Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is a mid-size SUV built on Maruti-Toyota's shared platform, but its headline trick is the self-charging strong hybrid that lets it run on electric power in city traffic. Buyers also get a more affordable mild-hybrid petrol, a factory CNG option and even all-wheel drive. It rivals the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seonet, leaning on efficiency and Toyota's reputation for reliability rather than outright flash.

On the road, the Hyryder feels deliberately calm rather than sporty. The strong hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with an electric motor and a small battery, and in stop-go city driving it frequently creeps along on electricity alone. That makes it eerily quiet and genuinely frugal, with real-world economy that few rivals can match. The trade-off is that the e-CVT drones under hard acceleration and the car feels relaxed rather than quick, so enthusiastic drivers may find it muted.

The mild-hybrid version is the more conventional choice. It uses a 1.5-litre petrol with a small integrated starter-generator, available with a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic, and the option of all-wheel drive on the manual. It's cheaper to buy and pulls more eagerly than the strong hybrid, but it can't match the latter's fuel economy. The factory-fitted CNG variant adds another low-running-cost angle, though it eats into boot space.

Inside, the cabin is well finished with a clean dashboard, a 9-inch touchscreen, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof on top trims and a head-up display. Space is good for four adults, the ride is absorbent over broken roads, and build quality feels solid. It isn't the most feature-stuffed SUV in the class, and rear-seat width is merely adequate for three, but everything works intuitively.

The ownership case is where the Hyryder shines. Toyota's service network, strong resale and a long warranty on the hybrid battery ease the usual worries about hybrid tech. Safety is reasonable with six airbags on higher trims and a three-star Global NCAP rating. It won't thrill you, but it is one of the easiest mid-size SUVs to live with.