretty much the same under the skin as the new e-Vitara.

The Urban Cruiser has a totally different face to the Suzuki, with similar C-shaped headlights to the C-HR and Prius. The rest of the car is pretty much identical to the e-Vitara though, with the boxy silhouette and angular rear light bar being shared between the two cars.

There’s even less to differentiate them inside, because they share the exact same cabin layout. It’s a pretty logical interior layout which is easy to use, and you get physical switches for the climate control which are far easier to use than the touchscreen-based system you get in the Volvo EX30.

It’s not the most exciting place to sit though, mostly thanks to all the dark trim inside. You do get a panoramic glass roof to let some extra light in, but it’s still pretty gloomy compared to a Kia EV3’s interior. Still, at least quality is decent throughout and everything feels nice and solid.

As for interior space, there’s loads of adjustment in the driver’s seat and the steering wheel to get comfortable, and the driving position is pretty spot on. Once you’ve settled in there’s also plenty of storage for emptying your pockets. The door bins are a good size, the glovebox is decent and there’s a large area under the centre armrest as well.

All cars get a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it’s quite easy to use. The menus are all logically laid out and the graphics are clear and crisp, however it’s not quite as slick as the system you get in a Renault Megane E-Tech.

Moving into the rear seats and the Urban Cruiser is pretty roomy for a car of this size. There’s certainly more space back there than you’ll find in an EX30. Headroom is decent, and there’s enough legroom for taller adults. The chairs slide and recline as well so you can really relax on long journeys.

Those sliding seats can also be used to expand the boot. While Toyota hasn’t given the exact size, it looks to be about on-par with the Volvo EX30’s luggage area – meaning it’s not massive. Sliding the rear seats all the way forward helps a lot though, and there’s no awkward load lip to lift heavy items over.

The Urban Cruiser will be offered with two different battery sizes and three motor options. The most powerful car is the dual-motor version with 184hp, but there are also two front-wheel drive models with either 144hp or 174hp. Toyota is also remaining tight-lipped on range for the time being, but expect around 250 miles on a charge if the Suzuki e-Vitara is anything to go by.

We’ve not been able to drive the new Urban Cruiser yet, so you’ll have to wait until we get behind the wheel to get our full verdict. From what we’ve seen so far though, it appears to be a reasonably practical small electric car, if not all that exciting.

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