CRUISER isn’t a new name for a Toyota. In fact you could argue that the brand’s most iconic model is the Land Cruiser, a 4x4 that’s been doing the business for over 50 years and cemented its place in the history books by being as tough as old boots.

So with the “Land’ tag swapped for “Urban’, it’s fair to assume that this particular car’s strengths lie on the beaten track.

Toyota has taken the smart step of boiling down all the Land Cruiser’s most desirable traits - tough looks, high driving position and space - and wrapping them up in a package that’s better suited to the city life, which is, of course, exactly where most cars of this ilk spend most of their time.

First impressions confirm that Toyota has got their measurements right too. At 3.9 meters long, it’s bigger than a Yaris but smaller than the Auris, so it’s certainly small enough to work its way into small traffic gaps and parking spaces. Where it gains the space however is through the shape, because although it’s no taller than the Yaris, the near-vertical tailgate means plenty of headroom front and rear, as passengers sitting upright have more space.

The tape measure tells no lies either, as once on board its hard not to be impressed by the space on offer. It won’t fool you into thinking you’re behind the wheel of a Land Cruiser of course, but maximising your footprint makes a strong case for itself here. You get the higher driving position that is one of the big draws of a regular SUV, putting it above conventional hatchbacks for a useful bit of extra vision.

However, the Urban Cruiser has a flip side to its personality. It has the looks, the presence, and even the four-wheel drive that you get with a regular SUV, but what is quite unlike its rivals is the fact that the 1.33-litre petrol version comes with Stop-Start technology as standard, emits a scant 129g/km of C02 and can trundle along at 51mpg. The 1.4-litre diesel version does without Stop-Start but has four-wheel drive, and because its emissions and economy are just as good (57mpg and 130g/km) Toyota claims it has the world’s lowest emissions for a four-wheel drive passenger car - something you can tell your green friends about.

It may be compact, but a 1.33-litre engine doesn’t sound like much of an engine to haul around a car that wears an SUV tag. But there are a few factors in your favour. For a start, it may be a modest size, but this petrol unit is peppy and keen to get on with it. A square 100bhp and the equivalent in torque propelling a fairly lightweight 1,100kg means that the Urban Cruiser is well-equipped to keep up with the swim. The six-speed manual has relatively short ratios, but that means respectable acceleration in every gear - it never feels underpowered or that you have to crawl everywhere in order to achieve decent economy.

In fact the Urban Cruiser does a fine job of living up to its moniker. In the usual Toyota way, all the controls operate with an oiled smoothness that requires very little effort on the part of the driver. You can hear the engine working away in front of you but it never causes a disturbance - especially when the Stop-Start system chips in. Like most systems all it requires is that you engage neutral and release the clutch, and the engine will fall silent. A useful trick to perform especially for a “city’ car like this, although how long the engine is dormant depends on how many ancillaries are being used at the time.

The standard specification is also worth a mention. All models get 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, automatic air conditioning, privacy glass and keyless entry and go - and option that’s rarely fitted as standard on cars below £20,000. It’s a car with a great deal in its favour, not least that the strong economy, good equipment, space and practicality all come at such a favourable price.

FACTS AT A GLANCE
Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.33 VVT-i £14,520
Engine: 1.33-litre petrol producing 100bhp and 98lb/ft of torque.
Transmission: Six-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels.
Performance: Top speed 109mph, 0-62mph 12.5 seconds.
Economy: 51.4mpg combined
C02 emissions: 129g/km