Toyota Taisor crosses 20,000 sales, packs a punch among compact SUVs

The Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor, which is Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM’s) sole offering in India’s fast-growing compact-SUV segment, has surpassed the 20,000-unit sales milestone since launch in April 2024. The SUV, which is the rebadged version of the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, and is one of the four cross-badged products in India under the Toyota-Suzuki global alliance, is giving a strong charge to the Japanese carmaker.

Between April and November 2024, the Taisor has clocked sales of 20,208 units, thus averaging 2,526 units in monthly volumes. This means Toyota’s smallest and most affordable SUV in India has contributed 10% to TKM’s total sales of 203,555 units in the same period and has emerged as a formidable option in the compact-SUV segment which, at present, comprises more than 10 products of including the Tata Punch and Nexon, Maruti Brezza and Fronx, Hyundai Venue and Exter, Kia Sonet and Nissan Magnite. Within seven months of launch, the Taisor found a spot in the list of Top 10 compact SUVs in FY2025 with overall sales of 16,558 units until end-October 2024.

At 3,995mm long, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor is a sub-four-metre crossover which finds its roots in the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. Eyeing the growing demand for SUVs, in April 2023, Maruti Suzuki India launched the crossover version – Maruti Fronx – of its popular premium hatchback and ruffled the market with its well-priced, fuel-efficient and spacious crossover that is positioned below the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and caters to a wider audience with its competitive pricing.

A year later, TKM followed suit, and after discontinuing its sub-four-metre Urban Cruiser SUV in November 2022, re-entered the segment and presented the market with a competitive product from the Toyota stable. With the option of a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine coupled with a 5-speed manual or AMT, as well as a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol powerplant that offers both 5MT and 6AT options, the Taisor is a key product in the TKM portfolio. With an aggressive starting pricing of Rs 773,500 (ex-showroom) for the base E MT variant, the Taisor marks the entry point into Toyota’s wide range of mid- and full-size global SUV and MPV products, and creates a customer pull towards an aspirational brand.

Multi-powertrain approach
While the 90hp, 1.2-litre, K-series engine-powered Taisor forms the bulk of the car’s volumes, the added advantage of a factory-fitted CNG option, makes it widen its appeal to attract customers eyeing a fuel-sipping option for their regular commutes.

On the other hand, while convenience seekers gravitate towards the AMT, the localised 1.0-litre Suzuki Boosterjet engine caters to driving enthusiasts. However, unlike competing products from Hyundai and Kia, as well as Tata Motors, which offer the choice of diesel powertrains as well, the Taisor only offers petrol-only options.

The turbocharged Taisor, whose 1-litre petrol engine develops 98hp, offers a 93hp-per-tonne power-to-weight ratio.

Although the turbocharged engine in the Taisor gets a lower compression ratio compared to Hyundai-Kia’s 1.0-litre GDI (gasoline direct injection) mill doing duty in the Sonet and Venue compact SUVs, the turbo-lag at lower engine revolutions is contained by the torque multiplication offered by the 6-speed torque-convertor unit. In its automatic transmission form with the Aisin-sourced 6-speed torque-convertor automatic unit, the turbocharged Taisor, with 98hp on tap, offers a 93hp-per-tonne power-to-weight ratio. Once the revolutions rise beyond the 2,000rpm mark, the engine offers a strong mid-range performance.

The engine features Suzuki’s mild-hybrid technology with an integrated starter generator (ISG) that allows engine auto start-stop functionality to reduce fuel consumption, while also offering torque assist under hard acceleration. The six-speed automatic transmission also features paddle shifters that allow manual control over the drivetrain.

On-board tech, equipment
While the Taisor is fundamentally based on the Maruti Fronx, Toyota has undertaken changes to the injection-moulded aesthetic parts, including the front and rear bumpers, DRLs, as well as tail-lamps, to differentiate the two models from one another. The 16-inch alloy wheels on the Taisor also look visibly different to those on the Fronx.

On the inside, the car features a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, 360-degree camera, six airbags, as well as three-point seatbelts for all occupants. While it misses out on a sunroof the car uniquely features UV-cut glasses on all four windows with a 70 percent visual light transmission (VLT) as well as a head-up display, which relays navigation inputs as well as vital vehicle information like speed in the driver’s line of sight.

To enable the 190mm ground clearance, over the Maruti Baleno’s 170mm, the suspension setup on the Fronx and Taisor has been uprated, and with its higher suspension travel, offers a superior and more compliant ride than the base hatchback. With the implementation of high-tensile steel in the car’s BIW, the Taisor also sports robust construction and a kerb weight of 1060kg, which enables surefootedness even at higher speeds while offering agile handling as well.

The Toyota Taisor also offers connected car features such as vehicle location tracking and remote engine start option by virtue of its Toyota iConnect telematics suite. Despite a lower ground clearance compared to its chief Korean competitors that offer better visual appeal of an SUV, a robust foundation in the Fronx that offers plentiful space inside the cabin, the Toyota Taisor is one of the most-sound, family-friendly compact SUVs, which is complemented by the promise of Toyota’s top-notch aftersales service and quality standards.

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