Toyota Urban Cruiser

Versatile small electric SUV brings a 249-mile official range On sale Autumn Price from £36,000 (est)

- DARREN MOSS

LIKE RECENT INSTALMENTS of Jurassic Park, Matlock and Star Wars, the new Toyota Urban Cruiser is a reboot of something that's come before. But while the previous Urban Cruiser SUV was rather underwhelming at launch, its electric successor could be a box office hit.

Based on the Urban SUV concept revealed last October, the new car is closely related to the upcoming Suzuki e Vitara; they share underpinnings, batteries and electric motors.

Key rivals will be as numerous as screens in a multiplex cinema; the Urban Cruiser will compete with the Hyundai Kona Electric, Jeep Avenger and Smart #1, as well as the upcoming Ford Puma Gen-E (see p22).

The Urban Cruiser is similar in style to the existing hybrid-powered Toyota Yaris Cross SUV, with likenesses including black body cladding around the lower regions in an effort to give the car a ruffy-tufty personality. Indeed, the Urban Cruiser is intended as a fully electric alternative to the Yaris Cross. There will be two-tone paint options (allowing the roof to contrast with the rest of the car) and alloy wheels with diameters of up to 19in.