Toyota has reportedly made a silent update to the Urban Cruiser Hyryder Strong Hybrid by replacing its 0.76 kWh hybrid battery with a smaller 0.60 kWh unit. The change came to light after a Hyryder Strong Hybrid owner noticed the revised battery specifications during the SUV's first service.
According to reports, the update was introduced in April 2025, although Toyota has not made any official announcement regarding the revision.
Battery Capacity Reduced
The change was first spotted by an owner who recently took delivery of a Hyryder Strong Hybrid S variant. While inspecting the vehicle during its first service after covering around 1,000 km, the owner noticed that the battery label mentioned a 0.60 kWh capacity instead of the 0.76 kWh unit that was previously offered.
Reports also suggest that Toyota has changed the battery supplier. The earlier battery pack was sourced from Primearth, while the new smaller unit is supplied by Toshiba.
What Changes for Owners?
The Toyota Hyryder Strong Hybrid uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor and a self-charging hybrid battery. Under normal conditions, the SUV can move on electric power alone at low speeds before the petrol engine takes over. The electric motor also assists the engine during acceleration to improve fuel efficiency and performance.
Since the battery capacity has been reduced by around 21 %, the SUV's EV-only driving range could be slightly lower than before. Earlier, the Hyryder could travel around 2 km in EV mode under favourable conditions. With the smaller battery, the petrol engine may start sooner, especially during city driving or quicker acceleration.
The electric-only top speed could also reduce marginally, although Toyota has not confirmed any changes to the hybrid system's performance.
Another possible impact could be during long uphill drives, where the electric motor may have slightly less reserve power to assist the petrol engine. However, this remains speculative until the updated model is tested in real-world conditions.
Improved Boot Space
One advantage of the smaller battery pack is a more practical luggage area. Because the battery occupies less space beneath the boot floor, the raised section has been reduced, resulting in a flatter and more usable cargo area.
Will Mileage Be Affected?
Toyota has not released any revised fuel efficiency figures following the update. The Hyryder Strong Hybrid currently has an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 27.97 kmpl, and since the battery size reduction is relatively small, the claimed mileage is expected to remain largely unchanged.
Why Has Toyota Made This Change?
Toyota has not disclosed the reason behind the battery update. However, using a smaller battery could help reduce manufacturing costs while retaining similar fuel efficiency and overall performance. Whether the brand passes on these savings to customers or simply improves production efficiency remains to be seen.
For now, the Hyryder continues to offer the same hybrid powertrain, features, and driving experience, with the revised battery pack being the only reported mechanical change.
