Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella Variant Grades Explained - What's The Difference?

Entering a new chapter in its India journey, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) revealed its first-ever electric SUV for the domestic market on January 20. The battery electric vehicle (BEV) is called the Urban

Cruiser Ebella and it will compete in the rapidly growing mid-sized EV segment in the country. The Ebella has several key highlights, including an EV-specific architecture, over 500 km of claimed range and the option of two different battery packs. Here are the variant grades that give us an idea of how the Ebella EV variants will differentiate.

The Urban Cruiser Ebella variants will mainly be defined between three grades, Grade E1, Grade E2 and Grade E3. Between these, the biggest differentiating factor would be the battery capacity. Toyota has already unveiled that once launched, the Ebella will offer the option of two battery packs, with a 49 kWh capacity and a 61 kWh capacity battery offering up to 543 km (ARAI) claimed range. While Grade-E1 will only be available with the 49 kWh battery, Grade-E2 and E3 will have the option of the larger 61 kWh battery and the smaller one as well. The difference lies in the power output. Where Grade-E1's electric motor produces 142 hp and 189 Nm torque figure, Grade-E2 and E3's motor produces a higher 171 hp output, irrespective of the battery pack capacity.

We expect the Grade-E1 model to also miss out on some advanced features such as Level 2 ADAS, 18-inch aero wheels, panoramic glass roof and more. While Toyota has not announced any prices for the Urban Cruiser Ebella yet, the market expects it to be priced between Rs 15 and Rs 25 lakh. However, the starting cost for Toyota's first electric SUV in India might be much lower than expectations.

Also Read: Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella Bookings Open In India - Check Booking Amount, Range And More

That is because Toyota also announced that the upcoming Ebella EV will be launched with the option of BaaS (Battery as a Service) ownership model with an assured buy-back program. This would allow early adopters to bring home the Ebella at a much lower upfront cost, as they would not have to pay for the battery pack. Under the BaaS ownership model, the consumer pays for the vehicle but not the battery. The battery is considered under a subscription model for which the consumer pays a monthly subscription fee calculated on a per-kilometre or distance-driven basis. Based on Ebella's price expectations, the upfront cost for the electric SUV could drop significantly, between Rs 10 to Rs 12 lakh, making it accessible to a wider audience. For those who would go for the entire EV as a whole, Toyota has also announced an 8-year warranty on the battery.