The Toyota Urban Cruiser, which was released in 2020, was an effort by Toyota to compete in the compact SUV market. However, the Auto Urban Cruiser never fully stepped into its intended role and did not make a substantial market impression. Recently, Toyota strategically removed the Urban Cruiser from its website and dealership, to end a production line altogether. Now, let’s discuss the reasons why Toyota discontinued Urban Cruiser.
Toyota has discontinued the production of urban cruiser for various reasons:
Lack of Unique Identity:
Another devastating issue that Toyota decided to stop production on the Urban Cruiser was to inability to create a separate unique Identity. The Urban Cruiser shared its foundations with the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and did very little to set itself apart from the Maruti. This lack of uniqueness made it difficult for Toyota to develop a brand image and brand identity for the Urban Cruiser. Consequently, potential consumers viewed the Urban Cruiser as a rebranded Brezza and not a distinct Toyota product.
Outdated Design and Features:
The design and features of the Urban Cruiser were unimpressive from the onset. Launched in 2016 as the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, the car looks ordinary. Besides, the Urban Cruiser did not include some standard features and hi-tech safety features like a 10.25-inch fully digital cluster, wireless charging, and a sunroof. This put it in an unfavorable position with innovative models of SUVs with more advanced features.
Limited Engine Options:
Another factor that led to the discontinuation of the Urban Cruiser was its limited engine availability in the market. It is available with only the 1.5L petrol engine, but the Urban Cruiser lacks appeal for customers who are looking for vehicles with more power or even better fuel efficiency. Another factor that worked against it was that it came without a diesel engine and a turbocharged induction.
Increased Competition:
The sub-4-meter compact SUV segment has seen growth in recent years, especially with new competitors like the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet. These modern SUVs came equipped with features, stylish looks, and much better pricing which the Urban Cruiser struggled to match. This was mainly because Toyota did not keep up with the latest features and looks for the Urban Cruiser model.
Poor Sales Performance:
The results of the sales for the Urban Cruiser show that the sales figure had been falling since it was introduced into the market. However, despite estimated growth, the model could not achieve the set market share goals. This could have been due to commercial viability, where Toyota decided to discontinue the production of the Urban Cruiser.
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Bottom Line:
In conclusion, various reasons explain why Toyota has decided to discontinue the production of Toyota Urban Cruiser. However, it seems that the achievement of the model as a product does not appear to have been the cause of the company’s failure, but rather could be attributed to the corporate strategic plans and dynamic of the automobile market in India.
Mansoor Ali, a Feature Writer, embarked on his journey five years ago with showroomex.com, fueled by his enthusiasm for cars. Starting as an eager journalist, he quickly became a seasoned professional, expanding his expertise to cover both bikes and cars. (Full Bio)