At the beginning of 2019, Toyota organized an event in Amsterdam to unveil its future plans in Europe. It was here that the launch of its first compact SUV with a hybrid mechanism inherited from the previous generation of the Toyota Yaris was announced.
This model could not be officially presented at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show as it was canceled due to the current pandemic. Thus, until now, we had only been able to see it virtually on the screen.
Small Yet Powerful SUV
Toyota’s new SUV utilizes the latest modular architecture within the company, the so-called GA-B platform, which is the same platform used by the new Yaris and is very similar in terms of mechanics.
Its body has its own style, crucial for standing out in such a competitive market segment. The lines are more striking and robust, and its length is 24 cm longer than the Toyota Yaris but doesn’t reach the height of the C-HR, improving the driver’s seating position and providing more cargo space.
Official dimensions indicate that the new SUV measures 4.18 meters in length, 1.77 meters in width, has a total height of 1.56 meters, and a wheelbase of 2.56 meters. In short, it is a sporty yet very compact SUV, despite its high-class elements, such as the 18-inch wheels.
The new hybrid vehicle combines a three-cylinder, 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle engine with an electric motor, which can be selected along with the intelligent all-wheel drive AWD-i, an advantage that most of its competitors do not have.
With this powertrain, the Toyota Yaris Cross can deliver 116 horsepower, and its fuel consumption per 100 kilometers ranges between 4.6 and 5 liters.
The robustness of its exterior perfectly complements a well-finished interior. As standard configuration, it will be equipped with Toyota Safety Sense and all the safety systems it includes, such as intelligent adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, or sign recognition.
