The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s first midsize SUV launched on September 9, 2022, turns two years old today. The rebadged version of the Maruti Grand Vitara has, since launch 24 months ago, sold a total of 90,607 units in the domestic market till end-July 2024 (see wholesales data table below) and should cross the 100,000-unit mark later this month (September 2024).
At end-July 2024, the Hyryder was 9,393 units shy of the 100,000-unit sales. Along with August dispatch numbers, it will achieve the milestone in September.
The Toyota Hyryder is essentially a modern-looking SUV which exudes a rugged look that’s sportier than its donor model, the Maruti Grand Vitara but both midsize SUVs are identical in every other way. The Hyryder’s upmarket, well-appointed interior talks comfort and the features list is a generous one albeit the fully loaded trim levels are exclusive to the strong hybrid variants. And there’s the lure of the Toyota badge too.
Toyota India entered the midsize SUV market much later compared to most of its rivals in this segment but the Hyryder seems to be making up for lost time. The petrol-only SUV is currently available in 13 variants – 8 petrol, 2 CNG and 3 strong hybrid – and priced from Rs 13.10 lakh (on-road Delhi) for the base E variant through to Rs 23.22 lakh (on-road Delhi) for the top-end V Strong Hybrid eCVT variant. Interestingly, the Hyryder has the distinction of being India’s first SUV to get CNG power when TKM launched the CNG variant, which delivers mileage of 26.6 km/kg in November 2022.
The Urban Cruiser Hyryder pairs a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine with a lithium-ion battery-powered electric motor driving the front wheels.
The Hyryder’s USP is its strong-hybrid petrol powertrain, aimed to fill the void created by the lack of a diesel engine and to also bridge the gap between petrol and electric vehicles. With a claimed fuel efficiency figure of 27.97kpl, the Hyryder is one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available in India and benefits from technology which is able to minimise losses in a pure IC engine by electrification to leverage benefits such as brake-energy recuperation and turning off the engine while idling excessively (see Toyota Hyryder driving impression).
In FY2023’s last seven months, with limited production, the SUV sold 22,839 units which made for average monthly dispatches of 3,262 units. In FY2024, the Hyryder’s total wholesales at 48,916 units were a handsome 114% YoY increase, with the monthly average improving to 4,076 units. In a field teeming with rivals including the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, Mahindra Bolero, Bolero Neo and Thar, Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, the Toyota Hyryder did well to be ranked sixth.
Hyryder currently Toyota India’s best-selling rebadged model
Following Toyota Corp’s global product-sharing pact with Suzuki Corp, TKM’s move to introduce Maruti-rebadged models has paid off handsomely. At present, there are now four badge-engineered models in India bearing the Toyota logo – the Glanza (based on the Maruti Baleno), Urban Cruiser Hyryder (based on the Maruti Grand Vitara), Rumion (based on the Maruti Ertiga) and the Urban Cruiser Taisor (based on the Maruti Fronx).
These four Toyota models, with cumulatively sales of an estimated 51,314 units between April and July 2024, accounted for 52% of TKM’s total PV wholesales of 97,867 units (up 35% YoY). Wholesales data for the April-July 2024 period reveals that the Urban Cruiser Hyryder midsize SUV with 18,852 units, up 58% YoY, is currently the best-selling of the four rebadged models (see data table below).
In FY2024, of the two rebadged models – Glanza and Hyryder – the Glanza with 52,262 units was ahead of the Hyryder (48,916 units). In the current fiscal’s April-July 2024 period, the Hyryder is ahead of the Glanza by 1,001 units (17,851 units).
Toyota India set for record sales in FY2025
Toyota Kirloskar Motor has been having a splendid run in the past two years and the Hyryder has contributed a fair share to that growth. In FY2024, TKM registered total passenger vehicle sales of 245,676 units, up 42% YoY, of which the Hyryder (48,916 units) accounted for 20 percent. Within the utility vehicle sub-category, of TKM’s total UV dispatches of 191,065 units, the Hyryder’s share was an impressive 25%, the next best after the Innova Crysta/Hycross MPV (98,180 units and 51% UV share).
In the first four months of the ongoing fiscal, TKM has dispatched 18,852 Hyryders, which constitutes 58% year-on-year growth (April-July 2023: 11,914 units). This total is 19% of TKM’s total PV sales of 97,867 units in April-July 2024 and 24% of its UV sales of 79,446 units. And the Hyryder continues to be the second highest contributor to TKM sales after the Innova twins (34,975 units) and 1,001 units ahead of the Glanza hatchback (17,851 units). And July 2024’s 7,419 units have been its best monthly numbers yet.
Till end-July 2024, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has already achieved 40% of its FY2024 PV sales total. With the festive season having begun with Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam on September 15, Navratra net month and Diwali in November, and sustained strong demand for most of its products, it could be surmised TKM could drive past the 300,000 units mark for the first time in FY2025. Expect the Hyryder, which has clocked 38% of its FY2024 sales in the first four months of FY2025, to continue its strong contribution to overall TKM numbers.
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