Force Urbania Review: Surprisingly Friendly!

If your family has outgrown MPVs and you need a bigger alternative - the Force Urbania might be exactly what you need!

If your entire family is together in today's world, then this is a very special thing. And in joint families, it's the most fun to travel with people, even if they are going on a picnic or for a function. And for this work, of course, you will prefer the Toyota Innova Hycross, because it has become a benchmark for family MPVs.
 
But I can guarantee you that you are forgetting an option in the range of Rs 30-35 lakhs, or you don't even know that it exists, and that is Force Urbania. You can also register it privately, and 10 members of your family can sit in it and go comfortably, plus there are many ways to customise it. So can Urbania become the next ‘car’ for your big family, or a customised ride for your small family, or will one or two Innovas be better for you? 

Private Registration Rules

Now it is obvious that you must be thinking why am I showing you a commercial car, and your family will not travel in any traveller, but wait a little. This is the 9 + driver variant of Urbania, which means that you can also register it privately. 9 passengers plus driver is the maximum limit of any car to register it on a white plate. On top of that, this Urbania is made on a monocoque chassis like a car, so in terms of driving and comfort, it behaves like a car for a long time. So you can drive it yourself, and you won't need any special licence. Plus, if you want, you can also customise the cabin as per your needs.

Key

With the Force Urbania, you don't get a simple key like a traveller, but a key like a car, which also comes with lock and unlock switches. But of course, there is no passive keyless entry request sensor on the door. The good thing is that you can also turn on the hazards by pressing the key.

Looks

Despite this being the smallest Urbania, it is fairly big. Its length is about 18 feet, height is 8 feet, and width is about 7 feet. However, because of its aerodynamic styling, it hides its size quite well. But when you come close to it, then you understand how big it really is. But apart from its styling, it has a lot of premium elements. For example, you get LED DRLs, LED indicators, projector headlamps, and a separate chamber for a high beam. Plus, of course, you also get fog lamps. But at night, the intensity of these headlamps is not that good, despite being so big. So if you are thinking of buying this car, then definitely upgrade the headlamps.

 
From the side, its height and the entire glass panel are its highlight. You also get 16-inch wheels. These are made of steel and have a wheel cap on them. But the good thing is that you get disc brakes on all four wheels. If we talk about the rear, then the design is also a bit quirky. The good thing is that you get LED tail lamps here. And the offset number plate looks a bit off. In terms of overall looks, this Urbania looks a lot like Ford Transit. Which is a very good thing because it is a very good-looking van. If you make a few modifications to it, like a black colour with black tinted glasses and black wheels, then it will look amazing.

Luggage Space

If you have an Urbania, then there should be no shortage of luggage space, right? However, this Urbania is its short wheelbase version, which means that you get very little space behind the last row. Yes, you can keep some suitcases and bags under the seats. But if there are a lot of big suitcases in the family, then they will not be able to fit here easily. For that, you will have to install a carrier on top if it is legal.

In the Hycross or any other family MPV, you get only the space to keep overnight bags behind the last row. But the best thing is that you get a medium wheelbase Urbania instead of a short wheelbase - the last row space is completely empty in the 9 plus driver configuration. And then, there is no shortage of space. You can keep as many things as you want and in fact, Force itself sells a luggage rack where you can also stack your luggage properly. The longer wheelbase version is Rs 3 - 3.5 lakhs more expensive than this model. 

Interiors

Passenger Cabin

In commercial vans, there was always a little problem in going to the back seat. You had to go through the front door by folding the seat. But in Urbania, there is no such problem. Just slide this door and lock it. And then you have an easy step to go inside. Grab rails further helps ingress. Plus, a light has also been given here to aid in the dark. Once you are inside, you get a lot of space. The height here is so much that you can easily walk in this car without ducking. Even if your height is 6 feet, you will be able to stand here and walk.

 
The front seats and the last row seats get a lot of legroom because of the wheel well. The least amount of legroom is in the middle row - so let's talk about these. Urbania's passenger seats are comfortable. Their cushioning is a little firm, which helps you avoid fatigue on long distances. The seat back also has a bit of contouring - which keeps you comfortable. The good thing is that you can also recline these seats to a large extent. So in long journeys, you will be at ease here. And finally, you also get fully adjustable armrests as well. 

The windows are huge and because of this - a lot of heat comes in. Maybe because of this, the air conditioning of this car is excellent. You get separate controls to control the rear air conditioner and the front air conditioner. And when it blows very cold air to cool down the cabin quickly. Furthermore, every seat has its own AC vents. Which can be adjusted completely or can also be closed. Also, every seat has its own individual cabin lights, to charge the phone, every seat has its own USB chargers and every seat has its own bottle holders. Plus, every seat has its own lap belt. 

Customisation 

But there is no shortage of possibilities in Urbania. You can upgrade these seats by giving them better foam or add better covers or armrest. However - if you want to turn it into a caravan - there is no limit on customization. You can leave these front seats and put two big captain seats in the back along with a folding seat bed, two bunk beds, tables, bathroom and a lot more. You can customise this whole cabin according to your requirements. Yes, of course, the range of customisation can vary from affordable to very expensive.

Driver’s Cabin

It is very easy to get in and out of Urbania because there is a side step with its own light along with ergonomically placed grab handles. The cabin is also designed like a car and not like any truck or bus. The steering is completely straight the way it is in cars and this driver's seat is customisable with height, slide and recline adjustment. In fact, the steering wheel also adjusts for tilt and reach. And then comes its instrument cluster which is of course analogue. But in the middle you get a digital screen where all the vital information is given like trip and efficiency. And apart from this, all the other controls whether they are lights or AC stay within your reach making the cabin very ergonomic. 

I do have a few complaints. Firstly, its ORVMs are manually adjustable and there are no manual adjustment levers inside. And secondly, there is no IRVM here. So it is a little difficult to see behind. If there was a cabin conversation mirror here, it could have been easier to talk to the family. 

Cabin Practicality

There is no shortage of practicality and storage here either. You get a bottle holder on the dashboard, there is space in the middle to keep your phone and wallet, the driver has his own phone slot, the passenger has his own phone slot with a charger, and the driver and passenger both have covered storage. If this is not enough - you also have a glove box and double decker door pocket which are massive. Of course, you are going to get limited features in the Urbina. But the basics have been covered here.

Features

Urbania offers all the basics. You have power windows for both the driver and passengers with one touch down, manual AC, mood lighting, cabin lighting and finally a 7-inch touch screen with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This comes with a two-speaker sound system. However, the speaker blanks are installed throughout the cabin so can easily be upgraded. 

Safety

Because Albania is a van, you might feel that the safety features have been ignored. But thats not the case. You get airbags for the passenger and driver. You also get ABS, EBD and electronic stability programmes. And if you are going to take this car to a mountainous area or a snowy area - you get the convenience of auto hold. And as I mentioned before - disc brakes in all four wheels so its braking performance is also impressive.

Engine And Performance

When you start driving for the first time - you feel a little nervous. But after driving it for a few kilometres, you start to understand that it is like a very big SUV. The steering is light, the clutch is very light and the vision outside is excellent. And while the gearbox is conveniently placed, it sometimes causes a problem shifting in first and second. If Force would have given an automatic transmission with the Urbania - it would have been very easy to drive for private buyers.

The 2.6-litre diesel engine here is derived from a Mercedes-Benz engine. Now the engine that was derived from is very old and that can be felt. The refinement is not very good and the engine is also fairly audible. But there is no problem in drivability. The 350Nm torque means that even if you stay one gear up, the Urbania continues to run smoothly. You don't have to shift much in the city and commutes can easily be done in 2nd, 3rd gear. 

Even on the highways, cruising at 80-90kmph is easy. Plus, the floorboard for  the driver is of a very good size. There is no dead pedal here but the seat is mounted tall, you can easily keep your feet on the ground. For a big van, the mileage is also impressive. When you are cruising on the highway. It can return 11 to 14kmpl and when you are driving it in the city, expect 8 to 10kmpl, depending on how much load you are driving with. 

Ride And Handling 

While you don't get the smooth ride that you get in SUVs or MPVs, the Urbania remains surprisingly stable. Even on bad roads when you go a little slowly, the van doesn't move much and keeps the occupants at ease. The suspension also cushions you well. And while in the front of the cabin you can hear the engine, the back cabin remains quieter.

If there is an issue, then it is finding a parking space for it. You can't take it to the mall because the height is a problem for mall entrances. Plus, it doesn't fit in the parking spots of regular cars. So you have to park it outside the mall or the restaurant. Even if you find a parking spot, it requires skill to park it properly. The good thing is that it has a high-mounted reverse parking camera which makes things easier. 

When it comes to handling - the Urbania behaves just like a big SUV. Body roll remains in control and changing lanes on the highway feels natural. Even taking a high speed turn won’t make you nervous.

Verdict

The Force Urbania is indeed a very capable van. But it is not for everyone. First of all, its very big which makes it very difficult to find parking anywhere. Second thing, in its short wheel base version, you don't get space for luggage. If this is important for you, then you will have to buy its medium wheelbase version where you can easily install a luggage rack at the back. And finally, if it had an automatic transmission, then it would have been even easier to drive. 

However, the other aspects of the Urbania are quite impressive. The most surprising thing is that it is a very big monocoque structure which makes its driving dynamics and comfort feel like a large SUV. If you were looking for a van to make into a camper - then it is very difficult to get a better choice than this. Even without any modifications, your whole family will comfortably go in the Urbania together laughing, playing and having fun. And because it looks good, you won't hesitate to take it anywhere. So if your family has outgrown the MPVs, then the Force Urbania is exactly what you need.