- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr Ar He
2020 Toyota Yaris Cross SUV. 1st generation
Since 1999, the Toyota Yaris, a compact 3 or 5-door hatchback from Japan, has been produced and successfully sold in many countries of the world. The manufacturer used this model to build the Yaris Cross compact SUV with good cross-country ability and a modern hybrid engine, as well as an eye-catching and rather aggressive exterior. European buyers will be able to purchase the SUV in the second half of 2021. In the meantime, let’s figure out what kind of vehicle it is.
Exterior
The new Toyota Yaris Cross looks more similar to the popular RAV4 SUV than to its ‘ancestor’. Its ‘off-road’ image is emphasized by the essential plastic unpainted protective body kit along the entire lower part of the body. The body is more embossed and voluminous, very different from the body of the standard Yaris. The vehicle has narrow LED headlights, which makes it look more aggressive and dynamic. The taillights are also narrow, interconnected by a narrow LED strip. The vehicle can feature a fashionable two-tone color of the body, in which the roof and pillars will receive a different shade from the rest of the parts. The SUV will have stylish alloy wheels, which are truly original.
The 2020 Toyota Yaris Cross is based on the TNGA lightweight modular platform. The SUV is longer and higher than the usual Yaris. It is 4,180 mm long, 1,765 mm wide and 1,590 mm wide. At the same time, the wheelbase, which was borrowed from the Yaris, has retained its length and is equal to 2,560 mm. The vehicle’s clearance is 170 mm, which is quite good, even for the front-wheel drive version. And with all-wheel drive, the compact SUV’s capabilities will be expanded.
Interior
The interior of the 2020/2021 Toyota Yaris Cross is built in the same way as the hatchback, but there are still differences. For example, the new model features a different dashboard (with a large speedometer in the middle), a different design of the center console, and the new door panels. An important nuance, the back support of the backseat is standardly divided into three sections in a ratio of 40:20:40. The trunk has a two-level floor.
Powertrains
At the start of sales, the 2021/2022 Toyota Yaris Cross will be offered with a hybrid system based on a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 80 hp, paired with a compact electric motor on the rear axle. The total output of the units amounts to 118 hp. The gearbox is an electromechanical CVT. Under normal conditions, the SUV is driven by front-wheel drive. In this case, if the electronics detects insufficient adhesion to the roadway, then a small electric motor will come into action, driving the rear wheels. The all-wheel drive versions feature an independent double wishbone instead of the rear semi-independent suspension. There is a MacPherson strut suspension at the front.
