Toyota Urban Cruiser

Our verdict

Toyota’s Scion-derived take on the mini-MPV formula, the Urban Cruiser looks good but, predictably, comes up a bit short in the driving stakes.

Comfort

Reasonable legspace in the front and rear, but the seats are appalling, too short of squab and lacking in support. We'll only see top-spec Urban Cruisers in the UK, so there's plenty of kit on board. But it comes at a price, which is, er, the price...

Performance

1.33-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel offer similar pace, but the diesel is the more relaxed drive thanks to a decent amount of low-end torque. Both engines are firmly in the ‘decidedly modest' performance category, though. 

Cool

The coolest thing to come out of Toyota in a while. Admittedly that's not much of a compliment, but it's a start, guys... 

Quality

Though the cabin is surprisingly dull, everything feels resolutely bolted together. There's a slightly flimsiness to the Cruiser's responses, though expect the mechanicals to be typically bulletproof. 

Handling

Despite the Urban Cruiser's tall, boxy profile, body roll is very well contained. However, neither engine allows you to get near to the limits of the chassis, and there's a slight disconnectedness between front and rear when you're trying to hustle along. 

Practicality

Rear seats can split, slide forward or fold flat, which means a decent flexible loadspace in the back. The high seating position allows good all-round visibility. 

Running costs

CO2 emissions from both the petrol and diesel engines are among the best in class, but opt for the two-wheel drive petrol version for better economy. Though it's well kitted, the Urban Cruiser's high list price might see it take a hit come resale time, though relative rarity should balance this out...