Zip along with Toyota's Urban Cruiser

1.571573-4107531323 — The tall body affords a driving position that's higher than regular hatchbacks. Image Credit: Supplied

Cruiser isn't a new name for a Toyota. In fact, you could argue that the brand's most iconic model is the Land Cruiser, a 4x4 that's been doing the business for over 50 years and has cemented its place in the history books by being as tough as old boots. But with the ‘Land' tag swapped for ‘Urban', it's fair to assume that this new car's strengths lie on the beaten track.

Toyota has taken the smart step of boiling down all of the Land Cruiser's most desirable traits — tough looks, high driving position and space — and wrapping them up in a package that's better suited to city life, which is, of course, exactly where most cars of this ilk spend their time.

First impressions confirm that Toyota has got their measurements right too. At 3.9 metres long it's bigger than a Yaris but smaller than the Auris so it's certainly small enough to work its way into small traffic gaps and parking spaces. Where it gains the space however is through the shape, because although it's no taller than the Yaris, the near-vertical tailgate means plenty of headroom front and rear, giving passengers more space.

The tape measure tells no lies either, as once on board its hard not to be impressed by the space on offer. It won't fool you into thinking you're behind the wheel of a Land Cruiser of course, but maximising your footprint makes a strong case for itself here. You get the higher driving position that is one of the big draws of a regular SUV, putting it above conventional hatchbacks for a useful bit of extra vision.

However, the Urban Cruiser has a flip side to its personality. It has the looks, the presence, and even the four-wheel drive that you get with a regular SUV, but what is quite unlike its rivals is the fact that the 1.3-litre petrol version comes with Stop-Start technology as standard, emits a scant 129 grams per kilometre of C02 and can trundle along at 51mpg. It may be compact, but a 1.3-litre unit doesn't sound like much of an engine to haul around a car that wears an SUV tag. For a start, it may be a modest size, but this petrol unit is peppy and keen to get on with it. A square 100bhp and the equivalent in torque propelling a fairly lightweight 1,100kg means that the Urban Cruiser is well-equipped to keep up with the swim. The six-speed manual has relatively short ratios, but that means respectable acceleration in every gear — it never feels underpowered or like you have to crawl everywhere in order to achieve decent economy.

In fact, the Urban Cruiser does a fine job of living up to its moniker. In the usual Toyota way, all the controls operate with an oiled smoothness that requires very little effort on the part of the driver. You can hear the engine working away in front of you, but it never causes a disturbance — especially when the Stop-Start system chips in.

The standard specification is also worth a mention. All models get 16in alloy wheels, Bluetooth, automatic air conditioning, privacy glass and keyless entry. It's a car with a great deal in its favour — strong economy, good equipment, space and practicality.

Specs & Rating