We’ve just had our first look at one of Toyota’s most interesting new models – the fully electric Urban Cruiser. Developed in collaboration with Suzuki (who call their version the e-Vitara), it’s a compact EV primarily aimed at urban driving.
We spent about 20 minutes behind the wheel of a fully equipped Executive model with all-wheel drive and the larger 61 kWh battery, so this is very much a first impression.
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Toyota Urban Cruiser: our tops&flops
This was our short first encounter with the Toyota Urban Cruiser – an honest, spacious and comfortable city car that will likely become the first EV for many Danes, especially those currently driving a petrol-powered Yaris Cross. It doesn’t do anything spectacular, but it does most things very well. The biggest weakness is the slow fast-charging (67 kW), and the price is at the higher end compared to its closest competitors.
In terms of size, however, it’s closer to cars like the Kia EV3 or Skoda Elroq, which are more expensive. We believe the Toyota badge, the generous interior space and the familiar build quality will make it a popular choice in Denmark.
We’re looking forward to testing the Suzuki e-Vitara – which is nearly identical – for a full week in 2026, so we can give a final verdict on where it really stands in the growing field of compact electric SUVs.
Prices in Scandinavia
It Charges Very Slowly!
Toyota claims up to 426 km (WLTP) with the large battery, 395 km with AWD, and 344 km with the smaller battery. Respectable numbers for the segment. Unfortunately, the maximum charging speed is just 67 kW DC and 11 kW AC – and that’s simply too low for a new EV launching in 2026.
Home charging solves most of this for daily use, but on long trips it becomes a real drawback when you have to wait nearly an hour to go from 10% to 80%. On the other hand, the Urban Cruiser clearly wins on space – especially in the rear seats – where it easily beats both the Jeep Avenger and Renault 4.
Plenty of Cabin Space
Inside, you’ll find a lot of hard plastics, but that’s expected at this price point. Thankfully, Toyota has kept physical buttons for the climate control and volume, which makes operation much safer while driving. The 10.25″ touchscreen is easy to navigate, and the buttons around the gear selector are large and logically placed. The top model includes a wireless charger and a panoramic roof, but both the JBL audio system and the 360° camera graphics disappoint.
The rear bench can slide forward and back, giving either 236 or 306 litres of boot space. Rear-seat room is very good for its class, with enough space for bigger kids. The towing capacity is 750 kg.
A Lively EV – If You Choose the AWD Version
The Toyota Urban Cruiser is available with 144 hp or 174 hp in its front-wheel-drive versions. Our test car, however, had 184 hp thanks to the AWD system – and that made it lively enough for most drivers.
0–100 km/h takes 7.4 seconds, and the experience reminded me of when I tested the fully electric Ford Puma GEN-e. What stood out most was how neatly and controlled it accelerated without spinning the tyres. That’s clearly due to the AWD setup – the story would likely be different with FWD.
It even gave me a bit of a GTi feeling… right until I turned the steering wheel. The steering is very numb and far from sporty – but that’s not surprising, as this isn’t what the car is built for.
In the city, it worked perfectly: easy to manoeuvre, good visibility thanks to the slightly elevated seating position, and the adaptive cruise control was straightforward to activate and kept up nicely with traffic. It was also surprisingly quiet on the motorway at 110 km/h.
