Toyota Urban Cruiser: The subcompact SUV segment is thriving in India, and Toyota’s RIVAL to this segment was the Urban Cruiser.
Whether you are a Toyota loyalist who likes ticking all the relevant boxes on the checklist or a consumer who isn’t the smartest spender, after having waited for the Urban Cruiser, Toyota invokes two words: don’t because you don’t have to we assume!
Based on a successful cross-badging venture between Toyota and Maruti Suzuki, the Urban Cruiser shares its heart and arteries with the Maruti Brezza, but you get it with the Toyota badge, the after-sales and a tad bit premium lumbering about it.
Catering to the urban SUV automobile seekers of India – the compact, affordable, and fuel - efficient Urban Cruiser offers an impressive package for families as well as young professionals.
It isn’t fancy, and won’t change the world, but what it does offer is consistency and comfort and the assurance that something bad isn’t going to happen and it does so with élan.
Outer Design: Simple but Attractive
From the outside, the Toyota Urban Cruiser to all intents and purposes is the same as the outgoing-gen Vitara Brezza, with a few revisions thrown in just to mix things up a bit.
Up front, it gets Toyota’s traditional chrome slats for the grile, along with LED projector headlamps and LED DRLs with an energetic and clean treatment that is quite energetic and bold looking.
The muscular bonnet, squared-off wheel arches and roof rails provide an SUV look without necessarily being too aggressive about it.
Its compact dimensions provide maneuverability and city parking ease and its high ground clearance lends a commanding view of the road, as well as some light off-road capability.
Cabin Comfort and Features
Climb in, and you’re met with a utilitarian, no-nonsense cabin. The design of the place is no-nonsense and driver-friendly; you get the sense that the priority is an easy-to-use, efficient shop, not flair.
The two-tone dash, infotainment screen and supportive seats make up for an inviting space for daily commuting.
Key features include:
7″ Touchscreen w/ Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
Push-button start
Automatic climate control
Steering-mounted controls
Reverse parking cam and alloy sensor pack 4: $1104 zoom The idea is great but the finish just isn’t there.
With the Urban Cruiser, As far as interior space dis thats not bad you’ve got quite abit of head room and leg room both in the front and back so it’s family friendly.
The boot is fairly good for a sub-4m SUV and should accommodate the weekend duffels or daily grocery bags.
Engine and Performance
Powering the Urban Cruiser from under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre petrol motor that churns out 103 PS of power and 138 Nm of torque and is offered with a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Engine is silky smooth and refined and perfect for city traffic and highway cruising.
It also offers mild-hybrid technology that makes fuel use more efficient and results in a further optimised engine restart in traffic.
It’s no performance SUV, but ride quality is well judged, and the steering is light enough for nipping through town and tight maneuvering.
You can expect a mileage of 17-18 km/l, depending upon driving conditions, compare to it becomes an economical option in the longer run.
Safety and Ownership Experience
Toyota has loaded the Urban Cruiser with the following safety features, which are offered as standard.
Dual airbags
ABS with EBD
Rear parking sensors
High-speed alert system
ISOFIX child seat mounts
It’s not loaded with the full suite of high-end ADAS features, but certainly offers a safe and learnable drive, particularly for new or city-bound drivers.
Toyota’s after-sales service is one of the most prominent in the Urban Cruiser.
Renowned for being the most reliable brand and providing hassle-free ownership from day one, the marque gives 3 years (limit of one lakh km) warranty as standard, which is better than many of its peers.
Pros:
Petrol engine is smooth and sophisticated
Toyota quality, reliability and longervice (next, extended warranty)
Easy to use and lots of space inside
Excellent service network
Good small city car size
Cons:
Lacks diesel engine option
Not everyone would be thrilled with conservative design
4-speed automatic seems a tad dated
Not turbocharged for the enthusiast crowd
Outdated cabin design relative to newer competitors
Toyota Urban Cruiser: Conclusion
The Toyota Urban Cruiser is not a head turner but it does all the work smoothly often hiding behind comfort, efficiency and reliability.
It’s one to consider if you value long-term ownership, low running costs and a relatively painless driving experience.
Simplicity doesn’t necessarily equate to parsimony of design and features, and this could be a lesson for other carmakers trying to nail what India really wants – finally, a no-nonsense car made by Toyota, for everyone else.