Top 12 Best Buys 2024: Budget crossover: Toyota Urban Cruiser

In a segment dominated by value-for-money propositions, our editorial team chose the Toyota Urban Cruiser as the Budget Crossover winner. 

Criteria

In defining the pool of competitors, we factor in size (anything smaller than midsize SUVs) and price (roughly up to the R350 000 mark). Value is a key criterium, as are practicality and features.

Looking for your next new or used budget crossover? Find it here with CARmag. 

Winner: Toyota Urban Cruiser

Toyota Urban Cruiser

Image: Toyota

For its combination of bold styling, robust quality and – in a segment where value for money is becoming ever more of a final arbiter – competitive pricing, the second-generation Urban Cruiser earns top honours in this year’s hotly contested budget-crossover category. The Suzuki-based product features a broadly efficient 77 kW/138 N.m 1.5-litre engine, is spacious and versatile enough to cater to most small families and even offers 210 mm worth of ground clearance for a modicum of adventure-focussed prowess.

It comes with a service plan that covers the first four services (within 60 000 km) and is backed up in our market by one of the largest dealership networks available. It even offers on-board WiFi.

Our favourite variant:

Urban Cruiser XR manual – from R347 400

Runner-up: Suzuki Fronx

Toyota Urban Cruiser

Image: Suzuki

The Suzuki Fronx makes a compelling case. Compact yet versatile, it’s tailored for budget-conscious South Africans. Its plucky design, sturdy interior and reasonable space make this Baleno-on-stilts a strong contender.

Runner-up: Kia Sonet 

Toyota Urban Cruiser

Image: Kia

With its easy-going road manners, generous specification (including a four-year/60 000 km service plan) and solid construction, the Kia Sonet impressed the CAR team back in our February 2022 issue group test.

Browse over 26 000 new and used cars here with CARmag.

The post Top 12 Best Buys 2024: Budget crossover: Toyota Urban Cruiser appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage
Read more

Top 10 Best-Selling Automotive Brands Locally – April 2024

Image
Following eight consecutive months of sales decline, the milestone of celebrating a century of vehicle production locally saw a welcomed increase in the motor industry for April 2024. Have a look at the data below, which sees Toyota drop in sales but retain the top spot, with Suzuki moving into second and Nissan dropping to the bottom of the list without the NP200 rolling off of the production line. Image: Toyota Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! South Africa is marking 2024 as a significant year for its automotive industry, celebrating 100 years of car manufacturing. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa , the country’s automotive business council, commented, “As the sun rises on a century of automotive innovation, South Africa proudly commemorates a century of automobile manufacturing excellence. This milestone reflects a journey of resilience, ingenuity, and passion that has shaped the nation’s automotive legacy.” Details on how the industry will commem
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th
Read more