Toyota Urban Cruiser EV: With India increasingly looking to electric mobility, Toyota is chiming in with a prospective Urban Cruiser EV – a compact electric SUV built for city streets but ready to take on much more than the daily commute.
Developed in partnership with Maruti Suzuki, the EV combines Toyota’s worldwide EV plans with the Indian public’s trust and practicality associated with the Urban Cruiser badge.
Positioned as a safe, family-oriented electric SUV, the Urban Cruiser EV is expected to take on rivals such as Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV and the upcoming Hyundai Creta EV.
But does it really have enough to differentiate itself in the fast-growing category? Let’s break it down.
Aesthetic: Sleek and Modern
The Urban Cruiser EV by Toyota looks familiar and futuristic. It takes some styling cues from the current Urban Cruiser Hyryder, but adds electric-specific touches: a sealed front grille, aerodynamic alloy wheels, and blue EV accents which discreetly reference its zero-emission status.
The front fascia looks sharp and contemporary, with those LED headlamps, DRLs and sculpted bumper, and the tail has wraparound LED tail lamps and a light bar connecting them.
As a result, it’s not flashy, yet has the aura of quiet sophistication when you watch it underneath a street lamp, and doesn’t feel touristy or easy to rip off.
Not too aggressive or bulky, it’s ideal for dense city streets. However, with its slightly elevated position and squared-off wheel arches, it still maintains that coveted SUV impression.
Interior: No Fan? No Problem:initComponents: Plain, Sharp, and Fully-Loaded
Open the doors and the Urban Cruiser EV has a smart, clean design. The dash is clean and free of clutter, dominated by a floating 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Its controls are stripped back, with buttons kept to a minimum and there’s a touch-based climate control panel under that.
Count on all the modern creature comforts:
Android Auto & Apple CarPlay Wireless
EV-focused cockpit design with easy reach tyre monitoring, range and eco data display on the digital instrument cluster
360-degree camera
Panoramic sunroof (top trims)
Wireless charger
Rear AC vents
Connected car tech (Toyota i-Connect)
The cabin is finished in a dual-tone soft-touch materials that adds an upscale touch. Space-wise, it’s perfect for five, with decent legroom in the back and enough boot space for the daily or weekend long run.
Performance: Quiet and Effortless Power Delivery
The Urban Cruiser EV will be driven by a 40-45 kWh battery pack and promises a driving range of about 450 km per charge (IDC cycle).
The single electric motor is expected to produce of about 140 bhp – enough for swift highway cruising, but with the ability to remain serene in city traffic.
Acceleration is immediate, as is typical with most EVs, and the ride promises to be smooth and quiet.
Some form of regenerative braking will probably be available with different levels of adjustment, affording drivers the chance to dial in how much energy they want to recoup.
In terms of charging, fast charging (up to 80 kW DC charging) can recharge the battery from 20–80 percent in less than an hour, while regular AC home charging will see you plugging in for the night.
Safety: Constructed for Urban Peace of Mind
Toyota isn’t skimping on safety. The Urban Cruiser EV will get:
6 airbags (top trims)
StabiliTrak, stability control system with Proactive Roll Avoidance and traction control, includes electronic trailer sway control and hill start assist ESC help or ESC not available when on FWD or 2WD mode.)
Hill-start assist
ISOFIX child seat anchors
Rear parking sensors & camera
ABS with EBD
Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) +/-++ .
With Toyota’s emphasis on safety worldwide, this EV should feel safe on a highway or in heavy city traffic.
Pros:
Clean and modern design
Spacious, comfortable cabin
Smooth power, electric, and decent range111 Smooth electric power performance and good range111
High on features and connectivity
Rapid Recharge, home charging ease
Cons:
No all-wheel-drive option
Not everyone will be a fan of conservative design
{“Name”:”Toyota Cheetah”,”brand”:”Toyota”,”price”:null,”Sens”:”Extratec161″,”haveRange”:false} Box could be valued as a premium because of Toyota seen on a roller’:”Toyota” And again as a standalone car: “Toyota Cheetah”
Not as sporty as EVs with performance astride MG ZS EV
Toyota Urban Cruiser EV: Verdict: Practical, Premium and Purpose-Built
The Toyota Urban Cruiser EV isn’t a vehicle that’s going to turn the electric vehicle space on its head with out-there styling angles, or neck-snapping acceleration.
Instead, it zeroes in on what most Indian buyers truly seek — reliability, efficiency, comfort and peace of mind. And in that sense, it bulls-eyes the target.
It’s the perfect EV for city-dwelling families with an eye on making the switch to electric without giving up practicality or brand cachet.
With a rational set of features, matured drive and Toyota’s after-sales insurance, the Urban Cruiser EV may turn out to be a strong challenger in India’s electric SUV battle.