XploreCabsTempo traveller for hirePart of:Tempo Traveller Hire in Bangalore
Published 7 min read
| Criteria | Force Urbania | Standard tempo traveller |
|---|---|---|
| Ride comfort | Higher | Good, varies by vehicle |
| Seat layouts | Few | Many |
| Availability | Book early | Widely available |
| Budget | Higher | Lower |
| Groups above 17 | Not suitable | Larger layouts available |
Newer, car-like passenger van with a smoother, quieter ride and a taller cabin.
Best for: Families with elders, corporate guests and long hill-station drives
Typically priced above a comparable standard tempo; get a written quote.
The long-running Force Traveller platform offered in many seat layouts by most operators.
Best for: Budget groups, larger groups and late bookings
Generally the lower quote for similar seating; confirm inclusions in writing.
Our verdict
Choose the Urbania when comfort and presentation matter and your group fits its layouts; choose a standard tempo traveller for flexibility, availability and budget.
Quick answer: Pick a Force Urbania when ride comfort, a quieter cabin and a newer-looking vehicle matter most, such as a family holiday with elders, a corporate guest movement or a wedding party. Pick a standard tempo traveller when you want the widest choice of seat counts, easier last-minute availability and usually a lower quote. Both are driven by a professional driver and both suit Bangalore group trips of roughly 9 to 17 people.
Ten years ago, if you asked a Bangalore operator for a group van, there was really one answer: the boxy Force Traveller that everyone simply calls a "tempo". Today, more and more enquiries end with a second question from the customer: "Do you have an Urbania?" The Urbania is Force Motors' newer, more car-like van, and it has quickly become the vehicle people ask for by name. That raises a fair question. Is it actually better for your trip, or is it just the shinier option?
This guide compares the two side by side, the way you would compare them if you were standing in the operator's yard with both vehicles parked in front of you.
The standard tempo traveller is the long-running Force Traveller platform. It is offered by rental operators in many seating layouts, from compact 9 and 12 seaters up to 17, 20 and 26 seat versions, with AC or non-AC options and a variety of interior fit-outs. Because it has been around so long, nearly every fleet in Bangalore has several.
The Force Urbania is a newer van built on a monocoque-style body with a flatter floor, a more aerodynamic front and a cabin designed from the start for passengers. Rental fleets usually list it in roughly 9/10, 13 and 16/17 seat configurations. It is fewer in number, so availability is tighter, especially on long weekends.
Exact specifications, seat pitch and features differ by model year and by how each operator has fitted out the interior, so treat the comparison below as general guidance and confirm the details of the specific vehicle you are offered.
On a six to eight hour drive to somewhere like Ooty, Kodaikanal or Coorg, ride comfort adds up. Passengers in an Urbania tend to notice less body roll, a lower cabin noise level and an easier step-in. If your group includes grandparents, small children or anyone prone to motion sickness, that difference is real and worth paying for.
For a corporate client pickup, a destination wedding shuttle or a milestone family trip, the Urbania simply looks more premium in photos and at the hotel porch. That is not a practical reason, but many hosts care about it.
The taller, flatter cabin makes it easier to move to the back row without crouching. On trips with frequent stops, this quietly saves time and complaints.
If your group is 20 or 24 people, the Urbania is not the answer at all. The standard platform covers far more sizes. Our comparison of 12 vs 17 vs 26 seater tempo travellers walks through those larger layouts.
During Diwali, Christmas week or a long weekend, the Urbania is often the first vehicle class to be fully booked. A standard tempo gives you a backup and more operators to approach.
Because there are more of them and they have been in fleets longer, standard tempo travellers are generally quoted lower than an Urbania with similar seating. For a budget-conscious college group or a pilgrimage group splitting costs, that gap can decide it.
Many experienced drivers have spent years on the Traveller platform, including on ghat sections like the Kodaikanal or Ooty climbs. That familiarity is reassuring, although good Urbania drivers are increasingly common too.
When you request quotes, make sure both vehicles are priced on identical terms: the same per-km or package basis, the same minimum daily kilometres, and clarity on driver allowance, tolls, parking, state permits and night charges. A quote that looks cheaper may simply exclude something the other includes. Interstate permit rules and fees change, so check current rules with the operator rather than assuming. Ask XploreCabs whether the ₹1,500 off on eligible outstation rides applies to your booking (T&C apply).
Picture a 6 am departure from Hebbal towards Mysore and onward to the hills. In the first hour, inside city traffic, you will barely notice a difference; both vans crawl at the same pace. Once you hit the expressway, the Urbania's quieter cabin starts to show. Conversations happen without raised voices, and people in the last row are less likely to ask for a break because of the bumps.
By the lunch stop, the standard tempo traveller's advantages appear in other ways. Its driver may know every dhaba on the route, the roof carrier has swallowed the extra bags, and the group has saved money that goes into the resort bill instead. On the ghat climb in the afternoon, both vehicles do the job when a careful driver is at the wheel; slow, steady driving matters far more than the badge on the bonnet.
At the end of the day, families with elders usually say the Urbania was worth it. Groups of friends in their twenties often say they would happily take the regular tempo again. Neither group is wrong; they valued different things.
Tip: if you are torn, ask the operator for photos of the exact interior of each vehicle you are being offered. Seat quality and AC performance vary more between individual vans than between the two models.
There is no single winner for every Bangalore group. The Urbania is the better travel experience; the standard tempo traveller is the more flexible and usually more economical choice. If comfort is the priority and your group fits its layouts, book the Urbania early. If you need a particular seat count, a tighter budget or late availability, the standard tempo remains a dependable workhorse. For a broader look at renting in the city, see our tempo traveller rental guide for Bangalore.
In most cases, yes. The Urbania was designed as a passenger van, so passengers usually notice a smoother, quieter ride and more headroom. Comfort still depends on the specific vehicle and its upkeep, so ask about the model year.
It is usually quoted higher for a similar seat count because there are fewer of them. The exact difference depends on dates, distance and the operator, so request written quotes for both on the same itinerary.
Bangalore fleets commonly list it in around 9 or 10, 13 and 16 or 17 seat layouts. Confirm the exact passenger count with the operator before booking.
Yes, it is used on hill routes. What matters most is an experienced driver and following local rules on the route, which can change, so check current rules before travel.
No. Urbania layouts do not cover that size. Look at a 26 seater tempo traveller or a mini bus instead.
It can be hard because supply is smaller. Book as early as possible and ask for a standard tempo traveller as a backup in the same enquiry.
XploreCabs offers ₹1,500 off on eligible outstation rides, T&C apply. Ask the team whether your specific Urbania or tempo booking qualifies.
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