Toyota launches its second ever EV SUV and claims it's a 'fully authentic' entry level vehicle

The Toyota EV SUV lineup is finally expanding, and the new Urban Cruiser aims to prove that going electric doesn’t mean the carmaker has lots its unique DNA.

After years of hybrids and cautious electrification, the brand is finally leaning harder into battery power.

This time, it’s aiming squarely at the entry-level SUV crowd.

Europe will be first in line to see what Toyota believes is a truly ‘authentic’ electric offering.

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Toyota’s second EV SUV will be a lot more practical

The Urban Cruiser EV marks Toyota’s second fully electric SUV, following the bZ4X, and it plays a very different role in the lineup.

The bZ4X arrived as a bold, tech-forward statement, and even has a special cameo in the recent Superman movie.

In contrast, the Urban Cruiser is meant to feel like a familiar and practical option.

Think compact proportions, city-friendly dimensions, and just enough SUV attitude to handle everyday life.

This new Toyota EV is designed to feel more like a ‘real Toyota’, rather than an experimental car.

The carmaker will offer the Urban Cruiser with two lithium-iron-phosphate battery options: a 49 kWh pack and a 61kWh pack.

The former powers the front-wheel-drive model and delivers up to 214 miles of range, while the latter boosts range to about 265 miles in front-wheel-drive form.

If you opt for the all-wheel-drive version with the same 61 kWh pack, Toyota estimates a still respectable up to about 245 miles between charges.

All versions include efficient thermal management and Toyota’s Battery Care Program, which helps maintain at least 70 percent of original capacity over a long service life.

Visually, the Urban Cruiser EV leans into modern crossover styling with squared-off lines, a confident stance, and a clean, no-nonsense look.

It’s aimed at urban drivers who want the higher seating position and versatility of an SUV, without the bulk or cost of a larger electric model.

Inside, the focus is expected to be on usability rather than flash, with intuitive controls, solid build quality, and the kind of reliability Toyota has built its reputation on.

The European launch also makes strategic sense.

Compact SUVs are hugely popular across the continent, and stricter emissions regulations continue to push buyers toward electric options, although the EU recently backtracked on their biggest

By positioning the Urban Cruiser EV as an entry-level model, Toyota is targeting drivers who may be new to EVs but still want a trusted brand behind the badge.

Toyota’s focus has been on hybrids so far

Toyota’s EV journey so far has been deliberately conservative.

While rivals rushed headfirst into full electrification, Toyota doubled down on hybrids, arguing they were a more practical global solution.

That strategy paid off in sales, but it also meant the brand was slower to roll out full EVs.

The bZ4X signaled Toyota’s intent to change course, and their new EV SUV reinforces that shift with a more accessible, mass-market approach.

Toyota also recently teased its groundbreaking ‘holy grail’ EV feature, which is expected to debut somewhere between 2027 and 2028.

While Toyota may not have been the first to dive into EVs, it’s clear that the Japanese carmaker intends to be an important player still.

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