Toyota India launched its new subcompact SUV, the Urban Cruiser. This is essentially the rebadged version of the best-selling Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza with Toyota specific cosmetic changes.

Exterior:

    The Urban Cruiser borrows its front grille from the Fortuner but carries forward the LED headlamps from the Vitara Brezza without any changes. The front bumper however is completely redesigned to give the Urban Cruiser a unique look. The sides and rear, however, don't have any changes except for the Toyota and Urban Cruiser branding on the tailgate. The 16” alloy wheels to are the same as on the Vitara Brezza.

Interior:

    The interior of

the Urban Cruiser gets even fewer changes when compared to the Brezza. The design, layout and materials are exactly the same and the only differentiation will be Brown colour seat upholstery.

Variants:

Similar to the Vitara Brezza, the Urban Cruiser will be available in three variants; Mid, High and Premium.

    Based on the Vitara Brezza, the new Urban Cruiser MID variant offers the following standard features:

• LED headlamps with DRLs
• LED tail lamps
• Auto climate control
• Tilt-adjustable steering wheel
• Push-button start with the smart key
• 2DIN audio system
• Steering mounted audio controls
• Power windows
• Electric ORVMs
• Reverse sensors

Apart from these, the HIGH variant will include the following additional features:

• 16” alloy wheels
• Auto folding ORVMs
• Roof rails
• 7” touchscreen system
• Android Auto & Apple car play
• Reverse camera
• Cruise control
• Rear wiper & defogger

Additional features on the top-spec PREMIUM variant will include:

• LED fog lamps
• 16” diamond cut alloys
• Auto headlamps & wipers
• Auto-dimming IRVM
• Front and rear armrests

Safety:

       Safety features on the Toyota Urban Cruiser BS6 include:

• ABS with EBD
• Dual airbags
• ISOFIX child seat mounts
• Pretensioner seatbelts
• Engine immobilizer
• Hill hold on AT variants

Powertrains:

       The Urban Cruiser will carry forward the same 1.5L K-series petrol engine from the Vitara Brezza producing 105bhp power & 138nm torque through either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed Torque converter automatic gearbox. The Automatic variants will also receive mild hybrid system with auto engine start/stop and regenerative braking.

Launch & price (Ex-showroom):

• Toyota Urban Cruiser Mid Variant MT - Rs 8.4 lakhs
• Toyota Urban Cruiser Mid Variant AT – 9.8 lakhs
• Toyota Urban Cruiser High Variant – MT – Rs 9.15 lakhs
• Toyota Urban Cruiser High Variant AT 10.65 lakhs
• Toyota Urban Cruiser Premium MT - Rs 9.8 lakhs
• Toyota Urban Cruiser Premium AT - Rs 11.3 lakhs

The new Toyota Urban Cruiser will be priced at a slight premium over the Vitara Brezza and it will compete against the Tata Nexon, Ford Ecosport, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV300 and the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza itself.

Tata’s Nexon EV is a pretty muscular SUV that comes packed with an IP67 waterproof 30.2kWh Lithium Ion battery delivering 127.0 BHP to the front wheels and along lot of torque. 245nm to be specific. Underpowered will definitely not be a description when someone drives it. What comes with power though? A reduction in mileage. But since this is powered by an electric motor, you can charge it even while decelerating/ braking. Thanks to its regenerative braking feature which can be toggled between varying levels depending upon the amount of regen one prefers.

As a result, this is an excellent package

for the city because all we do is start stop repeatedly until we arrive at our destination. In case you’re wondering about fast charging. The batteries on the Tata Nexon EV will charge from 0% to 80% in an hour. That’s excellent because these days, you never realise how time flies. A couple of phone calls, check your social media notifications, a loo break, a short tea/coffee break and you would’ve spent way over 60 minutes already! Also, the Nexon EV comes with an ARAI certified full charge range of 312 kilometres which should take care of… a week’s commute?

The Nexon EV carries over many things from the Fossil Fuel powered older version of the Tata Nexon like drive modes and an overall feel of the cabin. But some instances like the front profile, rear bumper changes and colour are totally new. Frankly speaking, we like this new look of the Nexon as it looks more modern, more muscular and more SUV- ish. Small highlights to its design give a feel that the manufacturer took the looks of this car quite seriously.

Coming to some dimensional numbers- the length of the car is just under 4 metres, it seats 5 people quite comfortably, has a generous boot space of 350 litres and with a ground clearance of 205mm, you could go over almost any obstacle without frowning. 

Speaking of the cars multimedia features and what it has to offer in terms of comfort- well, we’ve seen Tata check most boxes earlier in the older Nexon as well. Naturally, the Nexon EV too would get loads of features. The top end variant XZ Plus LUX which costs around 16 Lakhs Ex-showroom packs a sunroof, a 7 inch touch screen infotainment system, Projector headlamps, LED tail lamps, cornering fog lights and all the other Nexon goodies.

In the safety department too, there are no compromises. Tata has been repeatedly proving that safety does matter to them. In the Nexon EV, you get ABS, EBD, 2 Airbags, vehicle stability control system, ISOFIX Child seat mounts and much more, which sort of does add to a lot of confidence when one drives the car. However, the addition of side and passenger airbags would’ve made this package a perfect one.

In terms of the drive and feel, this feels like a comfortable, hassle free automatic car (since it has no gears) while not completely alienating you from the Internal combustion feeling. Thanks to its regenerative braking. You do get a new world feeling when you look at the new instrument cluster and the fact that the Nexon EV won’t have to go through periodic oil changes and other service compulsions that the Internal Combustion Nexon would have to go through.

To conclude, the Nexon EV has made quite a mark in the electric car scenario in India. With a competitive pricing and a package that has almost all things covered including safety, what else can one ask for? 

Skoda India has officially launched the Automatic range of their best selling Rapid mid size Sedan. Launched earlier this year, the BS6 Rapid TSI was available with only a 6 speed manual transmission till now.

The Skoda Rapid BS6 is available with a 1.0L TSI 3 cyl turbo petrol engine only producing 110PS Power and 175NM Torque. The manufacturer has introduced a new 6 speed torque converter automatic transmission which is the same as on the Polo and Vento TSI.

This Automatic gearbox is available on all except the entry level Rider variant of the Rapid TSI:

• Rider plus

• Ambition

• Onyx

• Style

• Monte Carlo

Other than the transmission

changes, the top spec Style variant of the Rapid Sedan will carry forward the same features as before:

• Projector headlamps with LED DRLs

• Auto folding ORVMs

• 16” Alloy wheels

• Automatic climate control

• Auto headlamps & wipers

• Cruise control

• 7” Touchscreen system

• Android auto & Apple carplay

• Reverse camera

• 6 way adjustable driver seat with lumbar support

• Leather upholstery

• Auto dimming IRVM

• Front and Rear centre armrests

• Smart Power windows with anti pinch

• Remote central locking

• Rear defogger

• Front and rear fog lamps

Safety:

       Safety features on the Rapid TSI includes:

• ABS with EBD

• Dual airbags

• Side airbags (on Style variant only)

• Perimetric alarm system

• Pretensioner seatbelts

Launch & price:

        The new Automatic range of the Skoda Rapid TSI is priced from Rs9.49L to Rs13.29L (Ex-showroom prices); at a premium of around ?1.5L over the manual variants. The new Rapid TSI competes against the likes of the VW Vento TSI, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna, the new Honda City and the Toyota Yaris.