THE world's greenest 4x4 is going on sale in May in the shape of a new generation of cars from Toyota.
The boxy-shaped Urban Cruiser produces less CO2 than many versions of the Ford Fiesta or the Vauxhall Astra and leaves the likes of the Land Rover Freelander under a cloud of its own exhaust output.
Capable of averaging 57.6mpg the 1.4-litre diesel Urban Cruiser is rated at 130g/km resulting in annual road tax of £90 for the private buyer by the time it reaches the showrooms.
On the school run the Urban Cruiser will be a new champion while out on the road it is surprisingly good to drive.
With city driving firmly in mind Toyota is offering two versions of the Urban Cruiser.
The diesel will cost £16,400 and a two-wheel-drive 1.3-litre petrol version will cost £14,500.
The petrol model is fitted with a stop/start device which makes use of a permanently engaged flywheel to operate smoothly, rapidly and quietly compared to some others.
That's a new development by Toyota and keeps up the green image with CO2 rated at 129g/km and fuel consumption in the region of 50mpg.
Fully kitted the Urban Cruiser comes in a single specification. The only extras are sat nav, leather upholstery and metallic paint.
Everything else, including electronic stability controls, an array of airbags, Bluetooth phone connections, air conditioning and a beefy stereo player, comes as standard.
This is a car which is out to make a mark and like the recently launched Kia Soul is styled with difference in mind.
Despite the relatively small engines the Urban Cruiser is lively enough to drive. The thee cylinder petrol engine and the diesel have identical performance - 0 to 60 of 12.5 seconds and top speeds of 109mph.
The real difference is the mid-range power of the diesel compared to the smoothness of the petrol engine.
If your daily routine involves going out and about the diesel is probably the better bet. In town the petrol has the edge.
The Urban Cruiser looks sturdy and from the driving seat it feels the same. The steering is nicely weighted and its manoeuvrable at all speeds. Being little more than 12 feet long it's also easy to park.
The four wheel drive is permanently engaged but automatic in operation meaning the traction moves around as needed.
The drive can be locked 50/50 but a full off-roader it is not. Think more of muddy lanes or wintry roads and you would be more on the mark.
Its boxy lines mean there is plenty of room inside and luggage capacity ranges from 314 to 749 litres with the rear seats folded. The diesel has slightly less space because of the four-wheel-drive.
There is no spare wheel which allows for some underfloor storage next to the tyre repair kit.
Both versions have six speed manual gearboxes and true to their eco-friendly credentials there is a shift indicator on the instrument panel to encourage correct use of the gears.
It looks a mean street machine and it is. Style statements have never been a Toyota forte but this is a vehicle which rewrites the rule book in more ways than one.