Of the three electric vehicles launched by UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) today, the Toyota Urban Cruiser would be the most unfamiliar to Malaysians. The UC is a a compact electric SUV twin of the Suzuki eVitara. Toyota and Suzuki have what looks like a healthy, mutually beneficial relationship where they swap models whenever needed – the UC is from S to T.
How small is the Urban Cruiser, you ask. At 4,285 mm long and 1,800 mm wide, the ‘Sophisticated Versatile Cruiser’ is around the size of a Mazda CX-3 (4,275 mm, 1,765 mm), but the Toyota is obviously much taller, by 105 mm to be exact.
This means that the UC – which is built on a dedicated EV platform – has a smaller footprint than typical B-segment ICE SUVs like the Proton X50 and Honda HR-V, but it counters with a long 2,700 mm wheelbase, which is C-segment-like (turning circle is still a tight 5.2m, though).
To add to the relatively long WB, the rear seats are slidable and split-fold 40:20:40 – these are unique in the segment. Rear headroom is a bit tight, though. For an EV SUV size context, the BYD Atto 2 is 4,310 mm long, 1,830 mm wide and 1,675 tall, with a 2,620 mm wheelbase.
Design highlights include Toyota’s ‘hammerhead’ face as seen on the latest Prius and Camry, pronounced wheelarches, hidden rear door handles (HR-V-style), a ‘floating’ roof and full width rear LED lights with the Toyota logo beneath it. The lights are all LEDs and the SUV rides on 18-inch two-tone alloys with 225/55 MRF tyres.
We’re getting the UC with a single front motor with 174 PS (128 kW) and 193 Nm of torque, drawing power from a 61.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate 120-cell battery. The LFP unit is supplied by BYD, but made in India. Combined WLTP range is 426 km and max charging rates are 7 kW AC and 67 kW DC – the latter can get you from 15-80% SoC in 50 minutes. Performance wise, the 0-100 km/h sprint is despatched in 8.7 seconds.
Elsewhere, there’s a lower powered FWD variant with a smaller 49 kWh battery (0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds, 344 km WLTP range) as well as a 184 PS/300 Nm dual-motor AWD version with the same 61 kWh battery (0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds, 395 km WLTP range), so ours provides the best balance between performance and range.
The UC’s black-brown cabin has the compulsory twin screens (10.25-inch meter, 10.1-inch infotainment) but manages to look unique next to a raft of Chinese cars employing the ‘Mercedes-style’. Below the centre screen is a row of physical air con controls and a volume knob – good stuff in an EV.
Standard equipment include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a JBL audio system, wireless charger, ambient lighting (12 colours, seven levels), sunroof (manual shade) and upholstery that combines perforated synthetic leather, breathable melange jersey and brown synthetic leather. No power boot, by the way.
Safety wise, the UC comes with the full ADAS pack and seven airbags. To ease parking, there’s a 360-degree camera system with bird’s eye, 3D and eye-level views. Four colour options are available – Pearl Arctic White, Land Breeze Green, Grandeur Grey and Pearl Bluish Black.
The Urban Cruiser – a CBU import from India, where it’s built alongside the Suzuki eVitara – might be a small EV, but its RRP is on the heftier side at RM198,000 on-the-road without insurance. Still, that makes it the cheapest of the three Toyota EVs launched today. There’s another compact electric crossover in Malaysia in the same price bracket, and it’s the CKD Volvo EX30, priced from RM208,888 to RM228,888.
Like its Toyota EV siblings, the Urban Cruiser gets a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, in addition to an eight-year unlimited mileage warranty for the EV bits, which includes the battery, inverter and ECU. One can purchase a two-year extension for the EV warranty within one year from the date of registration, making it 10 years in total. This extra peace of mind will cost you RM5,700.
So, what do you think of the Toyota Urban Cruiser EV’s looks and price-package?
GALLERY: Toyota Urban Cruiser Malaysian launch
GALLERY: Toyota Urban Cruiser Malaysian brochure
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something really wrong with the brain of a buyer who choose this over a byd sea lion
or the Zeekr 7X … marketing team goes to the same school as perodua’s QEV guys
thumbs down – pay RM 198k for one emas7 EV and one emas5 EV.
thumbs up – pay RM198k for this toyota.
umw toyota sime darby doing everything but launching the rav4 here. a joke.
I thought now less than 250hp not less than 250k,
RM250k minimum price for CBU EVs expanded to new models from existing brands right ?
This really is confusing need PT team to explan why umw still can price cbu lower than 250k
it is confusing because the rules are not applied equally . some are entitled while others are not. same logic like if I driver bang C biker driver will get death sentence, but if it was the other way around
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A 51-year-old trailer driver in Malaysia caused public outrage after flashing a “V” (victory/peace) sign to reporters while being brought to a remand hearing on November 14, 2024, following a fatal accident that killed a 21-year-old woman.Key Details of the Incident:The Accident: The incident occurred on November 13, 2024, in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, when the container from the driver’s lorry detached, crushing a car and killing 21-year-old Lee Zi Rou.
The mafia group set this price range is it?
I can accept Toyota with older/lower tech for higher price for the “Toyota Build Quality”. But this a Suzuki with Toyota Badge and price. NO THANK YOU!! (Same goes for latest VIOS which is essentially a Daihatsu)
It’s soo funny seeing the Dongfeng Vigo ad right beneath the first Toyota picture. I’d rather choose the Vigo at a vastly cheaper price than that Suzuki rebadge
This Toyota BEV will be selling at 10x times better than Honda selling it’s electric SUV.
India price range Rs11 lakhs to 20 lakhs. Myr is around 47K to 87k. But they want sell at RM198k. You must be crazy to buy this.
The Chinese have won the EV race in Malaysia.
So essentially, if Toyota/ Daihatsu wanted to help Perodua with an EV, they could have. Would have been a tad more complicated to iron out, but at least it would be from known, trusted an reliable brands….
Oh dear Perodua, you’ve been had. Again.
This is a cheap/ budget/ economy car all over the world, why so expensive here?
they r targeting retarded T20 here