Toyota has taken the wraps off the all-new Yaris Cross SUV that will go on sale in Indonesia first, and was previously previewed as the Urban Cruiser Icon. Not to be mistaken with the Yaris Cross SUV sold in Europe and a few other markets, this all-new car will be sold primarily in ASEAN regions.
- New Yaris Cross sits on DNGA modular platform
- Has nothing in common with the European-spec Yaris Cross
- Gets petrol and petrol-hybrid engine options
Toyota Yaris Cross SUV: what exactly is it?
The new Toyota Yaris Cross sits on the modular DNGA platform (a low-cost derivative of the tech-laden Toyota TNGA architecture) that underpins multiple cars, SUVs and MPVs in the ASEAN markets. Key models that sit on this platform are the Toyota Avanza MPV, the latest-gen Yaris sedan (successor to the Yaris that was sold in India) and the popular Toyota Raize SUV.
The new Yaris Cross SUV sits above the Toyota Raize and will be a direct rival to the Hyundai Creta in markets like Indonesia. The Yaris Cross is 4,310mm long, which makes it a tad longer than the Creta. It gets a 2,620mm wheelbase, which is also 10mm longer than the Creta.
Toyota Yaris Cross SUV: exterior and interior styling
The Yaris Cross SUV gets fresh yet familiar looks comprising of an upright nose, which is slightly angled towards the front, flanked by stylish wraparound headlamps that look a tad similar to the E60 BMW 5-series. The bumper is tall and has a prominent chin that sits below the trapezoidal grille replete with a gloss black treatment. There are also vertically placed fog lamp housings.
In profile, the styling is rather simple with large, squarish wheel arches outlined with contrast black cladding. The front and rear doors look large and there is a small quarter glass on the aft of the rear door just ahead of the slanted D-pillar. The roof is quite upright and tapers just slightly at the back to give that sporty effect.
At the back, the Yaris Cross has an angular look with sharp-looking horizontally placed tail-lamps and a flat-ish tailgate. The overall look of the Yaris Cross, especially from the back, is a lot like the larger Corolla Cross SUV sold overseas.
On the inside, the Yaris Cross gets a multi-layered dashboard with a large, free-standing touchscreen infotainment system taking centre stage. There's also a full-digital instrument cluster along with plenty of physical buttons and dials for key vehicle functions.
Toyota Yaris Cross SUV: powertrain options
The Yaris Cross SUV gets a 104hp, 138Nm, 2NR-VE 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine. The second engine option is a petrol-hybrid motor which couples a 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. Although Toyota did not quote the combined output, the petrol engine produces 90hp and 121Nm of torque while the electric motor produces 79hp and 141Nm of torque. The powertrain is mated to an e-CVT gearbox.
Toyota Yaris Cross SUV: will it come to India?
Toyota is banking heavily on its partnership with Suzuki for made-in-India cars, SUVs and MPVs sold locally and for exports. While the new Yaris Cross SUV has a lot in common with Toyota and Daihatsu models sold in Indonesia and other ASEAN regions, it has hardly anything similar with the Toyota SUVs sold in India and, thus, is not expected to be launched here.
Toyota’s Creta rival for the Indian market is the Urban Cruiser Hyryder SUV, which has a decent order backlog. Additionally, Toyota India has its hands full with the rising demand for the Innova Hycross and the reintroduced Innova Crysta.
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