Toyota just introduced a new compact electric SUV and dug into the past for inspiration. The new Urban Cruiser EV borrows its name for a car that first came along in the early 2000s and is based on the company's Urban SUV Concept unveiled last year.

Anyway, the new Urban Cruiser is the Toyota-badged twin of the recently unveiled Suzuki e-Vitara, and it’s here to try and nab some sales from cars like the Kia EV3, the Volvo EX30, the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Skoda Elroq, the Peugeot e-2008 (and its Stellantis siblings) and the new Ford Puma Gen-E. Plenty of competition, then.

The next stage of Toyota ’s ambitious EV strategy has been revealed in the form of a small SUV that has popular models such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and Volvo EX30 in its sights.

As with the Suzuki twin, the Toyota Urban Cruiser rides on an EV-dedicated architecture and will be available with three power outputs and two lithium-iron phosphate battery optio