Test Drive Toyota Urban Cruiser since 2009 SUV

Toyota made Kruzak for the city

Is the Toyota cruisers in a model row? This is an unrealistly popular Land Cruiser in Russia is invariably black, and an eccentric FJ Cruiser, according to which some of our fellow citizens will dry, although it is sold only in North America. The experts will remember that the first generation of RAV4 was also called Fun Cruiser, and the gigantic MEGA Cruiser Japanese analogue of the Hammer was remembered for admirers of army machines.

And recently, one more Toyota was joined in this squadron on the nickname Cruiser this time with the Urban console. We met the city newcomer in Portugal. However, in a novelty Urban Cruiser, except for residents of Europe, which is also addressed. The Japanese machine is known for 2 years under the name Toyota IST, and the analog for American youth is called Scion XD. In general, the whole trip is one base (Toyota Yaris platform), and the design of the exterior varies except with small details.

The chief engineer of the Urban Cruiser project, Kiyokatu Miura responds about the design of the machine like this: the effect of reliability and safety is achieved through powerful bumpers, protruding wheel arches and large disks. Well, you need to recognize the European Studio Toyota

However, under the hood a much more significant difference. If Toyota IST is offered in Japan only with 1.5 liter gasoline engines, and in the US SCION and is completely the most powerful option, the Europeans got relatively modest engines. There are buyers of the B-class machines prefer economical solutions. What they wanted, they got.

The wheel base Urban Cruiser is exactly the same as Yaris, 2460 mm. But in the length of a new crossover from Toyota by almost 15 centimeters more (3930 mm against 3785). It is curious that the Urban Cruiser is even 5mm below yaris, although he has a larger wheel and more clearance

But the savings do not mean a pensioner ride in the right row otherwise how will Urban Cruiser attract young buyers? At first I got a diesel version of Toyota Urban Cruiser. And he, I must say, is quite capable and light. The 1.4-liter motor develops 90 horses and, much more important than 205 roundworthy Newtones indicator of a two-liter atmospheric engine. So now diesel is fun!

Both engines are also known according to the Yaris model. These are two row fourths of gasoline and diesel. The engine with spark ignition is equipped with phasemators already on both camshafts and spending 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers, and the fan of the diesel fuel suffers from a very modest appetite of 4.5 liters at the front-wheel drive version and 4.9 in the all-wheel drive. Among the peculiarities of the turbodiesel fuel injection pressure 1600 bar and torque regiment 1800-2800 rpm

It is only worth the start of the start from the place before telling surprised to friends and girlfriends about the TURBODIZEL'S TRABODIZEL to one and a half thousand revolutions, and the clutch requires habits. Otherwise, it is not even equal to the hour and you will be shy to blush under ukrorized glances.

Otherwise no problems. Traction after 1500 revolutions are very sure, and the motor is twisted cheerfully. And the gearbox is good, working with a lever of six-speed mechanics - a pleasure. There are no other options for the Urban Cruiser yet on the European market, the absence of a machine is not considered a disadvantage.

Despite the coiled body underlined, the Urban Cruiser can boast of a good aerodynamic CX of only 0.315. True, the noises from the wind into the salon almost do not penetrate here the engine solorates, and tires protrud

By the way, despite the Urban console, the newcomer is not averse to ride and outside the settlements. Winding tracks That's where he will give odds to all the other Toyotovsky cruisers! Here in the buzz and the seemingly harsh in the city of the suspension, and a sharp steering wheel, and not even the most outstanding sound insulation of the Diesel's rockness, obsessively penetrates the salon and provokes the driver. But here you want a motor more powerful.

In the steering mechanism, the Urban Cruiser uses an electric powerful, but it is configured to manage urban very well and pleasantly. It is felt that the words of Kiyokana Miura is not an empty sound. To attract buyers, it was necessary to make a special car, comfortable in the city and, at the same time, able to delight on winding roads, Japanese said

But after changing the car, I realized that I was getting glad, suspecting a diesel engine in helplessness on steep serpentines. First, it is worth taken into account that this is not a sports hatchback at all, but, secondly, another version of the Urban Cruiser on the protracted lifts, which are stilenges, is not at all.

Toyota Urban Cruiser should become an alternative to the usual B-Class hatchbacks for people who are no longer suitable for any other reasons. Compact outside, spacious inside it about it

And all because under the hood instead of a gasoline four-liter diesel engine with a volume of 1.3 liters. 101 horsepower This is, of course, an excellent indicator for such a motor, but the thrust in 131 nm is no longer inspired. And this Urban Cruiser really has to be not easy on mountain roads. So it is better not to build from myself Carlos Saints who won the Toyota Celica two championship titles in WRC, and return to the city and try again.

Here, in the roasting pinch of Lisbon, gasoline Urban Cruiser is located in its plate. Few torque? For the city enough! But this motor is quieter, and the suspension is a bit softer (on the diesel version, other settings to compensate for the greater weight of the engine). In addition, the Urban Cruiser with a 1.3-liter engine has another interesting feature.

Toyotovskaya System Start & Stop is more relevant for traffic lights. In the conditions of the sloppy cork on the highway, when the machine moves at intervals of 10-20 seconds, it will rather annoy it to bring real benefits

I rolling into the traffic light, squeezing the clutch, turn to neutral. And silence! The engine is muffled. Green, clutch, the first and motor quickly come to life under the hood. So the Start & Stop system works, designed to save fuel and take care of the atmosphere. True, some reservations are not stopped if the climate control cools the salon. It comes to life and at the danger to plant the battery.

The interior, by the way, is quite good, although it is made of pretty simple materials. Covered with silver plastic of the central console and the lining on the door the solution is ambiguous, but there are few claims to ergonomics. The main spacecraft of the instruments, where the speedometer arrows and the tachometer move towards each other. And the lining-separator on the dial causes a persistent association with horse shores, they would not prevent the driver to not earn squint

By the way, contrary to popular belief that when the engine starts a lot of gasoline, the Japanese declare the opposite. They say, quite at least a minute pause in the work of the motor to justify his stop from the point of view of the consumption. Check in practice it is hardly possible, so you have to believe Toyota engineers for word. We must somehow justify branded technology.

There are small flaws and on the central console, the clock display covers the glossy lining, which constantly glances. Yes, and in the eye of climate control, you have to peer longer than usual, although the climate itself works quite well. But the handle of the checkpoint is pleased with the touch pleasant, and moves easily and clearly

In general, when creating Urban Cruiser, there were several main tasks maneuverability, security and environmental tasks. From the first they sorted out perfectly first, due to a higher landing than in traditional B-class hatchbacks, there is better visibility. And, secondly, handling pleasantly surprises the reaction quick and accurate. You only need to take into account the rather big rolls of the gloomy body.

The seats although they seem flat, but in fact it is not bad to hold even in steep turns. All chip in the thumbs upholstery. Testing machines were with a tissue lounge, and for surcharge, you can order and combined skin and alkantar

For security in response of 7 airbags, active head restraints, ABS and stabilization system, which can be turned off at speeds of up to 40 km / h. And this is all enters the basic complete set of Urban Cruiser! In addition, the Urban Cruiser has an all-wheel drive version, even if only with a diesel engine.

Considering the full set of pillows and all electronic systems of active security, Toyota Urban Cruiser has every chance to earn a five-star rating in the EURO NCAP Association Tests. Which the model is not far from around the corner in Europe for two months and will soon be ruthlessly broken by experts

And now about the third economy postulate. Despite all the tricks like Start & Stop, the diesel Urban Cruiser even consumes less fuel with a full drive than its gasoline relative. Yes, and carbon dioxide emissions are only 130 g / km, which is a record for passenger all-wheel drive cars.

Suspension scheme simplest. Front McPherson rack, and behind the beam. But at the same time, Toyota engineers managed to drag the cardan shaft under it and make the Urban Cruiser all-wheel drive. The coupling has electronic control and the computer command is capable of moving to the rear axle to 50% of the torque. In conventional modes, the machine remains front-wheel drive, and if the driver falls into a slippery situation, then the coupling can be blocked at speeds up to 40 km / h

So is it worth the game of the candle? Why do you need Toyota Urban Cruiser with gasoline car and only front actuator if the diesel version puts it on both blades? Of course, it is worth. This is convinced of this as soon as we look at prices. If the basic model in Germany starts from a 16950 euros, then no less than 22950 euros need to lay out for diesel. The difference is more than a third!

Urban Cruiser trunk is quite decent for cars with such dimensions of 314 liters. And if you fold the rear seat, the volume increases to 749 liters. It is a pity that the smooth floor does not work

And, by the way, Urban Cruiser is much more expensive than the Yaris related model. But Urban Cruiser needs Toyota. After all, the segment B is the most massive in Europe, so why not give customers a choice or feminine yaris, or a rough and incoming Urban Cruiser, which, besides, has a number of advantages like increased clearance or the same all-wheel drive transmission.

All urbans are equipped with 16-inch wheels and tires of dimension 195/60 R16. True, in the database there is an ordinary stamping, and for alloy wheels or, for example, a system of smart access without a key will have to pay extra

In Europe, he will go. Not in vain Toyota developed Urban Cruiser for old light. There, young people will not attract it with the stickers of Sparco and Recaro, will not put 4 silencer from the motorcycle on it and does not toned the lanterns to then squeeze everything out of the 90-strong engine with the roar. There will be a lot of motors who managed to bring fuel consumption to the appetite of supermodel, and local environmentalists plunder are plundered for small harmful emissions. With appropriate tax relief

And what about Russian prospects? They are still foggy and there are reasons. We have Toyota Urban Cruiser waiting with the open arms of Kia Soul and Suzuki SX4. They are more, have more powerful engines, automatic checkpoint and, most importantly, they will be cheaper in our market anyway (as cheaper they are in Europe). After all, now even a five-door Yaris is comparable in cost with the competitors of Urban. Yes, and the possibility of production in Russia and the subsequent decline in prices does not believe those volumes.

In Europe, Urban Cruiser addresses young active families and people aged 30-40 years. But who will buy it from us? For young people, he will be too expensive, Russian women are mostly not friends with mechanics, and men are unlikely to taste not the most powerful engines. Even if Toyota decides to sell a compact crossover in Russia, sales will be almost visible against RAV4 or Camry.

So our compatriots are unlikely to buy on a cool design, crowning and youth accents Urban Cruiser. Diesel on mechanics we have no more popular than non-alcoholic beer from football fans (according to statistics, in Russia in the SUV segment on such a combination accounts for only about 6% of sales). Start & Stop System in frosty days when the Salon does not have time to warm up even by the end of the trip, we will be unsuitable. Moreover, in traffic jams, the driver sweeps faster to Claxson than you have time to touch. And the main thing is that our Cruiser prefix will always be associated with Land Cruiser. This is, it seems, the Russian size.


Vadim Gagarin
Photo: Vadim Gagarin and Toyota Company


 

A source: AUTO.Mail.Ru.