11:09am Friday 5th March 2010
By Steve Nelson
THE so-called crossover breed of cars continues to shake up the market, tempting drivers out of their hatchbacks and into something a little more funky and rugged.
There are several very good examples from the Far East – Nissan’s Qashqaii, the Kia Soul and Suzuki SX4 spring to mind.
Toyota’s entry into the fray is the Urban Cruiser – note the attempt in that name to appeal to younger city-dwelling drivers – and with its chunky looks, high waistband and even higher stance, it certainly looks the part.
But beyond that exterior is a car that is a pleasure to drive and will have the biggest appeal to Mr and Mrs Sensible.
The ease of access into the cabin, elevated driving position, wealth of storage areas and simple, straightforward layout of the dashboard are not going to excite, but they are features that many mature drivers look for.
Honda soon found that out with its Jazz supermini, and Ford, too, with the Fusion.
The Urban Cruiser offers a wealth of features as standard, too. All models includes Bluetooth connectivity, automatic air-conditioning, keyless entry and engine start, a six-speaker audio system with MP3 connectivity.
And for those looking to customise, then leather seats and satellite navigation are available, alongside Style, Urban and Tech customisation packs.
Using the Yaris platform and proven 1.3-litre petrol engine, the car makes smooth progress and feels quite nippy in city streets.
Away from the urban environment, the car never feels like it is struggling to cope, and its compact dimensions help to ensure that body roll is minimal, but don’t expect to shoot up to 70mph. That wouldn’t be so sensible for a car also aiming to impress with its fuel economy figure.
Helped by light steering and gear changes, it is certainly one of the easiest cars to live with that I have tested in recent memory, and Toyota’s precise six-speed manual transmission is a big plus-point here.
Thanks to the Stop & Start system, the EU urban fuel economy figure is 42.8mpg (51.4mpg combined).
The system unobtrusively switches off the engine when the car is stationary and restarts it when the driver engages the clutch before selecting a gear to move off. Toyota claims that the Urban Cruiser’s permanently engaged starter motor is a first, providing the benefits of quiet operation and rapid restarting.
The 1.4-litre diesel engine in the all-wheel drive version musters 89bhp, with 151lb ft of torque between 1,800 and 2,800rpm, making it easier to drive in everyday traffic than the petrol unit. It comes with the same smooth, six-speed manual transmission as the petrol version, and has identical top speed and 0-62mph time.
Its official economy figures are 48.7mpg urban and 57.6mpg combined.
The Urban Cruiser’s interior is very much as expected – hardly inspiring, but well-made and likely to give good service for a long, long time.
Storage areas abound and the elevated driving position that has become so popular will also score highly with those looking for a package that does not make demands on them.
This is not a cheap car, coming in its one well-equipped trim level, and the price tags of £14,500 for the front-drive petrol offering, and £16,400 for the 4WD diesel will deter some buyers.
Those that make the stretch to the petrol-engined, front-wheel drive version will enjoy a relaxing drive in stressful city environments.
Price: £14,520.
Engine: 1.33-litre. four-cylinder petrol with Stop & Start technology.
Transmission: Six-speed manual driving front wheels.
Performance: 0 to62mph in 12.5 seconds; top speed 109 mph.
Economy: 51.4mpg combined.
CO2 Rating: 129 g/km
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