Looking for an SUV? Here’s our handy easy buyer’s guide to Toyota’s range of SUVs in Singapore

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Deciding on which new car to get is never easy. This handy guide has everything you need to know about SUVs – from the types of SUVs available to the advantages of owning one, and even how to select the one that best suits your needs.

What is an SUV?

SUV stands for Sport Utility Vehicle, and while they may have their origins from the 4×4 off-roaders that descended from military use, today’s SUVs are more well-known for their all-round practicality and versatility. They have evolved into family-friendly vehicles that offer plenty of interior room and boot space to be a kind of do-everything machine that makes them the right fit for the average family.

As SUVs also retain a sort of rugged and sporty image from its utilitarian ancestors, which strengthens its appeal to those seeking an active lifestyle. Many SUVs have a taller ride height than a regular sedan, and some of them offer all-wheel-drive capability, which means you can take them off the beaten track to indulge in your weekend activities, such as hiking or cycling, if you so desire.

SUVs come in many sizes, ranging from smaller ones that are suitable for the younger families, to larger models, such as 7-seater SUVs that can accommodate larger families, while offering better visibility on the road. Like regular cars, SUVs are also available with various electric drivetrain options – namely hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and full electric powertrains.

Read here to find out the different types of electric cars in Singapore

If you need a bigger car that can transport many people and fit big and bulky items at the same time, you might want to consider a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), such as the Toyota Prius+ or Toyota Alphard Hybrid. Toyota offers an extensive range of 7-seater MPVs that can meet your requirements.

Why are SUVs popular?

SUVs are sought-after by families for their elevated driving position, off-road abilities, and generous space and comfort. As they are generally taller and have more interior head room than a regular car, this makes it easier for parents to deploy child seats without having to bend their backs too much, while older family members also have an easier time getting in and out of the car. SUVs thus offer greater practicality and easier access over a standard sedan or hatchback, while offering enough room that benefits larger families, making them a popular choice for families with kids and elder persons.

Toyota SUVs are further equipped with a list of impressive safety features that are favoured by many. To name some, the Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) and Lane Departure Alert (LDA) are features found in the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) package, ensuring that your family will always be protected.

Read here to find out more about Toyota’s Safety Sense features

A good SUV is likely to have plenty of storage space and compartments within the cabin, as well as practical features such as folding seats and roof racks to accommodate items of various shapes and sizes.

Toyota SUVs: What makes them unique

Toyota’s reputation for quality and dependability brings with it the kind of mass market appeal that gel with the SUV buying audience of today. Get to know three of Toyota’s SUV models in Singapore below to find out which suits you best. All of them are full hybrid models, and each of them has their own unique personality.

Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid – ‘The Young and Practical’
1.5-litre, 110hp, 5-seater

The Yaris Cross Hybrid is a perfect car for the young and young-at-heart, offering easy drivability with modern features along with excellent hybrid efficiency.

Its compact dimensions make it the ideal urban runabout, being easy to drive, easy to park and easy to manoeuvre. The Yaris Cross is also immensely practical, with its 390-litre capacity boot and multiple storage solutions within the cabin letting you store plenty of stuff for your daily usage or weekend pursuits.

Having a Cat A-eligible 1.5-litre engine, with 110hp matched with a highly-efficient hybrid powertrain, results in a fuel consumption figure of just 26.3km/L. Despite its affordable price tag, the Yaris Cross comes with all the TSS features, as well as additional ones like the Blind Spot Monitor and Parking Support Brake (PKSB) which you won’t find in similar-sized cars from other brands or parallel imported models. This makes the Yaris Cross one of the most frugal and value-for-money cars you can buy on the market right now, with its suite of safety and extensive features that helps you save on your fuel bills.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – ‘The Adventurous’
2.5-litre, 215hp, 5-seater

The RAV4 Hybrid is the perfect all-round family SUV, offering plenty of space, practicality and safety, while also delivering great efficiency thanks to its hybrid powertrain.

Its greatest appeal is its combination of rugged styling paired with family-friendly practicality. It offers plenty of space for a family of five, while its 542-litre capacity boot ensures that there is lots of room for everything you need, whether that’s the weekly shopping or your weekend family activities. Along with its tall ground clearance, the RAV4 Hybrid is the perfect companion for all your outdoor adventures.

The latest RAV4 Hybrid features a 2.5-litre engine paired with a hybrid drivetrain that produces a total of 215hp, but more impressively, also delivers a fuel consumption figure of just 21.2km/L. This makes it ideal for long family road trips, allowing you to drive further without having to stop and refuel too often.

Toyota Harrier Hybrid – ‘The Luxurious’
2.5-litre, 215hp, 5-seater

The Harrier Hybrid is the SUV of choice for those looking for premium refinement and luxury features. As a hybrid, you can enjoy a smoother and quieter ride befitting of a premium SUV.

Its sleek and bold styling front makes it stand out from the crowd. Behind, its dynamic design details and aggressive stance with full-width rear LED lights further accentuates Harrier’s unique looks.

Inside, the Harrier’s driver-focused cockpit gives it an ambience that truly elevates the driving experience as you sit in the soft touch interior upholstered in plush leather. The experience is topped off with premium features like the ventilated seats and dual-zone aircon with nanoe™X air filtration system that are available as standard. Combined with the ambient lighting in a Harrier, driving home after a busy day at work can now be calming and zen. To further enhance the luxury experience, upgrading to the Luxury variant will also get you the dimmable panoramic moonroof and digital rear view mirror.

The Harrier Hybrid powered by a 2.5-litre engine paired with a hybrid powertrain, produces a total of 215hp. Drive the Harrier in comfort and tranquillity with a 21.2km/L fuel consumption, getting you both luxury and efficiency in a single package.

Which is the right SUV for you?

Like buying any other car, make sure that you’re buying an SUV that fits into your lifestyle. Aside from checking for enough space and the right features to meet your needs, you may also want to consider if the SUV you’re eyeing fits into the image that you want to portray.

If you’re a younger driver who simply wants an easy-to-drive and practical SUV, you might probably go for a fun-sized model like the Yaris Cross Hybrid. For families who like to go on adventures, a larger-sized and rugged-looking SUV like the RAV4 Hybrid might be more suitable. Meanwhile, an executive who wants the best combination of practicality and luxury may see the Harrier Hybrid as the perfect fit.

Book a test drive to check the SUVs out for yourself today!

Brought to you by Toyota