It’s a hybrid all right: conceived by a strategic alliance between Toyota and Maruti, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder AWD is precisely the progeny that both its parents had hoped to create. Its traits are clearly visible and delineated into two distinctly different strands of automotive DNA, and yet so well intertwined that it’s hard to tell where Maruti ends and Toyota begins, and the other way round. But there’s one characteristic that both manufacturers see eye to eye on: practicality and utility. Not surprisingly, the Hyryder has that in spades.
But I’m getting ahead of myself here…let’s backtrack a bit. At first glance, or the first time you get behind the wheel, it’s hard to put a finger on what it is about the Hyryder that you like. No, ‘like’ is the wrong word: it’s more like a comfort zone that envelops you from word go when you get inside the Hyryder’s curiously familiar cabin and drive off. The best way to describe it is like a feeling you get when you’ve been to a place before. It’s familiar, it’s comfortable, and once you get a measure of the pliant engine, it’s confidence building. The Hyryder is not prejudiced and drivers of all abilities will feel instantly comfortable behind the wheel. This is not a car meant to intimidate you.
But let’s be candid: with the war on oil burners in the Capital, there’s no prospect quite as scary as gassing up a petrol-powered SUV (Just ask anyone driving an automatic petrol Mahindra Thar). And since this platform will not cover gas bills for long-termers, keeping the Hyryder AWD for two months felt a bit like taking a white elephant home, especially when the other car in the garage happened to be the MG Comet (that runs on little more than love and fresh air).
Our fears were unfounded. The USP for the Hyryder—and it’s easy to miss given its considerable merits at face value—is its spectacular frugality. The AWD is a ‘mild hybrid:’ nomenclature for ‘start-stop’ and regenerative- braking tech charging a small battery. It plays but a supporting role to the ICE but is no gimmick: the Urban Cruiser Hyryder consistently managed 18-20 kmpl in our city driving and performed even better on the highway. Those are gobsmacking figures for a tall, well-built SUV-ish vehicle that imparts a sense of real safety to its occupants. And that’s important, especially in North India where people’s stature is often determined by the real estate their ride occupies. The Hyryder is no push over.
It’s no rocket either. And I suspect the limitations of the 1.5 litre heart will be exposed on long rides. But for those not looking to do speed runs the Hyryder should prove adequate. It sits in a cosy spot; not too staid for young people, and the older generation will love it. It gets the job done, looks reasonably good, doesn’t break the bank, and is chunky enough to claim space on Indian roads. The AWD comes with snow and sport modes that create another level of capability in what is otherwise an ‘urban cruiser.’ Given how economical this variant is on fuel consumption—and the modest powertrain in the Hyryder—the AWD makes a strong case over its siblings. It’s never going to be a serious off-roader, but the AWD just gives you that extra bit of ability, should you need it. There is a premium to be paid for the AWD variant but given the absolutely ridiculous prices for consumer vehicles in India these days, the Hyryder AWD is value for money. Just the opinion of this writer. Don’t take his word for it. Drive both, the Hyryder and its stepbrother, the Suzuki Grand Vitara to see which avatar works for you—the AWD however, is only available on the Hyryder. Similarly, trying to identify the providence of different elements of the Hyryder—Maruti or Toyota—is an unfair exercise. You can’t get the Hyryder with good old western reductionism.
After a couple of months, the Hyryder is gone. Typically, the period immediately after a long termer has gone back gives a good indication of how much we connected with the car, and how useful it was. We do miss the Hyryder: not like you would the object of a tryst, but more like the friend you’d want by your side in a bar brawl—solid, dependable, and straight up; no drama, just substance. The kind of friend who frees you up just by dint of who he is. The Urban Cruiser Hyryder AWD is not particularly exciting to drive, but it feels like it’s got your back.