Toyota’s second electric car sees the return of a former nameplate – do you remember the original?
Toyota has revived one of its old nameplates for the second fully electric car it will bring to the UK next year.
Unlike Ford, which caused huge controversy earlier this year when it adopted the iconic Capri name for its latest electric SUV that barely resembles the legendary original from the seventies and eighties, the Japanese brand is unlikely to trigger too much upset with the move.
The new battery-powered compact SUV will see the reintroduction of the Urban Cruiser moniker – the short-lived MPV Toyota sold towards the end of the noughties.
The car maker is pinning big hopes on the new version, which will sit below its only battery-electric offering to date – the £42,860 bZ4X SUV – and will need it to play a key role in helping it adhere to the UK’s strict EV sales targets.
The new electric crossover will be available with two battery size options, though the longest range is likely to offer around 250 miles between charges.
Pricing has also been kept under wraps for now. However, based on its rivals, here’s how much we think it will cost…
The Urban Cruiser’s electric comeback: Toyota will relaunch the nameplate of its quirky noughties model next year – though it is a very different beast this time around
Toyota’s original Urban Cruiser was a quirky small family car that was only on sale in Britain between 2009 and 2012.
While it offered distinctive looks and the Japanese firm’s build quality, it has a small boot, underpowered engines and a disappointing three-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating.
The 2025 Urban Cruiser should be a completely different animal, especially as it has now shifted to an SUV-like body style as MPVs become increasingly uncommon – and unpopular – among drivers.
It will be underpinned by the same platform as Suzuki’s e-Vitara and built in the same factory in India.
Toyota’s original Urban Cruiser was a quirky small family car that was only on sale in Britain between 2009 and 2012
The 2025 Urban Cruiser (right) should be a completely different animal. It has now shifted to an SUV-like body style as MPVs become increasingly uncommon – and unpopular – among buyers
The two battery sizes available will be a 49kWh option linked to a 142bhp e-motor driving the front wheels, or a bigger 61kWh unit with a bigger electric motor making 172bhp.
The latter will also be available with the choice of four-wheel drive, adding a second e-motor to power the rear wheels, generating 191bhp.
It will be able to accept charging speeds up to 150kW, which makes it compatible with ultra-rapid devices in the UK.
The cabin features a 10.1-inch infotainment display and a larger 10.24-inch digital driver cluster.
The highest trim levels will get electric driver’s seat adjustment, a JBL premium stereo and a fixed sunroof.
The bigger battery option will also be available with the choice of four-wheel drive, adding a second e-motor to power the rear wheels, generating 191bhp
It will be able to accept charging speeds up to 150kW, which makes it compatible with ultra-rapid devices in the UK
Toyota says it will be positioned as slightly larger alternative to its hybrid Yaris Cross, which has so far proved very popular with UK drivers.
Given its size and features, Urban Cruiser’s biggest rivals will be Mini’s new Aceman, the Peugeot e-3008 and Volvo’s smallest EV, the EX40.
But you might have to wait some time to get your hands on one because it isn’t due until late in 2025, with prices set to start from around £35,000.
Toyota says it will be one of 15 zero emission vehicles it has in its range by 2026.
And the Japanese brand will need to up its EV availability in the UK if it is to meet binding sales targets.
The cabin features a 10.1-inch infotainment display and a larger 10.24-inch digital driver cluster
The highest trim levels will get electric driver’s seat adjustment, a JBL premium stereo and a fixed sunroof
One of the big criticisms of the original Urban Cruiser was its tiny boot. The new – electric -version should offer more in this department
Toyota currently has just one electric car in its line-up, the £42,860 bZ4X. As such, it – along with sister brand Lexus – is falling short of this year’s ZEV mandated requirement for share of EV sales
According to New Automotive’s Electric Car Count report for November, just 10% of Toyota (including Lexus) registrations in 2024 have been ZEVs – well short of the 22% mandate
How is Toyota performing against the ZEV mandate?
The hotly-debated Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate – introduced this year – will require 28 per cent of every major car firm’s sales to be electric next year as it increases annually.
With the bZ4X Toyota’s lone EV currently, it’s unsurprising to learn that it is already falling short of this year’s target of 22 per cent share.
According to New Automotive’s Electric Car Count report for November, just 10 per cent of Toyota (including Lexus) registrations in 2024 have been ZEVs, with a projection for 10.2 per cent when including December sales.
However, the Japanese giant – which is the world’s biggest car maker – is only on course to fall short of ZEV mandate credits of 947, thanks to its green hybrid sales and reductions in CO2 outputs across its range.
To put that into perspective, Volkswagen Group is set to require over 12,000 credits.
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