Toyota Urban Cruiser EV launch in India today: What to expect from Maruti e Vitara-based electric SUV?

Toyota Urban Cruiser EV (Image - Toyota UK)

• Toyota will today launch Urban Cruiser EV, its first mass-market electric SUV in India.
• Urban Cruiser EV shares specs and platform with Maruti Suzuki e Vitara.
• Expected starting price is around Rs 17 lakh, with two battery options offered.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor will launch its first battery electric vehicle for the Indian market, the Toyota Urban Cruiser EV, later today. This marks the company's official entry into the mass-market electric SUV space in India.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser EV is closely related to the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara and is essentially Toyota's version of Suzuki's first fully electric SUV.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser EV will be manufactured at Maruti Suzuki's Hansalpur plant in Gujarat, the same facility where the e Vitara is being produced. Under the skin, both electric SUVs are nearly identical, with the main differences limited to exterior styling elements. As a result, the specifications, powertrain and feature list are largely shared.

In terms of dimensions, the Toyota Urban Cruiser EV measures around 4,275-4,285mm in length, 1,800mm in width and 1,640mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,700mm. The electric SUV is built on the HEARTECT-e platform, which uses a flat-floor layout to improve cabin space. Toyota claims a turning radius of 5.2 metres. The platform also uses high-tensile steel and includes a dedicated structure to protect the battery pack.

Like the Maruti e Vitara, the Urban Cruiser EV will be offered with two lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery options -- 49kWh and 61kWh. Maruti Suzuki claims that the larger 61kWh battery delivers an ARAI-certified driving range of 543km on a single charge. We expect a similar range for the Urban Cruiser EV as well.

The electric motor is a permanent magnet synchronous unit. It produces 105.8kW with the 49kWh battery and 128kW with the 61kWh battery, while torque remains unchanged at 192.5Nm for both versions. The Urban Cruiser EV will feature multiple drive modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, as well as a Snow mode. Regenerative braking will be offered, enabling one-pedal driving in certain conditions.

In terms of design, the Toyota Urban Cruiser EV gets a slightly revised front-end compared to the e Vitara, as showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The LED headlamps have a different design, and the front bumper has been reworked to give it a distinct Toyota identity. The rear design remains mostly unchanged, featuring LED taillamps. The electric SUV will ride on 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the cabin layout is similar to the e Vitara. The interior uses black and dark grey upholstery with ambient lighting. The dashboard features a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Key features include a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, wireless phone charging, a JBL premium sound system, a 360-degree camera and an electric sunroof.

Rear-seat comfort is improved with a sliding rear seat, allowing passengers to adjust legroom. The rear bench also offers a 40:20:40 split-fold function along with seat recline.

On the safety front, the Toyota Urban Cruiser EV will get seven airbags as standard. Other safety features include Level 2 ADAS, disc brakes on all four wheels, an electronic parking brake, tyre pressure monitoring system and e-Call emergency assistance. The platform uses over 50% high-tensile steel and includes an energy-absorbing battery mounting structure.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser EV will compete with electric SUVs such as the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara, Mahindra BE 6, Hyundai Creta Electric, Tata Curvv.ev, MG ZS EV and VinFast VF6. The Toyota Urban Cruiser EV price in India is expected to start at around Rs 17 lakh (ex-showroom).