Toyota’s first mass-market electric SUV for India, the Toyota Urban Cruiser EV, is edging closer to showrooms. Born from the Toyota-Suzuki alliance, the compact crossover will share its bones with Maruti’s eVX yet wear distinct Toyota styling. Below is everything confirmed or strongly indicated so far, from launch window to battery tech, with no fluff and no tech-bro jargon.
When Is It Arriving?
Toyota has locked in local production at Suzuki Motor Gujarat for spring 2025, with public unveil expected during the April-June quarter and retail sales starting just before the festive season in October-November 2025. Major test mules are already running near Bengaluru, and dealer training is slated for late August 2025, so the timeline looks realistic.
How Much Will It Cost?
Early dealer guidance pegs the ex-showroom sticker between ₹18 lakh and ₹25 lakh, positioning it slightly above the Maruti eVX but below imported rivals such as the BYD Atto 3. Expect two trims tied to battery size: a value-focused 49 kWh pack around ₹18-20 lakh and a long-range 61 kWh pack nudging ₹23-25 lakh. Toyota could also add a tech-rich “GR-Sport” look pack later if demand mirrors the Hyryder’s pattern.
Platform, Battery & Range
Like its sibling, the Urban Cruiser EV rides on the heavily localised 27PL skateboard architecture, giving engineers a flat floor and low center of gravity. Two lithium-ion battery choices are confirmed: 49 kWh (FWD only) and 61 kWh (FWD or optional AWD)
- 49 kWh: 142 hp, 189 Nm, real-world range target ~350 km
- 61 kWh FWD: 172 hp, 189 Nm, range target ~450 km
- 61 kWh AWD: 181 hp, 300 Nm, range target ~500 km
Toyota’s internal papers list a DC fast-charge peak of 150 kW, translating to 10-80 percent in about 30 minutes, and standard 11 kW AC home charging.
Performance Snapshot
Official 0-100 km/h data is still under wraps, but bench simulations put the FWD long-range variant at 8.8 seconds, brisk for a city-size SUV. Top speed is software-capped at 160 km/h to protect range. Engineers also tout a tight 5.2-metre turning radius—handy in congested Indian metros.
Dimensions & Exterior Design
Toyota’s Urban SUV concept already previewed the sheet-metal, and the production car sticks close: 4,300 mm long, 1,820 mm wide, 1,620 mm high, wheelbase 2,700 mm. Signature C-shaped DRLs, a blanked-off gloss-black grille, squared-off arches and flush rear door handles give it a more rugged vibe than the cleaner-surfaced eVX. Dual-tone paint with a contrasting roof will be standard on the top trim.
Cabin Tech and Comfort
Inside, a twin-screen cockpit dominates—a 10.25-inch digital cluster blends into a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
Other highlights include:
- Rotary drive-mode dial and electronic shift-by-wire
- Panoramic sunroof with UV-cut glass
- 64-colour ambient lighting
- Two-zone climate control with heat-pump efficiency
- Ventilated front seats plus reclining split rear bench
Boot space is a claimed 430 litres with all seats up, aided by no transmission tunnel.
Safety Suite
Toyota packs six airbags, ABS-EBD, ESC and TPMS as standard. The top variant layers Level-2 ADAS comprising adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist and auto emergency braking, plus a 360-degree camera with low-speed transparent-bonnet view for tricky parking spots.
Charging Ecosystem
Each car ships with a 7.4 kW wall-box, and Toyota will extend its existing dealer DC fast-charge network to 150 outlets across 40 cities by launch. A single mobile app shows charger availability, pay-per-use rates and allows route planning with live SOC predictions. Toyota is also negotiating roaming across Tata Power and ChargeZone to ease highway travel.
Rivals in the Ring
When the Urban Cruiser EV lands, key opponents will be:
- Hyundai Creta EV (due mid-2025, similar battery sizes)
- Tata Curvv EV (already showcased with 450 km range)
- MG ZS EV facelift (now 50.3 kWh, 461 km ARAI)
Toyota’s trump card is expected durability and competitive warranty—rumoured 8-year/1,60,000 km coverage on the high-voltage battery versus 1,25,000 km for most rivals.
Why It Matters for Toyota
The brand sells hybrids but no BEV in India today. The Suzuki-sourced platform lets Toyota enter the EV race quickly and cheaply, while Gujarat production qualifies for state incentive slabs. The car is also one of several global BEVs Toyota must ship before 2026 to hit its EV rollout target.
Bottom Line for Buyers
If Toyota sticks to its price-to-range promise, the Urban Cruiser EV could be the first electric SUV to blend Japanese reliability with sub-₹25 lakh affordability. Keep an eye on booking windows opening post-Auto Expo 2025; early allocations may vanish fast, judging by the Hyryder hybrid’s wait times. In short, this compact EV is shaping up as a practical, future-proof upgrade for Indian families ready to ditch petrol without losing SUV versatility.