Toyota’s rebadged version of Maruti Suzuki Fronx unveils on April 3

Toyota’s rebadged version of the Maruti Suzuki Fronx has been anticipated for long, and the company has now officially confirmed its debut on April 3. In August 2023, Toyota trademarked the “Urban Cruiser Taisor’ nameplate in India, which is what we expect the rebadged Fronx will be called. As is the case with the existing shared models between both brands, we expect some cosmetic differences inside out, although it will remain identical under the skin. 

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: new exterior and interior

The updates on the rebadged Fronx can be expected to be on lines of the Baleno-Glanza as the Fronx itself is based on the Baleno. One can expect an all-new bumper with revised headlamp clusters, new LED daytime running lamp signatures, new alloys wheels, new tail-lamps along with a revised rear bumper. There will be no sheet metal changes – the differences are only going to be on the soft plastic parts.

On the inside, the dashboard will be identical to the Fronx, but it’s expected to come finished in new colours and trim materials. The seats are also expected to get new upholstery. And while the equipment list on top-spec models will be identical, from the pattern seen on existing shared models, Toyota is likely to offer the rebadged Fronx in fewer trims. Toyota will also offer better standard warranty to bring about some more differentiation.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: powertrain options

The Fronx has two engines on offer – a 1.0-litre BoosterJet unit that makes 100hp and 147Nm, and a 90hp, 113Nm naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine, with a 5-speed manual as standard. As for automatics, the turbo-petrol gets a 6-speed torque converter automatic while the petrol gets a 5-speed AMT.

It's certain that the 1.2-litre petrol engine will be carried over to the Taisor – over 80 percent of Fronx buyers opt for this engine – but it remains to be seen if the Boosterjet is carried over as well (for instance, the Invicto doesn’t carry over the regular petrol engine from the Hycross).

If it does, then it will be the first turbo-petrol motor in Toyota’s line-up that’s primarily dominated by hybrids and diesels. The Fronx is also available with a CNG powertrain option and this should carry over to the Toyota derivative as well.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: rivals and launch

The Urban Cruiser Taisor will mark Toyota’s return to the sub-4m SUV space after the Brezza-based Urban Cruiser was discontinued in late-2022, albeit in a new coupe-SUV guise. Apart from the Fronx, it will rival other compact SUV such as the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, Maruti Suzuki Brezza and more. In terms of price, expect a marginal premium over a corresponding Fronx.

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