Toyota Urban Cruiser

Design & Quality

Cabin is another key area where Toyota has done a great rework in the update. You get inside, and within a moment, you notice the elevation of the experience. As one might think, given the price point, the materials aren’t luxury-grade, but they feel durable and well put together, something we always admire Toyota for. In KSA, dust and heat are always a challenge, and I liked that the dashboard surfaces wipe clean easily. The facelift adds a bigger touchscreen, and the new ambient lighting actually makes night drives more pleasant. The seats are comfortable, with decent cushioning, and after a two-hour highway drive, I didn’t feel tired. The build quality feels reassuring; notably, the absence of squeaks or rattles over bumps is certainly a big positive. For families, this matters because you don’t want the cabin to age poorly.

Front Seat

The driver’s seat has power adjustments, which I really appreciated, a big convenience at this price point. You can find your ideal driving position quickly, whether you like sitting high for visibility or lower for comfort. The ventilated function is an advantage, especially in KSA summers. And the view out the front is commanding enough to make you feel you’re in an SUV, not just a hatchback on stilts. I think this is one big pull for buyers to shift from predominantly sedans to SUVs. The steering wheel has all the controls you need, and the quality of the leather wrap is nice to hold. Undoubtedly, a great place to be in, comfortable and in command. 

Electronic Parking Brake

A rather standard feature, but one that makes a big difference in everyday driving. The electronic parking brake with auto-hold means you don’t have to keep your foot on the brake in stop-and-go traffic. On slopes, it holds the car in place without rolling back. Simple, but effective.

Rear Seat

The rear bench is comfortable for two adults or three if you’re squeezing, not for a long drive, though. Considering this is a compact SUV, the legroom is decent, and the flat floor helps middle passengers. Two of my colleagues sat in the back, and they were comfortable for a one-hour drive; for three, this won’t be the case. Rear AC vents are a welcome addition, keeping the cabin cool even in peak heat. There are also USB ports, which everyone loves to charge their phones with. Toyota is also known as a big segment of buyers are families, and so the upholstery resists stains, so kids spilling juice won’t cause panic.

AC Vents

The dual-zone climate control is powerful and quick to cool, and the rear vents are strong enough that back passengers don’t complain, something in our tests, clearly shown, how quickly the cabin becomes chill. I tried voice commands to adjust the temperature, and it actually worked well, and is a great convenience for your daily drives. 

Storage Options

In the cabin, there are the usual storage spaces, including a glovebox that is of a decent size and comes with a light, making it practical for storing essential items. The deep door bins for bottles, a central armrest with space inside, and a useful under-floor section in the boot.

Armrest

Both front and rear armrests add comfort. The rear one with cup holders is a nice touch for passengers on longer drives.

Charging Options

To keep everyone's devices charged and ready for any eventuality, when running out of power, there is a USB-A, USB-C, and a wireless charging pad in higher trims.

Boot Space

Not the biggest in the segment, but the boot size 328 litres is decent for a car of this size, mostly serving well for everyday needs. And also expandable to 60:40 split seats. Then you get tie-downs and a retractable cover to ensure the cargo is organised, a convenience after shopping or an adventure trip.

• 6 airbags

• Anti-lock Braking System with EBD

• Electronic Stability Control, Hill Hold Control

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• TPMS
• ISOFIX
• Smart brake support

The Urban Cruiser is one compact SUV that achieves the hard distinction of being modern and upmarket. The latest facelift makes it a lot more evolved in appearance, starting with the sharper LED headlights and a diamond-pattern grille, which achieves the goal of being far more premium in design.

With a length of 4,365 mm and a width just under 1.8 meters, it remains compact yet carries an imposing road presence. The ground clearance of 210 is ideal to flawlessly clear speed bumps and sandy patches commonly encountered on our roads. To enhance the fuel efficiency and better drag, the side profile has been smartly curved with aerodynamic lines. To summarise the exterior, it has that blend of styling with everyday usability, which qualifies the Urban Cruiser as both practical and visually appealing in the compact SUV segment

Front

Looking from the front, you quickly conclude that in the 2025 updates, Toyota has put some real thought into making it appealing to Middle Eastern buyers. The grille has those neat chrome strips, and when the LED headlights switch on at night, they give off a bright light to feel a class above. The fog lamps are functional, too. I liked the curved hood; it gives some personality, and when you sit inside, you can actually see those lines from the driver’s seat, which makes it feel more SUV-like. The daytime running lights are shiny and useful for highway drives. Also, a minor but key detail is that the hood insulation keeps the engine note low, which helps the cabin become a lot quieter.

Side

The side profile prominently indicates the Urban Cruiser SUV design language. The flowing lines, interestingly, don’t make it look boxy, and the 17-inch alloy wheels fill the arches rather perfectly. Roof rails on top aren’t just for looks; you can actually mount a small box or bikes, which families here will appreciate from a practical point of view. Getting in and out is easy because of the perfect height. Toyota has provided some chrome around the windows and mirrors, which serves the purpose of being an above-budget SUV feel. Like me, most of the buyers will like how the sculpted door panels catch the light in the evenings. On highways, the long wheelbase really does translate into stability, and when a crosswind tried to unsettle the car, it held steady.

Alloy Wheels

Not everyone would agree, but I think the 17-inch alloys are spot on. They’re the perfect size, not oversized to the point of compromising comfort, but they still make the Urban Cruiser appear sharp. And the 215/60R17 tires are good for grip on KSA asphalt and can handle some sandy stretches. After driving on a slightly rough track outside the city, the tires impressed with their balanced grip and comfort. While they are nice, the tires don’t look flashy, but rather give a decent look. And the silver finish seems durable enough for dusty climates.

Rear

From the back, the Urban Cruiser seems to get a clean look and not many design elements to make it clutter. The LED taillights stretch nicely, giving it a modern edge. The spoiler adds a sporty touch without looking overdone. There’s a skid plate at the bottom of the bumper, useful if you take it on gravel. The rear camera is nicely integrated, and I found the wide-angle especially handy in tight parking lots.

Colors

Toyota is offering the Urban Cruiser in White, Black, Silver, Red, Blue, and Grey. In KSA, White is always a popular choice, but I thought the Blue looked striking under the sun. Grey is practical too, hiding dust better.

City Performance

The Urban Cruiser is a perfectly city or town SUV, and most of the buyers will be using it in these conditions. The 1.5L engine makes 101 hp and 135 Nm, which may sound modest, but it does the job well, as Toyota engines are known. Paired with a 4-speed automatic, the focus is on smoothness rather than only performance, and in stop-and-go traffic, it feels relaxed and easy to manage. Its compact size is a big plus for U-turns, parking, and weaving through narrow lanes stress-free, while the light steering adds to convenience at low speeds. Where it appeals the most is the mileage, which depends on driving conditions but can go over 15 km/l, which is quite attractive for a daily commute. The braking is easy to deal with, while the suspension, though slightly firm, ensures stability across bumps and potholes. With features like a rear camera and parking sensors, daily city driving becomes effortless, comfortable, and light on the pocket. 

Highway Performance

Out on the highway, the Urban Cruiser feels more capable than one might think before actually driving it. Not the race car, but I pushed it to its limit, touching 170 km/h, and it wasn’t shaky or unsettled but stayed composed. Overtaking does require some planning when the car is fully loaded, but the Eco and Power modes are a great help in these circumstances, which adjust between efficiency and responsiveness as needed. The high-speed stability boosts confidence, even when crosswinds or natural forces are against it. The cabin is quiet at cruising speeds, allowing conversations and music without disturbance, noteworthy. You also get cruise control, a great feature for highway drives, taking off the stress, cutting down fatigue, and making extended trips feel more effortless. Much of the modern car. 

Ride and Handling

Like most of Toyota’s cars we are familiar with, reliability and everyday usability are quite the focus of the Urban Cruiser, and it does the job well. You are in for a smooth and calm ride, with suspension tuned to handle everyday conditions confidently. Be it city potholes, speed bumps, and uneven patches, it absorbs effortlessly, while gravel roads don’t unsettle it much, though sharper bumps can feel a bit firm. But you will love the steering calibration, light and effortless in the city for easy agile manoeuvring, and it firms up on highways, improving stability during lane changes and curves. And so, this balance makes it equally comfortable in traffic or at higher speeds, something most of you will do often. On light off-road trails, the 210 mm ground clearance proves useful, keeping the underbody safe from scrapes, and the car manages sand patches reasonably well, enhancing its durability and versatility.

• 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

• Analogue instrument cluster with 4.2-inch TFT display

• 17-inch alloys

• Dual-zone AC

• 6-speaker audio
• Keyless entry
• Panoramic Sunroof

• Cruise control
• Rear camera
• Hill-start assist
• Roof rails 
• Wireless Charging Pad

• Power windows

Right now the Urban Cruiser is available in two variants; however, Toyota is working on the third one, which is an EV. 

GL

This base variant starts at SAR 82,915, and in terms of features, you get the basics, including LED lights, touchscreen, ABS, and airbags. So, this is ideal for anyone who wants a Toyota SUV for its inherent advantage of reliability without spending too much.

GLX 

With some extra premium, starting at SAR 92,115, this variant fetches you extra features like cruise control, rear vents, and ambient lighting. And, this appears to be a better deal, with the right price, a luxury ownership experience.

Upcoming EV 

Toyota plans an AWD EV with a 61 kWh battery and 400 km range. If priced right, it could be a game-changer for eco-conscious buyers.

Sayarabay Recommendation: Our recommendation without a doubt is the GLX at SAR 92,115 is the smart pick. It balances price, features, and practicality. The efficiency of 15.7 km/L, combined with enough comfort and tech, makes it great for daily commutes and family use.

After spending time with the 2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser, we admire what Toyota has done with this newly facelifted version. You’re truly offered a great choice in the segment, a value-for-money proposition. impressed by how much it delivers for the money. There are a lot, like compact, stylish, efficient, and practical, something buyers of this segment prefer. It can handle city driving with ease, feels stable on highways, and has just enough toughness for light off-road use.

At this price, it undercuts its top rivals while offering Toyota’s reputation for dependability. It’s not the most powerful SUV out there for sure, but for families or young buyers looking for a balance of value and quality, the Urban Cruiser makes a strong case.

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