After Mahindra announced its all-electric offering the XUV400EV, Toyota grabbed all the headlines today, by officially launching its strong hybrid the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. For now, the company has announced the prices of only the top four variants, which range from Rs 15.11 lakh to Rs 18.99 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi).   

Bookings of the Toyota offering have been underway for a while now, for a token amount of Rs 25,000. The Hyryder is developed alongside the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, which is expected to go on sale during the festive season.

While we’ve extensively covered the Hyryder during its unveil two months ago, here are some brief highlights. Design-wise, the Hyryder combines the ruggedness of an SUV, with the sophistication of a luxury EV. This is evident with its sleek bodywork, a very prominent bonnet at the front and big air dams below the LED DRLs.

Connecting them is a chrome strip, similar to the one seen on the Toyota Glanza. The rear features the same design inspiration, with yet another chrome strip connecting the C-shaped LED lights. On the sides, along with the different cuts and creases across its bodywork, you’ll also notice the 17-inch alloy wheels, giving it an upright stance.

The cabin though have an air of familiarity, like the Baleno, Glanza and the new Brezza, which is not a bad thing. The first things you’ll notice here are premium dual-tone interiors and soft-touch leather bits. Then there’s the massive 9-inch infotainment system which comes with all the necessary connectivity features.

Speaking of which, the equipment list here is in abundance, with ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera, a heads-up display and a panoramic sunroof. Safety here is handled by six airbags with ABS, EBD, VSC, cruise control, hill-hold assist and descent control.

As we mentioned earlier, the SUV will be available in both strong and mild-hybrid options. The former comes mated to Toyota’s 1.5-litre TNGA Atkinson Cycle motor, which delivers a combined output of 116PS, mated to an e-CVT transmission. Then there’s the mild-hybrid option, which makes 103PS of power, mated to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Toyota will also offer an AWD system, but only for the mild-hybrid variant. 

Speaking of efficiency, Toyota claims the strong hybrid power plant delivers a fuel efficiency of 27.97kmpl. The company will also offer a 3-year/1,00,000 km warranty which can be extended up to 5 year/2,20,000km, on the mild-hybrid variant. If you do opt for the strong hybrid, the carmaker will offer an 8-year/1,60,000 km warranty.   

The Hyryder’s main rivals consist of the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq.