Toyota Yaris Cross launched as new rival to Hyundai Creta

This B-segment SUV is completely different from the Yaris Cross sold in Europe, and is exclusively for the Southeast Asian market.

The new Toyota Yaris Cross is developed from the DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) platform of its subsidiary Daihatsu, shared with many other products of the Japanese manufacturer in the Southeast Asian market. These include the Toyota Avanza , the new generation Yaris sedan, the Raize , and the Vios .

The new crossover model is positioned above the Raize and below the Corolla Cross , directly competing with the Hyundai Creta. The car is 4,310 mm long, 1,770 mm wide, and 1,615 mm high, slightly smaller than its competitor, but the Yaris Cross has a wheelbase of 2,620 mm, which is 10 mm longer than the Creta.

The Yaris Cross's exterior features familiar lines, partly resembling the Highlander and partly the Corolla Cross. The front end is flat and slightly protruding, with angular headlights. The bumper sits high below the glossy black trapezoidal grille. The fenders are black, contrasting with the car's paint color. The rear is also boxy, with sharply styled, horizontal taillights.

The dashboard features a multi-layered system, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system centrally located on the dashboard. A 7-inch digital instrument cluster and the rest are numerous physical buttons.

The Yaris Cross boasts notable features such as a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, interior lighting, wireless phone charging, hands-free trunk opening, electronic parking brake and automatic brake hold assist, along with 6 airbags. Additionally, the SUV includes a blind spot monitoring system with rear collision warning, hill start assist, electronic stability control, ABS brakes, electronic brake force distribution, parking sensors, and the Toyota Safety Sense package.

Toyota Yaris Cross launches as a new competitor to Hyundai Creta. — A digital clock, a touchscreen for the infotainment system, and a multitude of physical buttons all around. Photo: *Toyota*

The new SUV also features the T Intouch connectivity system – a feature already available on some Toyota models in certain markets. This technology allows owners to connect with the Yaris Cross via an app, offering useful features such as vehicle location tracking and maintenance scheduling.

The Yaris Cross is equipped with a 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine producing 104 horsepower and 138 Nm of torque. A second option is a hybrid powertrain combining a 1.5-liter engine and an electric motor. Toyota has not yet announced the combined power of the hybrid system, but the gasoline engine produces 90 horsepower and 121 Nm, while the electric motor delivers 79 horsepower and 141 Nm. It uses an e-CVT transmission.

The Toyota Yaris Cross was launched in Indonesia on May 15th, but the official sales date has not yet been announced. The expected price is between $20,300 and $27,000. In Indonesia, the Hyundai Creta is priced between $19,700 and $27,600.

Sources from VnExpress indicate that the B-segment crossover model is likely to launch in the Vietnamese market around August with a hybrid engine version to compete with rivals such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos . Currently, the Creta is the best-selling model in the segment but does not offer a hybrid engine. The success of the Corolla Cross with its hybrid engine will serve as a basis for Toyota Vietnam to sell a smaller crossover model with the same hybrid engine.