Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder review, road test

Thanks to its sorted underpinnings and a truly well-judged suspension, the Hyryder inspires great confidence on pretty much every road. It exudes a sense of toughness in the way it smothers tiny undulations, and even absorbs the sharpest of road shocks in its stride. The Hyryder feels refreshingly rugged, which is a rarity in this segment where most of its rivals feel rather delicate. As you up the pace, this Toyota rides flat without any unnecessary body movements, and it remains glued to the road at all times.

While it gets full marks on ride comfort, its handling mannerisms will satiate the requirements of most owners. It changes directions and takes corners rather predictably with a good mechanical grip. Body roll is present, but it doesn’t feel top-heavy or nervous, which is remarkable, particularly when you factor in its impressive 210mm ground clearance.

Drives with a sense of maturity. Suspension feels tougher than rivals.

The steering is light and with a 10.8m turning circle, parking and manoeuvering is convenient, however, it feels vague when in the mood for a spirited drive, so engaging or fun-to-drive like a VW Taigun or Skoda Kushaq it isn’t.

The brake pedal feel in the hybrid version is a bit unnatural due to the regenerative braking function, so initially, when you tap the pedal, there isn’t a corresponding effect. This is followed by a rather abrupt, sharp bite, which is a character you need to get used to. The mild-hybrid version’s brakes feel far more natural. Braking performance in both iterations is par for the course, with disc brakes at each corner.