The Yamaha Cruise golf cart, a product with a heritage dating back to its launch in 1975, has been constantly evolving and the 2024 variant continues to impress. Available in both petrol and electric versions, the Cruise starts at an ex-showroom price of ₹7.65 lakh, with the top model, the Cruise YDR AC 6-seater electric, priced at ₹9.24 lakh.
This model is primarily utilized in golf courses, hotels, resorts, airports, and for factory tours, often referred to as a golf buggy or golf car. It offers versatility with 2, 3, 4, and 5-seater variants, and even a pickup model, ensuring there’s a Cruise to suit various needs. Despite its widespread usage, it’s important to note that these golf carts are restricted to private areas and are not allowed on public roads.
The Yamaha Cruise golf cart comes with a one-year warranty, ensuring customer satisfaction and reliability. Assembled across three countries—USA, Japan, and Thailand—it reflects a commitment to global standards of quality and accessibility. Yamaha has successfully sold over one million golf cars, underlining its popularity and trust within the market. Among its range, the 2-seater and 5-seater models are particularly in demand, catering to both personal and commercial needs. Furthermore, Yamaha is pioneering in the field of autonomous vehicles with ongoing tests in Level-4 Autonomous Driving technology. This advancement aims to make future versions of the Cruise suitable for use on public roads, potentially expanding its usability beyond private areas.
The Yamaha Cruise boasts impressive dimensions, measuring 4.1 meters in length, 1.2 meters in width, and 1.8 meters in height, with a standard ground clearance of 105 mm that can extend up to 150 mm with high wheels. It has a kerb weight of 635 kg, coupled with a turning radius of 5.7 meters, making it both sturdy and agile. Equipped with 12-inch alloy wheels and drum brakes at the rear, it ensures a smooth and safe ride. The tires are 155/65 R12 71T Bridgestone B290 radial tubeless, providing durability and excellent traction. Available in a variety of colors including dark grayish green, white, red, blue, silver, and grey, the Yamaha Cruise offers aesthetic options to suit different tastes and settings.
The 6-seater model being reviewed comes with forward-facing seats, which is a typical configuration, but there is also an option for two rear-facing seats. It is equipped with a robust AC motor drive system and features an automotive-style HybriCore chassis with a polyster/urethane powder topcoat. The body is made of thermoplastic olefin, enhanced with a two-part topcoat of automotive-grade polyurethane, ensuring durability and a sleek finish.
The Yamaha Cruise is designed to handle challenging terrains with a 15-degree gradeability, making it highly capable on slopes and uneven surfaces. It operates on a 48-volt system, providing ample power for all its functions. The history of electric golf carts, which started with the first custom-made model in the USA in 1932, underscores the long evolution leading to modern versions like the Cruise. Yamaha enhances the efficiency and usability of this model with its smart charger, motor control unit, and the Genius2 PDA intelligent diagnostic system, all designed to optimize performance and ease of maintenance. Additionally, its PowerTech AC technology is particularly effective in hilly areas, not only providing strong power output but also maintaining high energy efficiency.
Yamaha’s commitment to innovation is evident in their ongoing testing of Level-4 Autonomous Driving technology, aiming for future models to be road-legal. This golf cart is also equipped with modern amenities such as LED headlights, a motorsport-inspired polycarbonate windshield, custom rain cover, and a cooler kit.
Performance-wise, the electric version boasts a Trojan lead acid battery, delivering 6.7 horsepower and approximately 7.6 Nm of torque, reaching a top speed of 31 kmph and a range of 30 km on a full charge, which takes about 8-10 hours.
The Cruise also excels in its design, offering ergonomic contoured seats with 24 cm of legroom, an automotive-style dashboard for extra storage, and a fold-down clear windshield. Suspension is well-handled with a fully independent strut at the front and coil springs with a swing arm at the rear.
Yamaha has also integrated smart technology into the Cruise, including a custom-made smart charger, a motor control unit, and the Genius2 PDA intelligent diagnostic system, enhancing efficiency and ease of maintenance. Additionally, the YamaTrack app allows users to monitor various features of the cart from their smartphones.
The Yamaha Cruise features a Climaguard top with a 360-degree double rain channel, designed to offer superior protection against the elements, ensuring comfort in various weather conditions. Additionally, the advancement in golf cart technology now includes solar-powered options, reflecting a move towards more sustainable and energy-efficient models. The Cruise is equipped with rack and pinion steering, providing precise and responsive handling that enhances the driving experience.
Overall, the Yamaha Cruise golf cart presents a reliable, versatile, and technologically advanced choice for those in the market for a premium golf car, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern innovations.
