Available in two-wheel or all-wheel-drive, the five-door Toyota Urban Cruiser sports utility vehicle has plenty of appeal. It boasts good looks, great economy and a price tag that is quite reassuring too. And the spec list cannot fail to impress even the fussiest of motorists.

The good

Lots of car for the outlay

The bad

It doesn't really stand out in a crowd

Tech Specs

Price from

£16,245

Combined Fuel up to

57.6mpg

0-62 from

12.5 seconds

max speed up to

109mph

co2 from

129g/km

Test Drive

Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.33 2WD Manual

For anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle but doesn’t want to spend all their hard-earned cash on a car the Toyota Urban Cruiser is the perfect solution.

Priced at a little more than £16k this five-door chunky vehicle with very distinctive lines boasts plenty of rugged features but with all the charm, finesse and creature comforts we have come to expect these days.

Admittedly, it’s not the fastest vehicle on our roads today and it won’t leave that many boy racers standing at the lights, but it does have plenty of appeal both inside and out.

The front end has a somewhat menacing look to it that suggests the Urban Cruiser means business and these features are further enhanced by tinted windows and a beefy, sculpted rear with neat light clusters.

But inside there is definitely a softer side to the Urban Cruiser too.

It boasts push button stop/start technology, automatic climate control with pollen filter, leather steering wheel, dual glove box, an excellent sound system with CD player and MP3 compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, sat nav for £950 extra and bags more besides.

There is ample room for five adults to travel in comfort and the high sides mean the cabin has a very light, airy and spacious feel to it, even for those back seat passengers.

Throughout the vehicle are plenty of useful storage spaces and the generously-sized boot can easily accommodate luggage for those who simply cannot pack on the lighter side.

And if required, the rear seats can easily be folded flat to open up even more carrying capabilities.

The Urban Cruiser is excellent for driving in busy city centre traffic with the driver benefiting from very good all-round visibility which makes parking a complete breeze. Then out on the more open road, I found the 1.33-litre engine took a little time to build up steam – especially with heavier loads on board – but it easily maintained a steady pace as it moved through the tightly grouped six speed transmission.

Safety features are very comprehensive and include anti-lock brakes, brake assist system, traction control, vehicle stability control, numerous airbags offering protection to all occupants, energy-absorbing crumple zones front and rear, active front headrests and a list that seems to go on and on.

All in all, the Urban Cruiser is a very comfortable, economic vehicle with plenty of versatility on offer too. It would fit in perfectly to the active family’s demands.

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