Toyota Yaris Gets Crossover Treatment

Originally, Toyota Motors was set to showcase its all-new crossover based on the Yaris hatchback at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show but it was shelved due to the unfavourable circumstances that prevail across the world. While various manufacturers have opted for the online introduction of their new products, Toyota initially decided to hold its horses. However, the wait for the 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross is now over as the Japanese company has finally released the new product digitally.

Standing under the Toyota C-HR in the company’s global lineup, the Yaris Cross gets longer overhangs. This has led to an increased overall length of 4,180 mm while carrying over the donor supermini’s wheelbase of 2,560 mm. The Yaris Cross is also 20 mm wider and 90 mm taller than the Yaris hatchback.

The 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross comes with a conventional styling which can be arguably an excellent move of Toyota to attract buyers who aren’t interested in the C-HR’s quirky appearance.

Toyota has successfully developed the Yaris Cross with optimum practicality over the hatchback sibling. While the larger footprint already makes the Yaris Cross more practical, the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats even enhance it to a new level. Power tailgate comes as an option for buyers while the floor on the cargo area can be split into two and adjusted in height to make the luggage loading and unloading easier. The Yaris Cross even offers a belt system to secure the goods in place and prevent them from flying all over the boot.

It’s another wise move of Toyota to bring in an all-wheel-drive system to the Yaris Cross, given the fact that AWD is not so common in the European small SUV market. The Toyota Yaris Cross also features a hybrid powertrain system including a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine coupled with an electric motor. Notably, the combustion engine can work to power the car in the front-wheel-drive mode while the AWD system will kick in once the sensors notice poor grips.

The Yaris Cross’s powertrain churns out a combined power of 116 HP, which is quite adequate for an urban crossover. As claimed by the company, the Yaris Cross returns the CO2 emissions rated at below 120 g/km (for the front-wheel-drive) and below 135 g/km (for the AWD model) as per the WLTP cycle.

The company has no plans of introducing the Toyota Yaris Cross in the Indian market. The high-riding small SUV will be launched in Japan later this year, followed by the Europe markets by mid-2021.