Gorgeous 2023 Urban Cruiser

The 2023 Toyota Urban Cruiser has rolled into town, offering an elegant, sleek and stylish option to the slightly more adventurous city dweller who might still want to go off-road on occasion.

My.Na Cars had the privilege to ride along with Pupkewitz Toyota’s knowledgeable sales consultant Horst Lito Hans, who shared insight into this latest addition to Toyota's offerings.

Our own Diana Master went along for the ride and was immediately intoxicated by that typical new car smell. When her head cleared, she noticed a myriad of thoughtful details which contribute to making the Urban Cruiser’s unique appeal particularly effective on motorists of the female persuasion.

The push-button start; the bigger, shinier upgraded display with the chrome trim and glossy touch; the sleeker design inside and out - it all plays a part to make the heart skip a beat.

As Hans pointed out, the display keeps the driver informed in real time of everything from drive-time on current fuel supply, torque output, kilowatts generated and even the time of day and direction thanks to the analogue watch display and the compass.

Better software allows the Urban Cruiser to interact with Apple and Android phones, while the vehicle interface is very familiar for anyone used to using a smartphone. Modern, user-friendly and with settings that are self-explanatory for ease of use, buttons on the smooth steering wheel allow the driver to adjust almost everything without ever needing to take their eyes off the road.



Bigger is better

The latest Urban Cruiser is also slightly longer, wider and higher, boasting ground clearance of 210mm, which according to Hans means that off-roading is always an option. This despite the fact that the cross-over is not a 4x4 but rather a versatile sedan, he said.

Fuel economy is not shabby at all at 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres, and thanks to its 45-litre tank, the Urban Cruiser has the legs to take you everywhere you want to go. The four-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine can kick out 77kw of power and the top speed on the clock is 175 km/h.

For safety, the XS model comes equipped with dual airbags, while the higher specification XR features curtain airbags as well, Hans said. Parking assist with rear camera display is also standard, along with ABS and vehicle stability control. Less confident stick-shift drivers will also appreciate the Urban Cruiser’s hill-start assist feature.

The 17-inch, 215mm wide tyres add to the useful ground clearance while the rims can be switched out for personal customisation of your new Urban Cruiser.

Convenience is exemplified by the ample storage offered in the 2023 model, including the deep glove compartment, mid-console storage and the extendable armrest for those long journeys. Also perfect for a family get-away is the enlarged boot space, now measuring 350 litres - some 45 litres bigger than in previous editions.

Another striking change has been made to the headlight design, which now features higher, slimmer indicators on top, along with park lights that change colour to act as LED day-time running lights when not informing other road users of an imminent change of direction. The headlights are now lower, reminiscent of fog lights, but produce strong beams for excellent night-time visibility. The windshield can be tinted with a ‘headshield’ design to minimise blinding from oncoming traffic or the sun when setting or rising at an unfortunate height.

Sleek, smart, elegant and with it glossy layout, Master described the Urban Cruiser as a "mini Fortuner".

Own your own for prices starting from N$329 000, which - according to Hans - for the 2023 model means you get more than what you pay for.