ev

The 2026 Urban Cruiser is an interesting take by Toyota on the compact BEV crossover genre: sharp headlamps with a serious “stare” embodied in that sleek hammer-head front, wrapped by elegantly chiselled front bumper. Added with rugged body contours and those rear pregnant wheel arches which convey a rugged and sporty outlook, especially finished in the metallic Pearl Bluish Black of the tester unit by Toyota Malaysia. This could very well be a lifestyle-oriented daily driver other than those boring, boxy hatchbacks. Compared to the Suzuki e-Vitara, the Toyota arguably looks flashier, although underneath, these two cousins are nearly identical …

I approached the Toyota Hilux BEV test drive with more than a little curiosity.After all, as a veteran of three Camel Trophies and a veteran off-road enthusiast, I’ve spent enough time in jungles, mud and rain to know that when the going gets tough, you normally want a diesel engine, a big set of tyres and a recovery winch.Not a puny battery in an EV.So, the concept of taking an electric Hilux off-road was irresistible.Could the Hilux BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) live up to the reputation of Toyota’s legendary diesel light truck? And could there even be a meaningful comparison …