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Toyota Surprises with Yaris Cross: The Mini SUV That Promises to Revolutionize the Market. The Automaker’s Ace Arrives in October with Top Safety Ratings and Promises to Sell Like Hotcakes!
If you are on the lookout for a compact SUV, with an urban feel and hybrid technology, it’s a good idea to start marking your calendar: in October, the Toyota Yaris Cross hits the Brazilian streets with an audacious promise – to be the cheapest hybrid in the country and achieve 32 km/l. And it’s not just the price that the model wants to impress: it has just won top safety ratings from ASEAN NCAP, the Asian equivalent of our Latin NCAP. The score was so good that it even catches the eye of those who have never considered having a Toyota in their garage.
Toyota’s Compact SUV Shines in Safety Tests
While the launch in Brazil is still awaited, the Toyota Yaris Cross is already cruising in Asia — and performed well in the crash tests conducted by ASEAN NCAP, the program that assesses the safety of new vehicles in Southeast Asia. According to the organization itself:
“The Toyota Yaris Cross performed well in all assessment categories and achieved a total score of 83.02 points. Based on this exceptional score, the new Yaris Cross received a 5-star rating from ASEAN NCAP.”
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In terms of adult protection, the SUV fared very well in side impact tests, offering safety for all parts of the occupants’ bodies. In the frontal crash, the score was only not perfect due to a protection considered “marginal” for the driver’s leg and “adequate” for the passengers’ trunks. Even so, the score was high: 29.8 out of 32 possible.
Child Protection and Driving Assistance: Nearly Perfect
The performance in child protection also impressed: the Yaris Cross scored 44.17 out of 51. The detail that prevented an even higher score was the lack of a child detection system in the back seat — a feature increasingly common in modern SUVs that helps prevent fatal forgetfulness.
This same item also affected the overall score of the driving assistance systems, which was still good: 17.74 out of 21 points. This is largely due to the generous offering of standard or optional equipment. Among them are six airbags, ABS brakes, traction and stability control, seatbelt reminder, as well as a complete package of ADAS systems (short for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems).
Highlights include:
- Autonomous emergency braking for urban and highway use
- Front collision warning
- Lane keeping assist and alert
- Blind spot sensor
- High beam with automatic switching
It is worth remembering that ASEAN NCAP also assesses motorcyclist protection, something that Latin NCAP does not yet adopt as a standard. In this specific criterion, the blind spot sensor was crucial for ensuring 9.76 out of 16 points.
A Mini SUV That Promises to Be Hybrid, Economical, and Connected
The Yaris Cross does not rely solely on safety to stand out. Toyota’s idea is to position it as an entry-level model within the SUV line, with compact dimensions and good interior space. It measures 4.31 meters in length, 1.77 m in width, 1.61 m in height and has a wheelbase of 2.62 m — numbers very close to those of the Nissan Kicks, one of its main competitors.
The big trump card is under the hood. The model that is already sold in Thailand combines a 1.5 Atkinson cycle engine with 92 hp and 12.3 kgfm with an electric motor of 85 hp, delivering 113 hp of combined power. This set works with a CVT transmission and offers smooth and efficient performance. In Brazil, it will be adapted for the flex system, which may increase the total power, exceeding the current 113 hp.
In addition to the hybrid version, Toyota is expected to keep the 1.5 16V flex aspirated engine, which already equips the current Yaris. There is an expectation that it will receive improvements and deliver between 105 and 110 hp, with torque in the range of 14 kgfm.
Equipment and Connectivity at the Right Level
If it replicates what is offered in Thailand, the national Yaris Cross will please. The Asian version comes standard with:
- Six airbags
- Electronic parking brake with “auto-hold” function
- Disc brakes on all four wheels
- Multimedia center with a 10.1-inch screen and wireless connection with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Digital dashboard
- Keyless entry
- Air conditioning vents for the rear seats
- Automatic Full LED headlights
These items align the SUV with the preferences of the Brazilian public, especially those looking for technology without giving up practicality.
How Much Will the Yaris Cross Cost?
Toyota has not set an official price yet, but everything indicates that the Yaris Cross will arrive as the most affordable hybrid in the country, occupying a space below the Corolla Cross. The strategy is clear: democratize hybrid technology and compete with models that until now have reigned alone in the compact SUV segment.
Industry analysts, such as those from Autoesporte, project that the hybrid model should be priced below R$ 150,000, which would make it an attractive alternative compared to purely combustion rivals, not to mention the tax benefits offered to electric or hybrid vehicles in some cities.
And you, would you bet on the Yaris Cross as your next SUV? Let us know in the comments what you think of this launch and share this article with anyone else considering a car exchange!
Única forma de quebrar a concorrência é não custar muito mais que 110k pra sair na frente e vender mais que água no deserto…
Sinceramente não acredito que o preço do híbrido seja inferior aos 150 mil, carro no Brasil é o mais caro do mundo, vamos aguardar com calma, tenho interesse vou aguardar pra ver.
Estou interessado no Toyota Yaris Cross. Quero conhecê-lo ao vivo e a cores e confirmar tudo o que propagandam dele. Melhor ainda, se o preço couber em meu bolso.