Toyota details production Yaris Cross

Tuesday, 1 September 2020

Toyota's all-new Yaris hatch is here now, kicking off an entire family of Yaris-badged vehicles.

Toyota’s upcoming Yaris Cross will bring a higher-riding stance to accompany the new Yaris hatch when it launches in New Zealand later this year.

The newcomer – which will grow the Toyota New Zealand SUV/crossover offering to seven model lines - has gone on sale in Japan this week. New Zealand pricing is set to start at $29,990 for the GX variant, $33,990 for the GX Hybrid and $38,990 for the Limited Hybrid. All local versions are FWD.

It will slot into the market with dimensions noticeably larger than the recently launched Yaris hatch but more compact than the C-HR which at present is the entry-point to the Toyota SUV/crossover range.

This is the production Yaris Cross. Look familiar?

The Yaris Cross is also expected to bring a further extension of Toyota New Zealand’s hybrid model portfolio.

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That’s because it’s more or less a jacked-up Yaris hatchback with some extra flair.

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The wheelbase is identical to the new Yaris hatch but the body is longer overall with 60mm added to the front overhang and 180mm to the rear to increase the load capacity.

There is a 60mm increase in ground clearance and 90mm in overall height while exterior cladding accounts for the Yaris Cross being 20mm wider. The muscled-up styling includes prominent and squared wheel arches than can accommodate wheels up to 18-inch diameter.

Alongside the C-HR, the Yaris Cross is 205mm shorter, sits only 5mm lower and is 30mm narrower. The CH-R rides on a wheelbase 80mm longer.

There won’t be too many surprises elsewhere when the Yaris Cross arrives in New Zealand. The new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engines – in both conventional and hybrid application – are carried over from the Yaris hatch while the latest content in Toyota’s Safety Sense package is also expected.

Along with the muscled-up exterior appearance Toyota has focused on design convenience and practicality with Japan market models having a powered tailgate as standard.

There is also a 60:40 split and adjustable height luggage deck to provide secure underfloor compartment or increased load space. The Yaris Cross also boasts a 40:20:40 split folding rear seat system.

Yaris Cross will join one the growing segments of the new car market and extend Toyota New Zealand’s comprehensive SUV/crossover range as a new arrival alongside the existing C-HR, RAV4, Highlander, Fortuner, Land Cruiser Prado and Land Cruiser 200 Series lines. And don’t forget the recently revealed Corolla Cross.