Toyota has taken a brave step by introducing the new Urban Cruiser in to the marketplace, writes Bob Hickman.

I say brave, but it has actually combined its experience in building off-road rugged vehicles together with the comfort and versatility of its hatchbacks, and topped it all by bringing in extremely useful fuel economy and CO2 emission systems.

The new Urban Cruiser’s dimensions are compact and urban friendly, according to Toyota, but the vehicle benefits from state-of-the-art Toyota packaging which enables a stunning amount of economics to be incorporated.

This is a vehicle designed for the new lifestyle that we all hope to achieve.

Toyota has successfully harnessed a 4×4 off-road look in a vehicle which is no longer anti-green but very, very ecologically sound, with low emissions and good miles per gallon – it should be a success.

It has rugged good looks, too. It’s a small vehicle but inside there’s plenty of room for five passengers, as well as a decent size boot.

The rear seats are useful in that they slide, recline or fold flat, which enables a huge amount of luggage to be carried and makes the vehicle more useful.

The Urban Cruiser is a boxy, squared-off shape, almost the design that children at kindergarten would create, but surprisingly, it has a relatively low drag factor.

The CO2 figure of 129/km means it is going to be a low-tax-threshold vehicle and it should comfortably achieve 50mpg.

All in all, it’s extremely well equipped. In fact, there are few in the way of extra’s unless satellite navigation and leather upholstery is what ticks your box.

Standard equipment includes driver, passenger and side airbags and an auto stop-start system, which for once does work.

You come to a stop, the engine switches off, then the moment you do something in the way of getting ready to move, be it a foot on the clutch or accelerator, the engine reverts back to life and away you go – you wouldn’t actually be aware that the engine had switched off.

Alloy wheels are included, so is a good CD player, and I’m glad to note that the controls for the audio system are contained within the steering wheel.

Toyota has equipped the cruiser with a 1.3 litre engine which produces 100bhp, sufficient to give 0-60mph in marginally over 12 seconds and a top speed of 109mph whilst claiming 51.4mpg on the urban cycle.

The performance was sufficient to give it a pleasant, if unexciting, driving experience without any real problems.

There is a further option of a diesel Urban Cruiser and this has the attraction of a permanent four-wheel-drive system, but does come at a premium price of £16,400.

The two-wheel-drive 1.3 litre petrol version, which I had the opportunity to test, cerries a hefty price tag  for a small vehicle at £14,500, but I assume that Toyota know what they are doing with their pricing structure.

Without a doubt, the new Urban Cruiser looks a mean machine – it has style in abundance and for a small vehicle, it could well be yet another new niche market that is going to be developed.

By Bob Hickman