Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.3 Dual VVT-i 2WD | Road Test Review

“Toyota’s new Urban Cruiser
goes with the flow: street smart
and compact on the outside,
it’s spacious on the inside, easy
on the fuel and enjoyable to
drive. So show it some respect...”

WITH AN ATTRACTIVE STARTING PRICE of Ł14,500, the Toyota Urban Cruiser — which goes on sale in the UK from May (2009) — is, on the one hand, a five-door hatchback and on the other a tall, SUV/4WD style car. With its compact length of 3.93 metres it offers minimum dimensions but maximum space. And, in addition to the chunky modern 'wide-stance' styling, the Urban Cruiser offers more power with low emissions and impressive fuel economy — courtesy of Toyota's Optimal Drive technology.

Toyota has designed the Urban Cruiser for customers who are dissatisfied with conventional hatchbacks and want a vehicle that better expresses their individuality. The target customers are singles and couples in their 30s and 40s, particularly those with active lifestyles. In reality, the fact that this roomy, five-door vehicle offers SUV styling without the associated high-CO2 tax levels will appeal to both young and old, whether they are urban or rural users.

The Urban Cruiser will be offered in the UK with just one high level of specification but two engine options. The main selling model will be the Ł14,500 1.3-litre Dual VVT-i petrol unit with Stop & Start function and CO2 emissions of 129g/km, which is available only with front-wheel drive and which is expected to take 90% of sales. The alternative is the 1.4-litre D-4D turbodiesel unit with 130g/km, giving it the lowest CO2 emissions of any current four-wheel drive car using an internal combustion engine. This model comes only with AWD and will cost Ł16,400. Whichever powerplant you choose, you'll pay the same road tax: Ł120 a year.

Toyota's new 1.3-litre petrol engine operates at a remarkably high 11.5:1 compression ratio to generate 100bhp at 6,000rpm along with maximum torque of 97lb ft at 3,800rpm. The official combined fuel consumption is 51.4mpg. My recent test drive in Portugal resulted in a figure of 41.3mpg — still pretty good given the seriously hilly terrain.

The 1.3-litre engine revs freely and likes to be pushed along, but feels a bit peaky. Driving at lower speeds in urban areas calls for full use of the manual gearbox and out in the countryside hills do take their toll. The Stop & Start system works well enough and it has become commonplace these days: if you like it, use it. If not you can switch it off.

So far as the diesel unit goes, Toyota has comprehensively revised the 1.4-litre D-4D common rail diesel engine. Note that this is available in the Urban Cruiser in the UK but exclusively with all-wheel drive. The 1.4 uses the latest piezo-electric injector technology and is equipped as standard with a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

“Overall I found it fun,
very enjoyable — and I’m
not really in Toyota’s
target age group...”

The diesel unit generates 89bhp at 3,800rpm and 151lb ft of torque between 1,800 and 2,800rpm. The combined cycle fuel economy is 57.7mpg and CO2 emissions are 130g/km — the lowest, as mentioned earlier, for any AWD passenger car. In real life my test car returned 44.3mpg, which was excellent given it is driving all four wheels at times.

To be honest I preferred this unit, in particular because, being a diesel, it was more responsive at lower speeds. But I do appreciate that because it only comes with four-wheel drive, the extra price takes the edge off this purchase. The handling was also marginally better as the diesel unit is heavier. The drift of variable power from the front to rear axles, depending on demand, was seamless.

Both engines use a new six-speed manual transmission, which also benefits from the application of Toyota's excellent Optimal Drive technology.

The Urban Cruiser is user-friendly and really well equipped. The rear seats are split 60:40 and tilt or double fold so versatility is good — the load area capacity ranges from 314 to 749 litres. All models are fitted as standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, a vehicle stability and traction control system, Bluetooth connection, air conditioning, keyless entry, push-button starter, electrically-operated windows and door mirrors, a six-speaker sound system, leather trimmed steering wheel and rear privacy glass. There are, of course, additional cost option packs but even in standard spec the Urban Cruiser is a good and different modern motoring package.

About my only complant was that the petrol engine needs to be worked hard on hills. Other than that the Urban Cruiser has a lot going for it including compact, chunky looks and the fact that it is really well equipped. Overall I found it fun, very enjoyable — and I'm not really in Toyota's target age group. But I saw the potential for some cost-effective motoring and that counts for a lot at any age! — David Miles

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