Yaris Cross! Toyota reveals an all-new hybrid compact SUV

The ever so popular Toyota Yaris has now got a bigger brother! This is the Yaris Cross compact SUV - which was planned to debut at the cancelled Geneva Motor Show last month - but has now been unveiled online. It is a hybrid crossover that makes use of Toyota’s fourth generation hybrid technology, already in use in the Corolla, Camry and RAV4. Its hybrid 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is rated at 116 horsepower.

The Cross is offered both as a front-wheel-drive and a all-wheel-drive and like the regular Yaris, it is built on the new GA-B platform and has the same 2,560mm wheelbase. However, it is 240mm longer than the hatchback for a total of 4,180mm (60mm added to the front overhang and 180mm to the rear), is 1,765mm wide (+20mm) and 1,560mm high (+90mm) and it rides 30mm higher.

The appearance of the newbie is of course inspired by the hatch but its front end appears to be more tamed than its sibling and features a smaller grille along with a smoother bumper.

The profile reveals a rugged SUV appearance what with the wheels surrounded by special cladding along with a black roof which contrasts nicely with the specially-created Brass Gold paint.

The back features similar sculpted and bulging lines like the smaller Yaris but overall the body is bigger and that means more interior space for passengers. It also gets a power back door and adjustable deck height.

Toyota promises a perfect balance at the rear between passenger space and cargo needs.

Connectivity will play a major role in the Yaris Cross – just take a look at the size of that center-mounted infotainment screen! It also has a digital instrument cluster in front of the steering wheel but although Toyota has not revealed any specifics yet, it all looks pretty impressive.

The Yaris Cross is packed with the whole range of safety and driver assistance systems Toyota is regularly using, packed in a suite the carmaker calls Safety Sense. It allows to driver to be in the loop with all that’s going on around the car through early warnings, and gives them a helping hand when need be from automatic braking and steering intervention. Expected to be on the market in early 2021, it will sell mostly in Europe - but hopefully it will make it to our shores too.