Toyota To Introduce Off-Roader SUV, To Compete With Thar And Jimny In India; India Launch Expected Next Year

Japanese manufacturer Toyota Motors is in the works to launch a mini SUV in the Indian market and is reportedly known to have trademarked the name Land Hopper and has applied for the Land Cruiser FJ name in Japan. A few months back, Toyota introduced a new mini off-roader SUV based on the Land Cruiser 250 series. Toyota is planning to launch this mini off-road SUV in international markets like the US and Japan, as well as India. This SUV is designed for off-road adventures and will go up against vehicles like the Mahindra Thar and the Maruti Suzuki Jimny in India. It is anticipated that Toyota will launch this mini SUV in India by next year.

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As per media reports, this mini Land Cruiser is expected to get both optional hybrid and electric powertrains. These powertrains could be based on the compact cruiser EV concept that was shown a few years ago. There are also speculations that it might be called Light Cruiser or Yaris Cruiser. 

The mini Land Cruiser off-roader SUV looks akin to the compact cruiser EV concept while featuring a rugged look with an eye-catching design. The design of Toyota’s off-roader SUV features tall pillars and an almost flat roof. It's about the same size as the Corolla Cross but bigger than the 5-door Jimny and is built on a strong chassis. Its dimensions are 4,350mm long, 1,860mm wide and 1,880mm tall. Other notable exterior features include round LED headlights and a spare wheel on the back. 

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Talking about the powertrain configuration of the mini Land Cruiser, it is expected that it will offer either of the engine options like the 2.0-litre petrol engine from the Corolla Cross, the 2.5-litre petrol/hybrid engine from the RAV4 or the 2.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel engine like the one in the Prado and Hilux. It is also expected that Toyota will be offering a mild-hybrid powertrain. Post its launch, it is expected that this Toyota off-roader SUV will prove to be a potential competitor to the two popular off-roader SUVs in India, Mahindra Thar and Maruti Suzuki Jimny.