I was recently invited to back-to-back presentations of the all-new Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser. I feel a bit of déjà vu when I hear these two brands sing about their products. Because, dear reader, in case you didn't know – the Grand Vitara and the Urban Cruiser share the same 1.5-litre petrol engine (delivering a somewhat mediocre 77kW of power and 138Nm of torque) and essentially the same architecture.
This is due to a global product sharing agreement between the two manufacturers to collaborate on vehicles and produce cars that are identical apart from badging and some differences in styling and specifications. So remember the Toyota Starlet and the Suzuki Baleno, the Toyota Rumion and the Suzuki Ertiga – and now we have the new Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Toyota Urban Cruiser. Both the Cruiser and the Vitara are manufactured by Toyota Kirloskar Motor at its Bidadi plant in Karnataka, India. Talk about incest. In this round, the development of the platform was led by Toyota.
Suzuki Grand Vitara
New Suzuki Grand Vitara petrol and hybrid derivatives. (Photo: Suzuki Corporation)
Suzuki managed to lead Toyota by a few days in terms of local launch dates, so let's take a look at the Grand Vitara first. Launched locally in 1988 as the Suzuki Vitara, the Grand Vitara was launched globally in 2008 with over 8 million units sold.
The latest Grand Vitara is available in five variants – two series of petrol engines in GL and GLX specification, mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission and the best hybrid.
Suzuki tends to offer some generous specifications, especially in its top models. The entry-level GL comes standard with 17" alloy wheels, black roof racks, a 7" touchscreen infotainment system (compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a reversing camera, automatic climate control, cruise control and a leather multifunction steering wheel.
360° panorama to the Grand Vitara. (Photo: Suzuki Corporation)
The range-topping petrol GLX has all of the above, but goes one step further with a larger infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, 360º panoramic camera, head-up display and wireless smartphone charging. To further sweeten the offer, there is a panoramic roof, additional audio speakers, silver roof racks and machine-polished alloys.
The (very) top GLX 1.5 Hybrid AllGrip offers a 48-volt mild hybrid system with slightly lower power (76 kW) and torque (137 Nm), mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. What brings it into almost entirely new territory - now sure to turn heads with Toyota's Corolla Cross Hybrid - is the clever AllGrip system that offers four-wheel drive and four selectable driving modes: Auto, Sport, Snow/Mud and Lockdown.
I spent almost two full days in the hybrid Grand Vitara, with lots of gravel sections, turns and steep uphills. While both brands' 1.5-liter engines can certainly pump out a few extra kilowatts, I'm impressed with the hybrid's off-road capabilities. But since it's almost 200,000 more expensive than the base GL, I think Suzuki's hybrid might be overlooked for budget-conscious buyers.
Toyota Urban Cruiser
Kabina Urban Cruisera. (Foto: Toyota Corporation)
A few days later I found myself in Toyota's new Urban Cruiser. Since its launch in March 2021, Urban C has become one of the best-selling brands in South Africa thanks to its affordable prices, urban style and practical features. You've probably seen a lot of them on the road because they sold 27,500 of them in just two years.
At a press conference in Cape Town, Toyota described Urban Cruiser buyers as typically 35 to 49 years old and looking for a stylish car, affordability, good safety and technology, and a spacious interior. Interior space and good headroom for an outdoor lifestyle.
The new Urban Cruiser looks reasonable, reminds me a lot of a RAV4 or a small Fortuner, and manages to tick all the boxes for the "ideal" buyer. Some significant improvements compared to the outgoing model: 15 mm more ground clearance (210 mm from 195 mm), significantly increased length and trunk area, bolder design and a more aggressive-looking grille.
In terms of equipment, there are three trims: the entry-level XS with a five-speed manual transmission and the top-of-the-range XR with a four-speed manual and automatic transmission.
Standard equipment on the XS includes automatic climate control, electric windows and mirrors, and a reversing camera. The range-topping XR model, like its Suzuki sibling, adds cruise control and six airbags to the XS and XR models, along with VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) and HAC (Hill-Hill Assist Control). The entire range includes ABS with EBD, ISOFIX and alarm/immobilizer systems.
I already mentioned its 1.5-liter gasoline engine in the Grand Vitara section, which is excellent for city driving, but on the highway, especially when overtaking, the vehicles of both brands feel underpowered. In terms of fuel efficiency, both Toyota and Suzuki claim fuel consumption of around 6 to 6.1 L/100 km. At launch I'm getting closer to 7.5 to 8 L/100km in manual and slightly lower in automatic.
In the final analysis
The new Urban Cruiser has increased luggage space. (Photo: Toyota Corporation)
In terms of dimensions, the Urban Cruiser is 20 centimeters longer than the Grand Vitara and has a 43 liter larger trunk. The Grand Vitara is 10 centimeters higher, while both have a good ground clearance of 210 millimeters.
It's clear that Suzuki has gone the extra mile with premium specs like the sunroof, head-up display and larger infotainment screen. However, Toyota manages to offer more competitive pricing, beating the Suzuki by R10,500 on the base model and R50,000 on the range-topping XR manual. It will be interesting to see if price is more important to buyers than specifications, and how much loyalty to the Toyota brand will play a role here.
To paint a clearer picture of Toyota's future prospects in South Africa, Toyota SA took four of the top 10 best-selling models in the country in April: the second-placed Hilux (2,187 units) narrowly lost out to Ford's recently launched all-new Ranger (2,201 units). The locally produced Corolla Cross was fourth with 1,281 sales, while the popular Hi-Ace was only 14 units behind (1,267). The Starlet, which has been the best seller since its launch in 2020, took eighth place with 1,098 units sold.
While Suzuki SA has only one car in the top 10 - the best-selling Swift (1,216 units) - it must be said that the "smaller" Japanese marque has caused havoc in recent years, often with three. It is one of the best-selling brands in South Africa after Toyota and Volkswagen. From April 2022 to April 2023, the Suzuki SA brand grew by more than 60% year-on-year and found more than 50,000 new homes for its products.
There is no doubt that the Urban Cruiser and Suzuki Grand Vitara are compelling offers in the more affordable B segment. Although the Grand Vitara offers more specification, Toyota may have strategically managed to offer the entry-level Cruiser for R10.5k less than the entry-level Grand Vitara. Will Suzuki be on the back foot in terms of sales as was the case with the Starlet vs. Baleno? Or can it lead customers to accept more generous service plans? Will Suzuki hybrids with AllGrip technology sell well, or will people be more willing to buy the Toyota Corolla Cross domestically produced C-segment hybrid, which is still slightly cheaper than the B-segment Suzuki hybrid?
I will closely monitor the numbers at the end of May. The sales battle between these two Japanese friends is sure to continue.
Companies:
Suzuki Vitara Brezza
GL 1.5 Manual – DKK 339,900
GL 1.5 Auto – DKK 359,900
GLX 1.5 Manuel – 397,900 kr
GLX 1.5 Auto - 417,900 kr
GLX 1.5 Hybrid AllGrip six-speed automatic transmission – R529,900
The Grand Vitara includes a five-year/200,000km warranty and a six-year/90,000km service plan.
Toyota Urban Cruiser
1,5 XS tona – 329.400 R
1.5 XR MT – R347,400
1,5 XR AT – 369.900 kn
The Urban Cruiser includes a three-year/100,000km warranty and a four-service/60,000km service plan.Private letter
FAQs
Is Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder the same car? ›
The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder are essentially siblings since they are developed on the same platform and have similar features. Both manufacturers are reputable, dependable, and have a track record of reliability.
Is Grand Vitara built by Toyota? ›The Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder are subcompact crossover SUVs (B-segment) developed by Suzuki and produced by Toyota in India since 2022.
Is Urban Cruiser and Vitara same? ›The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is available in 1462 cc engine with 2 fuel type options: Mild Hybrid(Electric + Petrol) and CNG and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is available in 1462 cc engine with 2 fuel type options: Mild Hybrid(Electric + Petrol) and CNG. Urban Cruiser Hyryder provides the mileage of 21.12 kmpl.
Why was Urban Cruiser discontinued? ›It is the cross-badged version of Maruti Suzuki's compact SUV Vitara Brezza. Japanese auto major Toyota has discontinued its compact SUV Urban Cruiser in the Indian market, which it has sourced from compatriot Maruti Suzuki, due to declining sales.
Why Suzuki Vitara is phased out? ›In the end, the discontinuation of the Vitara in our market is just the normal course of business. Not enough people are buying it, so Suzuki has pulled the plug. On a lighter note, if you're one of the few who got an AllGrip, hold onto it for as long as you can.
Is the Suzuki Grand Vitara the same as a RAV4? ›Suzuki Grand Vitara is 7 cm longer than the Toyota RAV4, width is practically the same , while the height of Suzuki Grand Vitara is 3 cm lower.
Why is Grand Vitara so expensive? ›The pricing of the Grand Vitara can surely be justified by the extensive list of features. It gets a heads-up display, 360-degree camera, a panoramic sunroof with the biggest-in-segment opening area, ventilated seats, and much more. The most special thing about the Vitara is that it gets AWD.
What is the waiting period for the Toyota Hyryder? ›URBAN CRUISER HYRYDER [NEO DRIVE]
Approximately 7~8 months after placing your order!
The Grand Vitara and the Hyryder share the same Engine and gearbox options.
Which model of Urban Cruiser is best? ›Toyota Urban Cruiser Premium Grade AT Summary
Toyota Urban Cruiser Premium Grade AT is the top model in the Urban Cruiser lineup and the price of Urban Cruiser top model is Rs. 11.73 Lakh. It gives a mileage of 18.7 kmpl.
Is Urban Cruiser using Suzuki engine? ›
@ Dillip | The Toyota Urban Cruiser is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, borrowed from the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. This engine generates 103bhp and 138Nm of torque. This engine comes mated to a five-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic unit.
Is Urban Cruiser a real Toyota? ›The all-new Toyota Urban Cruiser is fresh to the local market but its predecessor is available at highly competitive prices as a used vehicle.
What is going to replace the Urban Cruiser? ›Daihatsu foundation. Instead, it will be positioned below the upsized new Urban Cruiser Hyryder, sold in South Africa without the latter suffix, and serve as the real replacement for the original Urban Cruiser that bowed-out last year not long after the model on which it had been based, the Suzuki Vitara Brezza.
Which car compares to Toyota Urban Cruiser? ›The Top compeitors for Toyota Urban Cruiser are Hyundai Venue, KIA Sonet, Mahindra Bolero, Honda WR-V, Mahindra Bolero Neo, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Maruti Suzuki S-Cross, Mahindra XUV300, Nissan Kicks.
Which car is same as Urban Cruiser? ›CarWale brings you comparison of Toyota Urban Cruiser and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza [2020-2022]. The Toyota Urban Cruiser price. 9.02 Lakh and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza [2020-2022] price is Rs. 7.82 Lakh.
How long is the wait for a new Suzuki Vitara? ›How long do we have to wait ? The timeframes mentioned so far by participants on this site indicate that for ordering a Suzuki Vitara, it seems to take an average delivery time of about 5 months.
What is the difference between Suzuki Vitara and Grand Vitara? ›The Suzuki Vitara is a series of SUVs produced by Suzuki in five generations since 1988. The second, third-generation and 2022 models are known as the Suzuki Grand Vitara, with the fourth generation eschewing the "Grand" prefix.
What is the top speed of new Vitara? ›The top speed of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza 2020-2022 is 180 kmph.
Which is better Toyota or Suzuki? ›Toyotas generally have a higher brand value and perception than a Maruti Suzuki, which could weigh in your favour; 4) Both companies offer good aftersales service, and although Maruti Suzuki is more widespread, Toyota has a reputation for its service quality.
Is Suzuki more reliable than Toyota? ›Following Suzuki at the top of the reliability rankings was Lexus (97.5%) and Toyota (96.8%), with Kia, Mitsubishi and Subaru all tied for fourth place with a score of 95.8%.
Do Suzuki Vitaras hold their value? ›
The Vitara isn't known for holding its value well compared with key rivals, which is good news if you're buying used.
Is Grand Vitara a hit or flop? ›New Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2022 Brezza becomes a HIT in India: 2 lakh bookings received | Auto News | Zee News.
What is the issue of Grand Vitara? ›Maruti Suzuki has issued a recall for over 11,000 units of the Grand Vitara SUV that were manufactured between August 8, 2022 and November 15, 2022. The recall is due to a possible defect in the rear seat belt mounting brackets.
Is Grand Vitara a strong car? ›Because of its larger battery pack and regenerative braking, the Grand Vitara strong hybrid can run on full electric power at lower speeds for longer durations, helping it deliver better mileage than the mild hybrid. In fact, at 27.94 kmpl, the Grand Vitara strong hybrid is the most fuel-efficient car in India.
How long does it take Toyota to build a car from start to finish? ›Average build time for a new Toyota vehicle is roughly 4-12 weeks. However, because of our vast model lineup there are some circumstances where specific models can take anywhere from 3-6 months.
What is the next generation Toyota SUV? ›The upcoming next-generation Fortuner is set to make its global debut in 2024. The SUV will feature a brand-new design, an updated cabin, and a new engine option. It will be built on Toyota's latest TNGA-F architecture, which also serves as the foundation for the Tundra, Sequoia, and Land Cruiser SUVs.
How long are people waiting for Toyota? ›Overall, according to Price My Car, the average wait time in April for a Toyota was 230 days – compared to 172 days in January 2022.
Which is the cheapest Grand Vitara? ›The price of Maruti Grand Vitara starts at Rs. 10.70 Lakh and goes upto Rs. 19.95 Lakh.
What year did they stop making Suzuki Grand Vitara? ›1999–2013 Grand Vitara.
Which is the cheapest model of Grand Vitara? ›The cheapest Maruti Grand Vitara variant is the Sigma which has a price tag of Rs. 10.70 Lakh while the most expensive variant is the Maruti Grand Vitara Alpha Plus Hybrid CVT DT which commands a price of Rs. 19.95 Lakh.
What is the highest speed of Urban Cruiser? ›
The top speed of Toyota Urban Cruiser is 170 + kmph. For more information, Kindly visit Toyota Urban Cruiser.
Is Urban Cruiser a safe car? ›Toyota Urban Cruiser has been awarded 4-star safety rating.
What is the top end rate of Urban Cruiser? ›| Variant | Ex-Showroom Price |
|---|---|
| Pay Rs.15,000 more forUrban cruiser Mid AT1462 cc, Automatic, Petrol, 18.76 kmplEXPIRED2 months waiting | Rs.10.15 Lakh* |
| Pay Rs.87,600 more forUrban cruiser High AT1462 cc, Automatic, Petrol, 18.76 kmplEXPIRED2 months waiting | Rs.11.03 Lakh* |
...
Does Toyota Urban Cruiser have power steering?
| Version Name | Ex-Showroom Price, India | Steering Type |
|---|---|---|
| High Grade AT | ₹ 11.02 Lakh | Power assisted (Electric) |
| Premium Grade AT Dual Tone | ₹ 11.55 Lakh | Power assisted (Electric) |
| Premium Grade AT | ₹ 11.73 Lakh | Power assisted (Electric) |
Global NCAP launches the second round of 2022 #SaferCarsForIndia crash tests results today with Hyundai i20 and Creta scoring three stars for adult and child occupant protection and the Toyota Urban Cruiser reaching four stars for adult and three for child occupant protection.
Does Suzuki have their own engine? ›E engine. The E08A engine is a short-lived diesel engine engineered mostly for the Indian market. It is a small inline twin 4-stroke diesel engine with a bore × stroke of 77 mm × 85.1 mm (3.03 in × 3.35 in), giving 793 cc (48.4 cu in). As a 360° parallel twin it features a Balance shaft located beside the crankshaft.
Is the Urban Cruiser fuel efficient? ›Toyota Urban Cruiser mileage starts at 17.01 and goes up to 18.72 kmpl. The mileage of Urban Cruiser Petrol ranges between 17.01 kmpl - 18.72 kmpl.
What does Urban Cruiser mean? ›The Urban Cruiser is a badge-engineered version of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, and is the result of a global alliance between Toyota and Suzuki to share technology and products.
Is Toyota Urban Cruiser comfortable? ›Great experience, very comfortable and spacious.
Is Toyota Hyryder made by Suzuki? ›The Grand Vitara and Urban Cruiser Hyryder is a result of a joint venture between Toyota and Suzuki.
Which car is Grand Vitara based on? ›
The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is built on the partnership between Maruti Suzuki and Toyota. The SUV is based on the global C platform and will be manufactured at Toyota's facility near Bengaluru along with Toyota's Hyryder.
Who manufactures Toyota Hyryder? ›The Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Maruti's Grand Vitara are a result of a collaboration between Toyota and Suzuki. Both are being manufactured at the Bidadi facility of Toyota Motor located in Karnataka.
Which Suzuki is the same as Toyota? ›The Urban Cruiser is based on the Grand Vitara, both of which are built in India (in their respective brand production facilities) as part of the Suzuki-Toyota global product share agreement, which has spawned products such as the Baleno and Starlet , Ertiga and Rumion, Celerio and Vitz and the outgoing Vitara Brezza ...
Is Hyryder Rebadged? ›In fact, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is the rebadged version of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, which comes as part of the Toyota-Suzuki global model-sharing partnership. Both SUVs share the same architecture and powertrain along with many other components as well.
What is the safety rating of the Urban Hyryder? ›Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder has 4.00 (Global NCAP) rating.
What does the word Vitara mean in English? ›Vitara - "way of life”
Does Hyryder have Suzuki engine? ›The other engine on offer for the Hyryder (not offered for the test drive) is the Maruti Suzuki K15C petrol engine. This 1,462cc, 4-cylinder unit delivers a peak power of 103.06PS and 136.8Nm of torque.
Who makes Toyota engines? ›Toyota Industries manufactures engines for Toyota vehicles sold all around the world.
Is Toyota Hyryder worth buying? ›Toyota Hyrider is a very good SUV in this segment this case has the best mileage, is comfortable, and as a brand its primary look also.
Is Suzuki as good as Toyota? ›Following Suzuki at the top of the reliability rankings was Lexus (97.5%) and Toyota (96.8%), with Kia, Mitsubishi and Subaru all tied for fourth place with a score of 95.8%.
Which is the better brand Toyota or Suzuki? ›
Toyotas generally have a higher brand value and perception than a Maruti Suzuki, which could weigh in your favour; 4) Both companies offer good aftersales service, and although Maruti Suzuki is more widespread, Toyota has a reputation for its service quality.
Why is Suzuki so popular? ›All thanks to its reliability factor, Maruti Suzuki cars demand the highest premium in the used car market. These cars sell like a hot cake and are easiest to find buyers for in the second hand market.