Toyota Urban SUV concept reveals upcoming Kona Electric rival

Toyota will enter the affordable EV space in 2024 with a production version of the Urban SUV concept unveiled in Europe today.

The baby battery electric vehicle (BEV) will be the smallest of six electric models that will be offered in Europe by 2026.

Reported dimensions of a 4.3-metre length, 1.8m width and 1.6m height place it between the company's Yaris Cross and C-HR combustion small SUVS, and make it a natural rival for the Hyundai Kona Electric small SUV.

Toyota Australia has yet to confirm any plans to introduce the model that could adopt a nameplate such as BZ2 or BZ2x.

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In Europe it will sit below the BZ4x, the midsize electric SUV that was the first model announced under the BZ (beyond zero) banner and is due here in early 2024.

Toyota says full details of the production SUV will be revealed in 2024. For now it is simply teasing that it will be available with two battery options with differing ranges, and the option of all-wheel drive instead of the standard front drive.

No interior images for the concept were provided, with Toyota saying only that "space is maximised in a flexible interior that can easily be adapted to prioritise passenger or load space as required".

It's understood the compact electric Toyota SUV is being co-developed with Suzuki as part of a continuing alliance. The Urban SUV concept shares some visual similarities with the Suzuki eVX concept unveiled earlier this year and due in 2025.

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