Toyota Taisor long term review, 11,500km report

Toyota’s Taisor Turbo is a car that is both practical and fun in equal measure. Over the months we’ve had the Taisor, it has provided both practical transport and an elevated fun factor you don’t regularly see in this class of car.

The party piece, for sure, is the engine. Runs up the power band were regularly enjoyed every time I got even a whiff of a gap in traffic. And what makes it work well is that at just over a tonne (1,030kg), the Taisor makes full use of its 100hp and 148Nm of torque from the direct-injection engine.

While the Taisor doesn’t give the impression of being spacious on the inside, passengers seated in the rear were always happy with the legroom; there’s a padded elbow rest that adds comfort, and the rear vents and USB-C ports add convenience. The cabin may not be luxurious, but it’s functional and reasonably well-thought-out. And while the 360-degree camera doesn’t have the best resolution, it is a genuinely helpful feature I somehow tended to use every day; the front camera coming especially handy quite often.

Rear camera works most of the time, but there seems to be a loose contact, so the feed gets cut.

Then, there are the quirks. The boot offers around 300 litres of space, which is enough for three to four soft bags, but the loading lip is quite high. Lifting heavier items over it becomes a chore. The cabin plastics are sub-optimal. Hard surfaces are everywhere – from the dashboard to the phone tray and wireless charging pad, which doesn’t hold the phone well, especially over uneven surfaces. Even the footwell is noticeably cramped, especially for your left foot. Moving from the dead pedal to the clutch can sometimes get unnecessarily tight and awkward, especially if you are in a hurry.

Plastics, in general, aren’t built to high standards, more so in areas you don’t normally encounter.

Another area where the Taisor falters slightly is cabin insulation. Road noise, engine sound and city commotion seep through more than they should. In quieter places, this passes unnoticed, but in Mumbai’s relentless traffic, it often becomes apparent.

Despite being turbocharged, real-world fuel efficiency is reasonable. In regular city driving, we easily averaged between 12 and 14kpl. Push it harder, and those figures dip closer to 10kpl. That’s expected of a fun-to-drive turbo-petrol, and most buyers will find those numbers acceptable.

Clean, clear dials look great and are easy to read, even if all you can manage is a quick glance.

Some features I’d have liked to see are cooled seats, a sunroof and perhaps a few ADAS options. The Taisor does come with cruise control and a colour MID between analogue dials – and those dials, by the way, are super clear and refreshingly easy to read. One glance at the needles tells you everything you need to know, and that means your eyes can get back to the road without having to linger – safer and less stressful.

It’s a compact crossover that punches above its weight and proves that you don’t have to sacrifice fun at the altar of practicality. And six months in, that blend of usability and enjoyment has made the Taisor feel like a genuinely well-rounded package.