Toyota Urban Cruiser

The Toyota Urban Cruiser is a five-seat compact electric SUV offered in Malaysia as a single front-wheel-drive variant. Fully imported from India, it is priced at RM198,000 on-the-road without insurance in Peninsular Malaysia.

It uses a front-mounted electric motor producing 128 KW or 174 PS and 193 NM, paired with a 61.1-kWh battery offering up to 426 KM of WLTP range. Toyota provides a five-year unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty and an eight-year unlimited-mileage warranty for the battery, inverter and BEV ECU.

The black-and-brown dashboard combines a 10.25-inch digital instrument display with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen. Physical climate controls, soft-touch trim and customisable 12-colour ambient lighting provide a functional but modern cabin. 

The floating centre console houses a rotary shift-by-wire selector, electronic parking brake, drive-mode controls and wireless smartphone charger. Additional storage is provided beneath the raised console area.

The 10.25-inch TFT digital instrument display presents speed, remaining range, battery status and driver-assistance information. It is positioned beside the infotainment screen within an integrated display panel.

The seats combine synthetic leather and fabric upholstery. The driver receives eight-way powered adjustment, two-way lumbar support and heating, while the front passenger seat provides four-way manual adjustment and heating.

The rear seats feature manual adjustment, ten-step reclining and a versatile 40:20:40 split-folding arrangement.

Its 2,700-MM wheelbase provides useful passenger room despite the compact exterior. The rear seats can slide and recline, allowing owners to prioritise rear legroom or luggage capacity. 

The two-spoke synthetic-leather steering wheel includes controls for media, calls, voice recognition, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. Tilt-and-telescopic adjustment is standard. 

Cabin storage includes door pockets, a glovebox and compartments around and beneath the centre console. The sliding rear seats allow the available cargo area to be adjusted according to passenger requirements.

Cup holders are positioned around the front centre console, while the door pockets provide additional bottle storage for front and rear occupants.

Two USB charging ports are provided at the front and another two at the rear. The cabin also includes a front 12-volt accessory socket and a wireless smartphone charger. 

Brown soft-touch trim, synthetic leather and fabric upholstery create a more distinctive atmosphere than a conventional all-black cabin. The material selection remains practical, while ambient lighting adds visual interest at night. 

Luggage capacity reaches up to 306 litres, depending on the position of the sliding rear seats. The 40:20:40 folding arrangement allows longer items to be carried while retaining one or two rear passenger seats. 

The Urban Cruiser measures 4,285 MM long, 1,800 MM wide and 1,635 MM tall, with a 2,700-MM wheelbase. Kerb weight stands at 1,788 KG, while ground clearance is 180 MM and the turning radius is a compact 5.2 metres. 

The front adopts Toyota’s modern hammerhead-inspired appearance, combining a largely closed fascia, slim lighting elements and a wide lower intake. Pronounced wheel arches and black lower cladding provide a more rugged SUV stance. 

The upright rear features a roof spoiler, sculpted tailgate and full-width lighting treatment. Hidden rear-door handles and a floating-roof effect give the compact SUV a cleaner side and rear profile. 

LED headlamps are fitted with LED daytime-running lights and LED front turn signals. The Adaptive High Beam System automatically adjusts illumination according to surrounding traffic. 

Full-LED rear combination lamps extend across the tailgate to create a distinctive horizontal lighting signature. An LED high-mounted brake lamp is integrated beneath the roof spoiler. 

The body-coloured exterior mirrors are electrically adjustable, heated and power-folding. Integrated turn indicators and Blind Spot Monitor warnings provide additional assistance during lane changes. 

Ventilated disc brakes are fitted at both the front and rear. They work with ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, Brake Assist and regenerative braking. 

The Malaysian model rides on 18-inch aluminium wheels wrapped in 225/55 R18 tyres. Their aerodynamic two-tone design complements the Urban Cruiser’s compact and futuristic exterior. 

Active-safety equipment includes ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, Brake Assist, hill-start assistance, multiple-collision braking, Emergency Stop Signal and Brake Hold. 

Seven airbags are fitted, comprising front, front-side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags. ISOFIX and top-tether mounting points are provided for compatible child seats.

Selectable Eco, Normal and Sport modes alter acceleration response and energy usage. A separate Snow setting provides smoother power delivery when additional traction control is required. 

The 10.1-inch touchscreen supports wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and vehicle functions. Physical climate and volume controls reduce the need to operate every function through the display.

The assistance package includes Brake Support System, adaptive cruise control, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Prevention, Adaptive High Beam System, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

A 360-degree panoramic-view camera and front and rear parking sensors further assist when manoeuvring in confined areas.

A nine-speaker JBL premium audio system is standard, including dedicated tweeters and a subwoofer. 

A front-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous motor produces 128 KW or 174 PS and 193 NM. Its output is focused on efficient and predictable everyday performance. 

Power is delivered through a single-speed electric reduction drive with a shift-by-wire selector. Acceleration is smooth and uninterrupted by conventional gear changes. 

The Malaysian Urban Cruiser is available exclusively with front-wheel drive. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration offered in selected overseas markets is not sold locally. 

The Urban Cruiser accelerates from 0 to 100 KM/H in 8.7 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 150 KM/H. 

Its 61.1-kWh battery provides up to 426 KM of WLTP range. Charging supports up to 7 KW AC and approximately 67 KW DC, with a 15% to 80% DC charge taking around 50 minutes under suitable conditions. 

Convenience equipment includes smart entry and push-button start, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, wireless smartphone charging, front and rear digital video recorders and a panoramic roof with retractable sunshade. 

Dedicated rear centre-console air vents are not listed for the Malaysian specification. The single-zone automatic climate-control system therefore distributes air mainly through the dashboard vents. 

MacPherson-strut front suspension and a three-link rear arrangement are paired with relatively high-profile 225/55 R18 tyres. The setup should suit urban and everyday driving, although a full local road test is needed to assess comfort over rougher surfaces. 

The electric motor removes conventional engine vibration and combustion noise. Cabin refinement should be pleasant at lower speeds, although tyre and road noise may become more noticeable on coarse highway surfaces; this remains an assessment pending extended local testing.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser combines compact dimensions with a long wheelbase, flexible sliding rear seats and a useful 426-KM WLTP range. Its JBL audio system, panoramic roof, comprehensive assistance package and unlimited-mileage EV-component warranty also provide a strong equipment and ownership package.

However, its RM198,000 price, modest 67-KW DC charging capability, small 306-litre boot and lack of rear air vents make it difficult to justify against several larger and faster electric SUVs. The closely related Suzuki e VITARA is also priced RM10,000 lower in Malaysia.