Toyota has released new images and preliminary information about the new Toyota Urban Cruiser, a forthcoming small electric SUV that reprises an old Toyota nameplate from the late noughties. The production version was unveiled at the recent Brussels Motor Show in January 2025, and is due to go on sale later in the same year.
It’s the second zero-emissions all-electric car in Toyota’s line-up after the bZ4X SUV, and sits alongside hybrid offerings such as the Corolla, C-HR, Prius and RAV4 in Toyota’s range of new cars.
Upon its release, the Urban Cruiser will go up against a number of small electric urban SUV rivals such as the Kia Niro Electric, Volvo EX30, Tesla Model Y, Vauxhall Mokka Electric, Renault Megane E-Tech and Lexus UX300e.
Here’s what we know so far…
2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser: Price, Specs and Release Date:
- 2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser: styling and dimensions
- 2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser: interior design and practicality
- 2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser: motors, batteries and dynamics
- 2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser: price and release date
2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser: styling and dimensions
Toyota describes the Urban Cruiser’s styling as having ‘urban tech-influenced design’ (the first of many buzzwords used, we suspect). The front-end treatment has what the company describes as a ‘hammerhead’ motif (see?!), with slim headlights either side of a blanked-out grille, a feature that will be deployed across a new generation of Toyota models moving forward.
Meanwhile, the rear end has bulbous-yet-angular quarters, and the horizontal light bar that now seems to be becoming obligatory on all new SUVs.
Toyota has stated that the new Urban Cruiser will be slightly larger than the Yaris Cross small SUV, itself based on the Yaris hatchback. In terms of precise dimensions, the car will be 4,285mm in length, 1,800 in width, and 1,640mm in height. The turning circle is given at 10.4 metres.
2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser: interior design and practicality
The other dimension that has been released is the wheelbase measurement (the distance between the front- and rear wheels) , which stands at 2,700mm. Toyota claims that this, coupled with a sliding rear seat arrangement, gives rear interior space comparable to that found in a D-segment (large family saloon) car. The boot space measures up to 306 litres, which is on the small side for this class of car, particularly given that measurement is when the sliding seats are in their most forward position. Slide them back (as many surely will), and the boot space becomes more limited.
The cabin design features a low-set horizontal 10.25-inch digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel, and a 10.1-inch central touchscreen infotainment display, both integrated into a single unit. Toyota says there’s also an elevated seating position, a feature that SUV buyers love. Things are made more stylish by 12-colour ambient lighting.
2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser: motors, batteries and dynamics
The car will be built on a strong and lightweight EV-specific platform known as the Heartect-e platform, which Toyota has developed alongside Daihatsu and Suzuki. It’ll also serve as the basis for the forthcoming Suzuki e Vitara.
Two lithium-ion phosphate battery pack options will be available, a 49kWH battery with an output of 142bhp driving the front wheels, while a 61kWh battery pack will be available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive formats (subject to market - the UK is unlikely to take the AWD model).
The FWD car has 172bhp, while the 4WD has an additional 64bhp motor on the rear axle, but the total power output is only slightly higher at 182bhp. Range figures are as yet confirmed, although you can expect the bigger battery model with FWD to achieve around 250 miles on the WLTP economy cycle.
The AWD car also comes with Downhill Assist Control (which we assume is the same as hill descent control), along with Snow and Trail modes for extra traction in slippery conditions.
2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser: price and release date
The Toyota Urban Cruiser will go on sale in the late summer of this year. Precise prices and specifications are yet to be announced, but we expect the Urban Cruiser to start from about £30,000.
We do know the car will come as standard with a suite of active driver assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, and a lane keeping system. Alloy wheels and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity will also be provided, while other features available will include 360-degree camera, a sunroof, an upgraded JBL sound system and powered driver’s seat adjustment.
