Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid compact SUV's TVC is now live

India’s most affordable ‘strong hybrid’ car – the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder compact SUV – will go on sale next month, and bookings are already open. The first TVC for Toyota’s most affordable hybrid has already dropped. Here, check it out.

The Urban Cruiser Hyryder will be the first affordable full hybrid car from Toyota in India. Let’s take a quick detour and understand what full hybrids/strong hybrids are.  Full hybrids are also called strong hybrids, and they’re called that because the electric motor can actually drive the car on its own. This is quite different from mild hybrids, where the electric motor performs the function of assisting the internal combustion engine, thereby reducing fuel consumption and tail pipe emissions. In case of strong hybrids too, fuel consumption and tail pipe emissions are cut, but to a much greater extent. The other advantage of strong hybrids is that of having additional power and torque at disposal, thanks to the stronger electric motor and more powerful battery. The downside of course is higher cost as a full hybrid costs significantly more than a mild hybrid.

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Coming back to the Toyota Hyryder, the mid-sized SUV that’ll take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos will feature two engine options: a 1.5 liter K15C K-Series, 4 cylinder petrol engine with a mild hybrid system, and a 1.5 liter TNGA strong hybrid engine. Both engines are naturally aspirated. The Suzuki K-Series engine, which is identical to the one offered on the Maruti Suzuki XL6 and the all-new Brezza, makes 103 Bhp-137 Nm, and is offered with two gearbox options: a 5 speed manual and a 6 speed torque converter automatic. The 1.5 liter TNGA strong hybrid petrol hybrid engine makes 91 Bhp-122 Nm, and the hybrid component of this engine is the electric motor that produces 79 Bhp and 141 Nm. The 1.5 liter TNGA strong hybrid engine is paired with a CVT automatic gearbox with 5 stepped shifts.

While the mild hybrid Suzuki-sourced engine drives the front wheels, the Toyota TNGA strong hybrid motor is available with both front wheel drive and all wheel drive options. In fact, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is the only SUV in its class to offer an optional all wheel drive layout. The last SUV to offer such a feature was the now-discontinued Renault Duster.

Prices for the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder will be announced next month. The compact SUV is likely to be priced similar to the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta, in the 10-16 lakh bracket, ex-showroom. Deliveries will commence after the price announcement. The Hyryder will have a similarly speced model from Maruti Suzuki, but with different styling. The Maruti Suzuki badged version of the Toyota Hyryder will be launched sometime during the festive season of 2022.

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