The Urban Cruiser is the newest vehicle from the Toyota-Suzuki alliance.
These brands partnered in 2019 to produce a selection of vehicles together, with the first being the Toyota Starlet and Suzuki Baleno hatchbacks.
The Urban Cruiser, as the second release, is a compact crossover that slots in as the entry-level small SUV for Toyota.
It has a high roofline, short overhangs, plastic skirtings, and decent ground clearance – making it a good choice for an adventurer on a budget.
Features
The Urban Cruiser is at the front of the pack when it comes to comfort features in its price range.
Inside the cabin of the range-topping Xr model, you will find a touchscreen infotainment system, one-touch electric windows, a leather multifunction steering wheel, and automatic air conditioning.
The Toyota Display Audio infotainment screen fits in the middle of the dash and provides Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, Bluetooth connectivity, and a reverse camera.
Honeycomb-patterned fabric seats were fitted across the range; as well as USB ports, 12V plugs, and a multi-information display in the instrument cluster that shows data from the trip computer.
Toyota Connect is enabled as standard, too, and provides in-car Wi-Fi (with 15GB data for free upon registration), a digital logbook, a driver rating, and roadside assistance.
Safety was kept in high regard during development of the Urban Cruiser.
Driver and passenger airbags were fitted to every model, and they all have rear park distance control and smart entry.
Smart entry will allow you to get into the car without having to take the keys out of your pocket, and, once inside, you can easily get going with the push of a button.
Additionally, cruise control, an alarm and immobiliser, ABS, and electronic brake force distribution will keep the Toyota safe in most situations.
On the outside, LEDs were fitted to every light cluster on the Urban Cruiser, the headlights switch on and off automatically, and the side mirrors can be electronically adjusted via buttons inside the cabin.
Dynamics
The range-topping Urban Cruiser Xr is fitted with a two-tone roof and silver roof rails, and stands on 16-inch alloy wheels.
It can fit up to five passengers, although I would not recommend squeezing three adults in the back, and the rear bench can fold down using a 60:40 split.
It is quite a small “SUV”, however, coming in at 1,640mm high, 3,995mm long, and 1,790mm wide – with a kerb weight of 1,140kg.
Despite its size, it can fit up to 328 litres of luggage in the rear and tow up to 1,100kg (braked).
Power is then delivered via a 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 77kW and 138Nm of torque.
In this specification, it is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, has a claimed combined fuel consumption of 6.2l/100km, and provides a top speed of 170km/h.
Price
The Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.5 Xr AT is the range-topping model, and sells for R315,700.
Included in the price is a 3-services/45,000km service plan, and a 3-year/100,000km warranty.
When buying this crossover, customers will have a choice between a two-tone or single colour roof, as well as six exterior colour options.
Toyota Urban Cruiser – Photos
Keyword: Top-end Toyota Urban Cruiser for R315,000 – Many features, little power