Toyota’s second electric car recovers its old model. Do you remember the original?

Toyota has revived one of its old nameplates for the second all-electric car it will bring to the UK next year.

Unlike Ford, which caused a huge controversy earlier this year when it adopted the iconic Capri name for its latest electric SUV that barely resembles the legendary original from the 1970s and 1980s, the Japanese brand is unlikely to cause much upset. with the measure.

The new battery-powered compact SUV will see the reintroduction of the Urban Cruiser moniker – the short-lived Toyota minivan sold in the late 2000s.

The carmaker has high hopes for the new version, which will sit below its only battery-electric offering to date, the £42,860 bZ4X SUV, and will need it to play a key role in helping it meet tight sales. UK electric vehicles. goals.

The new electric crossover will be available with two battery size options, although the longest range is likely to offer around 250 miles between charges.

Pricing has also been kept under wraps for now. However, according to its rivals, here’s what we think it will cost…

Toyota’s original Urban Cruiser was a quirky small family car that was only on sale in Britain between 2009 and 2012.

While it offered distinctive looks and the Japanese firm’s build quality, it has a small boot, underpowered engines and a disappointing three-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating.

The 2025 Urban Cruiser should be a completely different animal, especially since it has now switched to an SUV-like body style as minivans become less and less common (and unpopular) among drivers.

It will be underpinned by the same platform as Suzuki’s e-Vitara and built in the same factory in India.

The two battery sizes available will be a 49 kWh option linked to a 142 HP electric motor driving the front wheels, or a larger 61 kWh unit with a larger electric motor generating 172 HP.

The latter will also be available with the four-wheel drive option, adding a second electric motor to drive the rear wheels, generating 191 HP.

It will be able to accept charging speeds of up to 150kW, making it compatible with ultra-fast devices in the UK.

The cabin features a 10.1-inch infotainment screen and a larger 10.24-inch digital driver’s cluster.

Higher trim levels will have power driver’s seat adjustment, a JBL premium stereo, and a fixed sunroof.

Toyota says it will be positioned as a slightly larger alternative to its Yaris Cross hybrid, which has so far proven very popular with UK drivers.

Given its size and features, the Urban Cruiser’s biggest rivals will be Mini’s new Aceman, the Peugeot e-3008 and Volvo’s smallest electric vehicle, the EX40.

But you may have to wait a while to get one because it won’t be available until late 2025, and prices will start at around £35,000.

Toyota says it will be one of 15 zero-emission vehicles it will have in its range by 2026.

And the Japanese brand will need to increase its EV availability in the UK if it is to meet its binding sales targets.

How is Toyota performing on the ZEV mandate?

The much-debated Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, introduced this year, will require 28 percent of all major car companies’ sales to be electric next year, as it increases annually.

Given that the bZ4X is Toyota’s only electric vehicle currently, it’s no surprise to learn that it’s already falling short of this year’s target of 22 percent share.

According to New Automotive’s Electric Car Count report from November, only 10 percent of Toyota (including Lexus) registrations in 2024 have been ZEVs, with a projection of 10.2 percent if December sales are included.

However, the Japanese giant, which is the world’s largest carmaker, is on track to miss the 947 credits of the ZEV mandate, thanks to its sales of green hybrids and reductions in CO2 emissions across its range.

To put this into perspective, the Volkswagen Group will need more than 12,000 credits.