Wait finally over: Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor officially revealed

UPDATE: Toyota South Africa Motors has confirmed the Urban Cruiser Taisor will be offered on local soil, but under a different name and at a still unspecified date.

Toyota has finally concluded just under two years of speculative reports by removing the wraps from the Urban Cruiser Taisor as its latest joint venture model with Suzuki’s Maruti division in India.

Toyota’s Fronx

First alluded to as a rumour in November 2022, the Urban Cruiser Taisor becomes Toyota’s version of the Suzuki Fronx, which takes the model count since the mentioned partnership’s establishing in 2019, to eight after the Vitz (Celerio), Starlet (Baleno), Urban Cruiser (Grand Vitara), Rumion (Ertiga), Belta (Ciaz) and in Europe, the Across and Swace spun-off of the RAV4 and Corolla Touring Sports.

Its name officially approved in September last year, the Urban Cruiser Taisor’s exterior difference from the Fronx are, unsurprisingly, minor as apart from the Toyota badge replacing the Suzuki “S” logo on the grille, the latticework itself new, the front bumper updated and the alloy wheels resplendent with a design unique not offered by Suzuki.

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Besides the final tweak being a new front skidplate, the Urban Cruiser Taisor’s rear facia has been left unchanged from the Fronx, bar the Toyota and Urban Cruiser Taisor badges on the bootlid.

Dimensionally unchanged from the Fronx, and therefore still in accordance with the sub-four metre regulations in India as its length still stretches 3 995 mm, the Urban Cruiser Taisor, which had originally been expected to debut in February last year, differs even more discreetly from the Fronx inside.

Spec

Also tipped in the latter stages of last year for a possible final quarter 2024 reveal, which also failed to materialise, the Urban Cruiser Taisor’s cabin adjustments only involves the Toyota badge in place of the Suzuki logo on the steering wheel hub.

Depending on the trim level, which comprises five grades in India – E, S, S+, G and V – the Taisor’s specification sheet involves a wireless smartphone and rear air-conditioning vents, push-button start and keyless entry, folding electric mirrors, a 4.2-inch TFT instrument cluster display, all-around electric windows and a reverse camera.

Excluding the E, which makes do with an LCD audio display, the S, S+ and G are outfitted with the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-enabled seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the V receives the bigger nine-inch display, as well as cruise control, the 360-degree surround-view camera system, Head-Up Display and a Arkamys six-speaker sound system.

Power and colours

Up front, the Urban Cruiser Taisor’s powertrains are also carried over from the Fronx, which in India means two options; anormally aspirated 1.2-litre DualJet petrol developing 67kW/113Nm and the three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbocharged Boosterjet rated at 74kW/148Nm.

Standard with both is a five-speed manual gearbox, with the former’s option being a five-speed automated manual (AMT) and the latter a torque-converter six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

On the colour front, five mono-tone hues are available: Café White, Enticing Silver, Gaming Grey, Sportin Red and Lucid Orange.

As an option, the V has the added option of three dual-tone schemes in which a black roof contrasts the silver, white and red body colours.

South Africa eagerly awaits

Priced from Rs 773 500 (R174 131) for the 1.2 E to Rs 1 303 500 (R293 446) for the 1.0 Boosterjet V automatic, the Urban Cruiser Taisor has long known to be under consideration for South Africa as the indirect replacement for the discontinued original Urban Cruiser spun-off of the Suzuki Vitara Brezza.

An announcement likely to be made within the coming months, expectations are Toyota will position the Taisor below the “full-size” Urban Cruiser, whose pricing kicks-off at R342 500 for the base Xs.

Based on the equivalent Fronx starting at R288 900 for the entry-level GL, speculation points to the Taisor possibly being priced below R300 000 powered by the same 1.5-litre K15B engine mated to either a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic.

As it stands, no official confirmation has been made by Toyota South Africa Motors and as such, are indicators are purely speculative until being stated otherwise.

Additional information from: gaadiwaadi.com.

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