Here’s some SUV news from India, a very fertile ground for compact soft roaders. This is the new Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, leaked from an ad shoot and appearing on Team BHP. Word is that the new SUV will make its world debut on July 1, and it will be taking on the Hyundai Creta in India. The midsize SUV codenamed D22 will also face the likes of the Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, MG Hector and local player Tata Harrier in its class. Name sounds familiar? Launched in 2020, the Urban Cruiser is Toyota’s smallest SUV in India, a sub-4m car based on the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. The UC Hyryder will be longer than four metres and will sit above it.
As for what’s under the hood, Team BHP
says that the Toyota Hyryder will get two engine options, both with 1.5 litre
petrol engines. Most of the variants will get a mild hybrid version (102 hp)
but there will be a full hybrid variant (114 hp). The base engine will be
paired to six-speed transmissions – manual and auto – while the hybrid will get
a CVT. No diesel option is expected, which is notable because diesel is a thing
in India.
It is said that the Hyryder will be based
on a “localised version” of Toyota’s global TNGA-B platform. Toyota and Suzuki
have a partnership in India and the big T will be taking the lead for this
model – Maruti will offer its version of this car later.
