Toyota Urban Cruiser replacement coming but with a segment twist

Toyota has reportedly u-turned on its decision to replace the Suzuki Vitara Brezza-based Urban Cruiser with the incoming Urban Cruiser Taisor spun-off of the Fronx, but not in a way believed until now.

The confusion

Despite an official launch date still being unknown, the Taisor will take-up station below the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, which does without the latter suffix in South Africa as a result of not being offered with the hybrid powertrain as in India.

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Conversely, while the previously alleged direct replacement for the Brezza-based Urban Cruiser, slated to have been called the Urban Cruiser Icon, looks set to become a reality after all, it will be introduced higher-up in Toyota’s SUV range as a completely different model come the start of production in 2026.

According to India’s gaadiwaadi.com, the still unnamed SUV, known internally as 340D, will be positioned above the Hyryder instead of becoming a lower priced alternative to it and also the Suzuki Baleno-based Glanza known as the Starlet in South Africa.

The upsizing of 340D from a compact crossover along the lines of the original Urban Cruiser to a C-segment SUV in the same mould as the Grand Vitara effectively also ends long believed speculation of Toyota introducing the Indonesian Yaris Cross to India.

Until now, reports have claimed the Cross, once re-developed for Indian-market conditions and preference, would have become the Urban Cruiser Icon and fill the position left vacant by the discontinuation of the Urban Cruiser last year.

New factory

A key model for Toyota, production of 340D will take place in a brand-new factory capable of producing between 80 000 to 120 000 units per annum once in operation.

Currently, Toyota operates two factories in India, both located in the town of Bidadi in the state of Bengaluru, with a combined total production capacity of 400 000 units after the addition of a third shift in May due to rising product demand.

Compared to the Urban Cruiser Taisor, whose differences from the Fronx are expected to be minor, complete secrecy surrounds 340D in lieu of its debut still being two to three years away.

South African interest

Locally, the Taisor remains an uncertainty for South Africa in spite of it being known interest that has been expressed in replacing the old Urban Cruiser ever since the annual State of the Motor Industry conference in January now that the Hyryder equivalent has moved more upmarket in terms of price and size.

For now, nothing else about the 340D or the Taisor continues to be known, however, expect details around the latter to emerge soon if its rumoured reveal in November proves accurate.

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