One thing we have known about almost all models of car ranges over the decades is that growth is as inevitable as human beings doing the same after birth. And so it is with the Toyota Urban Cruiser.
What has changed?
This is much more than some tweaks here and there. The length is a significant 370 mm longer. Also stretched is the wheelbase (up 100 mm), taller and wider and perhaps the most important for that SUV/Crossover role, the ground clearance is up from 195 mm to 210 mm. The first impression as I walked up to the test units was that this car is too big. I was expecting something a bit more compact. It really is long.
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To the styling we now move. The front treatment is attractive. The headlamps are set low, while the LED strips provide high-mounted running lights that switch to amber when they double for the indicators. Very neat and highly visible. The airdam is also set low and large. At the rear things get somewhat disjointed. Lighting is split into a full-width bar at top and then small vertical elements that seem out of place. These house reversing lamps and indicators. Side profile shows a pleasant absence of oddly angle crease lines. Instead some muscular elements that could add some body rigidity are included.
Interior
Inside we go and the first impression is of quite decent quality of trim and fit. Neat and conventional instrumentation with a central touch screen and knobs and buttons where they are easily reached. Seating is quite comfy with cloth, a moveable armrest, quad airbags (on the higher-specced XR). Also added to the XR is cruise control. On all models, you do get climate control, electric windows and mirrors and a reversing camera. Wheels are large at 17-inch with steel rims on the Xs and alloys on XR.
Under the skin
Now to the whole object of motoring, to get from A to B. Here is where things get a touch murkier. The engine is the familiar 1,5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder. 77 kW and 138 N.m sounds fair but then you remember that this is no longer a compact vehicle like its predecessor. It is large and spacious with excellent rear-space room and a large boot so ideal for the whole family to go on holidays. Never mind that the title of the car includes the words urban and cruiser.
Driving
It was just as well that the launch was held in Cape Town as our air is known to be somewhat more potent than at the high altitudes of inland South Africa. We had little trouble stirring the five-speed manual transmission model along the Cape roads around Paarl and Franschhoek but when it came to the automatic, we only had four speeds to play with. What happens is that, at 100 to 120 km/h the gearbox has to continually hunt between third and fourth gears to maintain momentum. This does get annoying. Luckily, Toyota has added a neat, old-school button in the side of the gear lever. This cuts out the “overdrive” fourth ratio to stop the hunting. The problem remaining is that the engine revs are now rather high. With more passengers and luggage this may become a necessity. At altitude, all of this would be exaggerated.
So perhaps the car is, in fact better suited to its true title. That of an Urban Cruiser. But then, why so large?
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Toyota Urban Cruiser Fast Facts
Power: 77kW
Torque: 138 N.m
Top speed: 170 km/h
Wheel size: 17-inch
Fuel consumption: 6,1 L/100 km
Ground clearance: 210 mm
Price: R347 400 (XR manual)
Service plan: 4 year/60 000 service plan
The all-new Toyota Urban Cruiser is fresh to the local market but its predecessor is available at highly competitive prices as a used vehicle. Browse the CARmag listings section to find the best deal.
