Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Review: Badge Value

Has Toyota done enough to help grab the attention of Maruti Suzuki Fronx buyers?

The Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor is the fourth rebadged model from the two brands, and this one is based on the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. But while the silhouette is still very much the same, there are changes made to make it look different. Well, that had to happen right?

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: Exterior & Interior

The biggest change to the Taisor is the fascia the grille reminds you of the Innova Crysta, while the LED DRLs’ design is similar to the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The front bumper has been re-designed, but while the changes do make it look like a Toyota, it’s still very much the Fronx. But the difference here is that while the Fronx has the youthful vibe going for it, the Taisor’s appearance is a bit mature.

That mature vibe doesn’t seep in on the inside though. Inside is more youthful and that’s because there are no changes when compared to the Fronx. There’s a flat-bottom steering wheel, the same semi-digital instrument cluster, and a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen with good graphics. But there is one big difference, and that’s the badge on the steering wheel.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: Performance

The powertrains have been carried forward. So you get a 1.2-litre petrol, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and even the CNG kit.

We have the turbo petrol engine with us which makes 10 more horses than the 1.2 petrol but the latter is much better in efficiency.

You’d expect a spirited drive and you get one. It’s enjoyable, but there is a lag of power at the start, however, the engine settles down pretty well and the mid-range is pretty good. Settle it between 2500-3500 rpm and you hit the sweet spot.

This Aisin unit comes with paddle shifters and when you are in manual mode, it will not upshift automatically but let you hit the 6000 rpm limiter, until you click the right paddle. So yes, there is something for those who love a bit of spirited driving.

But your spirited driving might hamper the fuel efficiency in the car. Though Toyota claims figures of 20 kmpl, real-world figures might change as per your driving style.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: Ride & Handling

The ride is very similar to that of the Fronx because both have the same underpinnings. The Taisor is smooth and handles bumps well, all the good things about the Fronx. But it also has the bad bits from it. Primarily the light steering controls. Yes, they’re helpful in tight spaces and in traffic, but it doesn’t gel with the characteristics of the turbo-petrol engine. Naturally, you’d want this to be more direct, and have better feedback.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: Price & Variants

The Taisor has 10 variants, and strangely, the prices of the Taisor and the Fronx with the turbo-petrol engine are identical. But the Fronx gets one extra lower-end variant with that engine. With the naturally-aspirated 1.2 litre engine, the Taisor is up to ₹25,000 more expensive.

Another factor to consider between the two is the standard warranty on offer. While Maruti Suzuki gives you a 2-year/ 40,000 km warranty as standard, Toyota gives you a 3-year/ 1,00,000 km warranty.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: Verdict

Deciding between the two boils down to the fact about how long you will have to wait for either. While the two companies haven’t given an official figure on the waiting period for the two crossovers, our dealer sources tell us the Fronx is expected to have a waiting of somewhere around a month and roughly double that if you choose the Taisor. Well, the wait for the Toyota crossover may be slightly longer but you do get more warranty.

The Taisor is not a bad option then, but had there been more or even something different on offer, the balance would surely have tilted in its favour.