DRIVEN: The New Toyota Urban Cruiser
The new Toyota Urban Cruiser might cost close to R30,000 over the outgoing model. But is the extra price tag worth it? We head to Cape Town's eclectic CBD to join Toyota before venturing out to the countryside on a road trip to test what the Urban Cruiser is about, beyond the city limits. Chasing the economy figures on the open road, we get up to speed with Toyota’s latest budget busting SUV.
Words and images by Brent vd Schyff
What's changed?
Well, from the obvious start, it's bigger. 370mm longer and 100mm wider, and there's an increase in the wheelbase length (This will enhance stability on the road). Improved ground clearance increased to 210mm (15mm greater than the outgoing Urban Cruiser), meaning that there's the opportunity for even greater adventuring that will be possible with greater accessibility of South Africa's gravel road network and trust me, there is a lot of gravel mountain passes that the new Urban Cruiser will lap up with confidence. 17-inch wheels come with both models, with the XR getting the alloys while the Xs gets steel wheels with turbine-inspired styled covers.
In the new design, you'll see a completely reshaped front end, borrowing cues from the recent design changes in the Toyota SUV line, like the newly updated Fortuner. Slim bi-halogen projector headlights nest in the redesigned front bumper, and there's day time running lights that feature above the honeycomb front grill. Overall, the Urban Cruiser is a rather good-looking car with the bigger size adding to a more assertive road presence. All this while not losing finesse.
The rear of the new Urban Cruiser gets the treatment too, with the newly redesigned C-shape light cluster and the bumpers that complement the front end, enhancing the Urban Cruiser's SUV aspirations even more.
Moving to the inside. Cabin space is a step up, especially for a 6ft plus human like myself. Sitting on the rear seat leaves little compromise in the leg room department, thanks to the extra length. Luggage space in the storage compartment is up by 25 litres or just about the size of an additional overnight bag, which is more than ample for a family of 4. Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto come as standard for navigation and some road trip music, channelled through a 7-inch infotainment system.
A short history lesson on the Urban Cruiser's life in South Africa and why so many South Africans love the value proposition it provides…
The partnership between Toyota and Suzuki has shared market space in South Africa over the past two years in the shape of the outgoing Urban Cruiser and Suzuki Vitara Brezza. Suzuki has, however, decided to discontinue the Vitara Brezza. This move comes at the same Toyota decided to shift production of the new Urban Cruiser from the Suzuki plant to the Toyota plant in India. Suzuki has opted to play in the higher-specced space with their Grand Vitara, which does come in a mild hybrid variant (The urban Cruiser is not going to be offered in a hybrid at this point). However, this leaves one less competitor in the hotly contested B-segment SUV market, which includes Nissan Magnite, Kia Sonet, Tiggo 4Pro, Ford Ecosport and Volkswagen T-cross.
Toyota has done well in this space for the South African budget-conscious buyer, achieving a 22% market share in the segment. So far, more than 24,000 current-gen Urban Cruisers have been sold since its introduction in 2021, with an average of more than 1000 units sold each month. Staggering numbers that symbolise the South African consumer's confidence in the brand. The offering of the Cruiser from its introduction amidst turbulent economic times, was welcomed, as many consumers looked to downsize or look for a sensible, safe bet.
The continuous squeeze on the SA consumer thanks to the slow recovery of a post covid world coupled with a global financial crisis has directly impacted the choices of buyers to opt for more sensible options in vehicle choices and the new Urban Cruiser is as sensible as one can find. The value proposition of the Urban Cruiser has always been strong, and the latest version reaffirms that.
What's the new Urban Cruiser like to drive?
We sampled the 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic variants on our drive. Full disclosure: If the budget allows, I'd gravitate towards the auto version. Both options are powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, which produces 77kW and 138Nm of torque. For an entry-level B-segment SUV, the auto box is relatively intuitive on the long drive, especially when attacking a rise in an oncoming stretch of road, sensing the extra load and then gearing down to allow for an easier climb before returning to lower gearing at the top. All this while not straining the engine speed too much. Play the same game I did with the economy run, and you'll quickly see the litres per kilometre figure drop. It’s a rather fun game and at the same time, you’ll be saving money. Win win.
At the end of our +-120km drive, we managed 7.1l/100. I was convinced that given an extra 100km, we’d get close to the 6.1l/100 Toyota claim. On longer stretches of road, I found the 5-Speed manual sat at a higher RPM (3,400 RPM) at around 120km/h. Not the worst thing in the world, but if you're chasing economy, I found the auto box to be more compliant. The manual will be fine if you spend most of your time in the urban confines. Then again, a 6th gear could add extra value.
Driver and passenger comfort is comfortable with a greater panoramic view of your surroundings. Manoeuvring the Urban Cruiser around the city does not offer the same level of anxiety other slightly larger SUVs provide. The road noise was relatively low, great for those long road trips and family weekend getaways.
Safety first…
For the new Urban Cruiser, all models get VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) and HAC (Hill Assist Control) for those who are nervous about rolling back on a steep incline. There's a third headrest installed on all models (Often an overlooked safety feature). On the XR model, you'll get additional side and curtain airbags for both driver and passenger side. Polishing off the safety offering will see ABS fitted, EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), and ISOFIX on both sides of the rear seat for child seats.
In Summary…it hits the mark.
Given the affordability question in South Africa linked to vehicle ownership, having a Toyota Crossover of this quality makes it possible for greater accessibility to the broader market, especially in those double-income households where conscious spending is a priority, a car like this makes so much sense. Not just from breaking down the barriers of entry into vehicle ownership but also allowing more people the opportunity of buying into the quality of Toyota. Owning one will give you a handle on your budget while, at the same time, offer little compromise in the pursuit of problem-free day-to-day commuting and then for those weekend or holiday getaways (Which we all deserve), the peace of mind of reliably getting to and back from your destination safely. That's something where the new Urban Cruiser will excel at. And as for the price increase, it's difficult to argue against it, but if you can afford it, then your money will be put to good use.
Likes
Fuel Economy
Interior space and design
Ride Quality
Dislikes
There’s only one USB port
No functionality of roof rails
A sixth gear on the manual variant is needed
Prices:
Urban Cruiser 1.5 XS MT – R 329 400
Urban Cruiser 1.5 XR MT – R 347 400
Urban Cruiser 1.5 XR AT – R 369 900
***All Urban Cruiser models are now sold with a longer Service Plan of 4 years/60 000km service plan. A 3-year/100 000 km warranty is also provided. Service intervals are pegged at 12 months/15 000 km.
