The current automotive market has gradually become dominated by new energy vehicles, where domestic Chinese brands have shown exceptional performance, especially BYD Automobiles, which has emerged as an industry benchmark, leaving overseas brands increasingly behind – including the traditionally proud Toyota. To avoid falling too far behind, Toyota recently launched a new product - the Toyota Urban Cruiser, a small pure electric SUV positioned to directly compete with the BYD ATTO 3 (known as Yuan PLUS in China). So how capable is this new vehicle?
The Toyota Urban Cruiser's appearance reminds us of a "familiar face" – doesn't it look similar to the Suzuki e Vitara we analyzed last month? Well, that's correct, as the Toyota Urban Cruiser and Suzuki e Vitara are sister models, and Toyota made no attempt to hide this fact, simply changing the badge and putting it to use.
Although the Toyota Urban Cruiser and Suzuki e Vitara share identical body outlines, their front designs differ, with variations in the grille, headlights, and lower bumper. Personally, I find Suzuki's design more appealing, while Toyota's appears somewhat plain. Additionally, Toyota removed the fog lights that were present on the Suzuki e Vitara – it seems counterintuitive to remove features when adopting the design.
The side profile is notably elongated, with the two-tone body design catching the eye. In terms of details, the Toyota Urban Cruiser features stylish large multi-spoke wheels and concealed rear door handles. Combined with the blackened roof and A/B pillars, the overall design maintains a contemporary appeal.
The rear design is nearly identical to the Suzuki e Vitara, featuring a rounded, full design with through-type taillights that illuminate only at the sides. Even so, these look better than many Toyota taillights. The rear also features a large matte black trim, giving the vehicle a strong crossover sporty appearance.
Inside, the Toyota Urban Cruiser adopts the popular dual-screen design with a flat-bottom two-spoke steering wheel, maintaining a decent level of sophistication. However, it retains numerous physical buttons for convenient blind operation, enhancing practicality.
The main screen's display colors and UI remain rather basic, falling short compared to current NEV products. The features are also limited, lacking even basic "high-tech" functions (which are standard in China) – how can it compete with the BYD ATTO 3 this way?
Regarding power, the Toyota Urban Cruiser will offer both single-motor front-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive versions. The single-motor comes in two variants: a lower-output version with 144 horsepower and a higher-output version with 174 horsepower. The dual-motor version delivers 184 horsepower and includes an off-road mode that can control wheel slip through electronic braking.
For batteries, the Toyota Urban Cruiser will be equipped with either 49 kWh or 61 kWh battery packs. The range is currently unknown, though overseas products typically have lower range figures. If introduced to the Chinese market, the Urban Cruiser's range would likely be increased accordingly.
Final Thoughts
As this article reveals, the Toyota Urban Cruiser is essentially a rebranded Suzuki e Vitara with minor exterior differences but largely identical features. We thought Toyota was finally making a serious push in the electric vehicle market, but it seems they're taking the easy way out. How can the Toyota Urban Cruiser compete with the BYD ATTO 3? More importantly, BYD's brand ambassador in Japan is a local cultural icon, which further increases Toyota's challenge in competing with BYD. What do you think?
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