Toyota Yaris Cross made its world debut

KUALA LUMPUR: It seems like the global pandemic is not going to stop Toyota from unveiling its new creations. After the official release of new Harrier crossover in the domestic market earlier this month, the brand wrapped off the covers of one more model i.e., Toyota Yaris Cross. Originally planned to be revealed at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, the world debut of the brand’s smallest SUV has taken place yesterday. 

The car sits below the C-HR in the Toyota’s lineup and measures 4180 mm in length, 1765 mm in width, and 1560 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2560 mm. As compared to Yaris hatchback, it is 240 mm longer, 20 mm wider, and 90 mm taller. It also adopted the 'GA-B' platform from the hatchback.

In the matter of exterior styling, the Yaris Cross seems closer to the robust and bulky bigger stablemate, RAV4, rather than the fancy C-HR. In the front, high-mounted headlights are positioned above an upright fascia, whereas the other design appointments include slim LED tail-lights, muscular and flared wheel arches, off-road-look grey side skirts, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

On the mechanical front, the Yaris Cross has two drivetrain options - petrol-only and hybrid. The petrol version houses a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine paired to either a CVT or a 6-speed manual. The hybrid trim is also powered by the 1.5-litre mill but with the advantage of electric motors and optional e-AWD. The petrol-only models exclusively have a front-wheel-drive option.

The combined output of the hybrid system stands at 116 PS. The firm claims the FWD models will have CO2 emissions of less than 120 grams per kilometre while the AWD model will emit below 135 grams per kilometre as per the European WLTP cycle.

Inside the cabin, the pint-sized SUV features a large infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The semi-digital instrument cluster positioned in front of the driver seems borrowed from Corolla hatchback. Multi-zone climate control and an electric parking brake are among the other technological applications.

The Yaris Cross will be launched in Japan in Autumn this year, and in Europe mid-2021. Though, no official word has come about the launch in Malaysia yet.

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