Toyota and Maruti Suzuki jointly developed two new SUVs, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder and the Grand Vitara for the Indian market. Both SUVs were launched in September 2022 and received positive response from buyers. The new SUVs are currently available with two engine options – a 1.5-litre NA petrol and Toyota’s 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with strong hybrid tech. The JV is also aiming to add one more powertrain option to the mid-sized line-up, and both models will receive CNG version.
Toyota has already started accepting bookings for the new Urban Cruiser Hyryder CNG at a token amount of Rs 25,000. Interested buyers can book the CNG Hyryder online or at authorised dealership network. The Hyryder CNG will be the first CNG-powered model in the midsize SUV segment. It will be the first model in its category to be offered in 3 engine options including a 1.5L NA petrol with a mild hybrid tech, a 1.5L petrol with strong hybrid tech and a CNG version.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG version will also be launched in December 2022. The CNG kit will be offered with Suzuki’s 1.5-litre K15C, 4-cylinder engine. This powertrain currently powers the Ertiga and the XL6 CNG. The CNG version will be offered with the 5-speed manual gearbox. The CNG version is claimed to offer a certified fuel economy of 26.10km/kg. As a reference, the XL6 CNG MPV is claimed to return a fuel efficiency of 26.32km/kg.
The 1.5L K15C 4-cylinder engine is capable of producing 103bhp and 136Nm of torque. In CNG mode, the powertrain produces 88bhp and 121.5Nm of torque. This is around 15bhp and 15Nm drop compared to the regular petrol version. Previous reports claim that the Hyryder CNG will be offered on the mid-spec S and G trims of the standard SUV. The G trim gets a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay support, connected car tech, LED lighting, ambient interior lighting, 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP & 17-inch alloy wheels.
