Toyota’s partnership with Suzuki has resulted in a new addition to their range, this time based on the subcompact Fronx, manufactured as an affordable subcompact SUV
- The Taisor is a subcompact SUV designed for the Indian market, heavily based on the Suzuki Fronx, with a front fascia inspired by the Land Cruiser.
- It uses Suzuki’s Heartect platform and offers petrol, mild-hybrid and CNG powertrain options.
- At 3,995mm, it is Toyota’s smallest SUV in the world, which is likely to remain in India due to the presence of the larger Yaris Cross in other markets.
Toyota and Suzuki continue to expand their badge engineering collaboration in emerging markets such as India and South Africa. The latest expression of this partnership is the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor, an affordable subcompact SUV tailor-made for the Indian market and closely related to the Suzuki Fronx. Like its counterpart, this model uses Suzuki’s Heartect platform and offers petrol, mild-hybrid and CNG powertrain options.
Toyota designers have studied the rebadging process long enough to know that subtle adjustments can make significant changes to a car’s appearance. In this context, the smaller grille and Toyota-specific LED headlight graphics help the Urban Cruiser Taisor stand out from its Suzuki twin, despite the rest of the bodywork being shared between the two.
More: Suzuki is reportedly working on an all-electric minivan
In a quest to bring more Toyota-ness into the Suzuki, the sleek daytime running lights were inspired by the headlights of the Land Cruiser Series 300. Naturally, Toyota added its own decals, color palette and 16-inch alloy wheels. Despite the efforts, we have to admit that the larger SUV twins Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Suzuki Grand Vitara are a more successful case of subtle rebadging.
The interior is a spitting image of the Suzuki, with the exception of the Toyota emblem on the steering wheel. There’s no digital instrument cluster, but the 9-inch freestanding infotainment supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. High-end trims also get a head-up display and a wireless charging pad. Don’t expect sophisticated ADAS, but Toyota at least offers six airbags.
Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor
Suzuki Frontx
At 3,995 mm (157.3 inches) long, the Urban Cruiser Taisor is the smallest SUV in Toyota’s global lineup, sharing this compact size with the Daihatsu-based Raize. For perspective, the Toyota Yaris Cross, available in Europe, Japan and Australia, is 185 mm (7.3 in) longer.
While it remains unclear whether Toyota has implemented model-specific suspension tuning on Suzuki’s Heartect architecture, the powertrains are indeed shared with the Fronx. The base model features a naturally aspirated 1.2-liter petrol engine generating 89 PS (66 kW / 90 hp), which is also available in a CNG variant.
Alternatively, drivers can opt for the 1.0-liter mild-hybrid turbo engine, which delivers 99 PS (74 kW / 100 hp). Power is routed to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission or various automatic options depending on the powertrain chosen.
The Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor is currently available to order in India, with prices starting from RS 7.74 lakh ($9,279) for the base model and RS 13.04 lakh ($15,633) for the fully loaded turbo automatic. Interestingly, these figures place it slightly above the Suzuki Fronx, which starts at RS 7.52 lakh ($9,016).
While the size, styling and mild-hybrid configuration of the Urban Cruiser Taisor seem suitable for the European market, Toyota is unlikely to export it there. This is because the more advanced Yaris Cross already fulfills a similar role in that region. It is worth noting that apart from India, the Suzuki Fronx is exported to the Middle East, South America and Africa.