2021 Toyota Yaris Cross: Because Small Cars Are Crossovers Now By Chris Tsui, The Drive 4/23/2020 These pastors use science and scripture to combat vaccine hesitancy. The 2021 Yaris Cross will use a 1.5-liter inline-three unit with an Atkinson cycle. The 1.5-liter unit is a derivative of the larger 2.0 and 2.5-liter units, used in the latest C-HR, Corolla.
The new Toyota Yaris Cross will be the brand’s smallest and most affordable SUV. Here’s everything you need to know about it...
On sale Early 2021 | Price from £21,000 (est)
It's funny how fashions change. In 2012, Toyota discontinued its last small SUV, the Urban Cruiser, after three years of sluggish sales (although the fact its name made it sound like the kind of person who engages in dubious night-time activities probably didn't help its popularity). However, fast forward to today and cars of this sort are in huge demand, which is why the Japanese brand is preparing to launch a successor: the Toyota Yaris Cross.
As its name suggests, it's closely related to the fourth-generation Yaris hatchback, which went on sale this autumn. But just as you wouldn’t mistake the rival Nissan Juke for a Micra, despite the two models having plenty in common mechanically, the Yaris Cross gets its own distinct look.
Other small SUVs that it will have to beat include the Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur and Volkswagen T-Cross, plus our 2020 Car of the Year, the Ford Puma.
Toyota has become synonymous with hybrid power in recent years, and the Yaris Cross continues its march in that direction, with the only engine option a 1.5-litre petrol that works in conjunction with an electric motor to produce a combined 114bhp.
It’s the same setup that you get in the latest Yaris hatchback. And the good news is it impresses in that car, switching between petrol and electric power almost imperceptibly. Refinement is further enhanced by a new CVT automatic gearbox, which is much less inclined to send the engine revs soaring than other CVTs.
Despite their rugged looks, most small SUVs aren’t actually available with four-wheel drive, but the Yaris Cross is an exception, with that version still emitting less than 135g/km of CO2 in official WLTP tests. Front-wheel-drive versions, meanwhile, emit less than 120g/km.
2021 Toyota Yaris Cross interior
As with the exterior, the Yaris Cross gets its own interior design, although this isn't quite so distinct; the centre console is deeper than the Yaris hatchback's and it features more gloss black plastic, but details like the air vents and the metallic strip running across the upper dashboard are carried over.
The touchscreen infotainment system also appears to be the same, which would mean sluggish responses and dated graphics, although you do get handy shortcut buttons, and you can bypass Toyota's own software thanks to the presence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.
We're yet to sit in the Yaris Cross, so can't comment on passenger space. However, the boot features useful touches such as a height-adjustable floor and straps for holding smaller items of luggage in place. You can also have a powered tailgate that opens automatically when you aim a kick beneath the rear bumper – useful when you've got your hands full of shopping.
The Yaris Cross sits beneath the C-HR in Toyota's SUV range, and with that model costing from £26,250, a starting price in the low 20s seems likely. This would also keep the Yaris Cross competitive with the award-winning Puma, which costs from £22,0305
2021 Yaris Gr
The Yaris Cross is one of 14 cars in contention for the 2021 What Car? Reader Award, which will go to the upcoming model that people are most excited about. You can cast your vote here.
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Toyota recently unveiled its completely new 2021 Yaris Cross compact SUV and it’s kind of a big deal. The Yaris Cross is a follow up to the regenerated lineage of Yaris compact cars back in October 2019. With the Yaris Cross, Toyota is promising incredible fuel efficiency stemming from its updated hybrid methodology and of course, cutting-technology and safety features.
The official debut of the Yaris Cross was set for the Geneva Motor Show back in March but was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Redefining the Crossover SUV
Toyota is on a mission to reinvent the crossover SUV. The Yaris Cross is available in two powertrain options: the 1.5-liter inline three-cylinder engine with the choice of a CVT or six-speed manual transmission and the hybrid version which features Toyota’s Atkinson Cycle gas engine and electric motor.
The Yaris Cross is shaped like a tall version of its hatchback predecessor but its exterior is slightly more futuristic and muscular. It has the presence of an SUV but its measurements are quite small, smaller than the carmaker’s C-HR SUV.
Yaris Crossover 2020
On the inside, the Yaris Cross looks very familiar since its interior design is basically the same as the 2020 Yaris and there’s nothing wrong with that. This year’s Yaris model gained notoriety for abandoning its basic, low-budget roots and replacing it with a more please subcompact car experience. This is in part due to its relation to the Mazda CX-3 which is known for its value and efficiency.
The cabin interior of the Yaris Cross has a two-tone color scheme and is cute, sleek, and inviting. The most apparent interior difference between the Yaris Cross and the Yaris is that the Cross version has a singular speedometer. The Yaris Cross also features slightly different interior fabric. Naturally, the Yaris Cross also offers more seating and cargo space.
2021 Toyota Yaris Crossover
Toyota Yaris Cross Will Hit Showrooms In Japan and Europe
Toyota Yaris 2021 Review
Toyota says that the new Yaris Cross will be manufactured at its East Japan facility and available for sale in Japan in the fall. The European version will be produced at its facility in France and should be in showrooms by the middle of next year if all goes as planned.
Sadly, the carmaker didn’t mention the Yaris Cross being available for sale in the U.S. Although, there are rumors from Car and Driver that Toyota will be producing a similar vehicle named the Corrolla Cross, and that name has been trademarked in the U.S. It would likely be made slightly larger to appease U.S. customers who are not as into compact cars as the European market is. Nevertheless, we will have to add the Yaris Cross to another Yaris dream list.
Toyota Yaris History
The Toyota Yaris was first produced in 1999 with the first version only available as a hatchback. The sedan body style was introduced in 2013. The Yaris was also marketed as a two-door coupe under the Toyota Echo nameplate in some regions until the official name change in 2005. As of this past March, exactly 8.71 million units have been sold worldwide.