Yaris Cross Toyota: The hybrid SUV that conquered the world
Yaris Cross Toyota: By announcing a return to urban SUVs in 2020, Toyota is taking a risk of being behind in an already saturated segment. But a good face, an ultra-efficient hybrid engine and the fame of the Japanese giant quickly proved otherwise.
If the Nissan Juke (2010) is often seen as the first modern urban SUV, it's because it's the first to claim a raised body that didn't necessarily serve its purpose. Unlike the Toyota RAV4 (1994), this true hypercompact 4×4 (3.71 m) did not have the three “magic” letters. However, it is precisely the first SUV for cities, as its success has been verified both in cities and on muddy roads.
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But this strategic leadership did not benefit Toyota. On the contrary, the Japanese lost their way with ever-bigger RAV4s and a terribly expensive Urban Cruiser (2009 in Europe), leaving the field open for Jukes, Peugeot 2008s and other Renault Capturs.
It is only in 2021 that the Japanese giant returns to this dynamic segment in Europe with its Yaris Cross. Given the accumulated delay and the number of opponents, we can even doubt this choice. But a year later, we have to admit that the bet paid off.
Shortly after its commercialization (June 2021), the Yaris Cross made a good impression, quickly following the 2008 and Captur benchmarks in sales. Not a flash in the pan, this little SUV!
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For individuals, the numbers are even more flattering for the Yaris Cross, which climbs into the top 10 and suddenly overtakes its younger sister Yaris.
To those who feared that Cruz would not come for a walk in the city's car beds, Toyota is, on the contrary, the demonstration that it is still possible to come looking for new customers without losing the ones already acquired. The Yaris has certainly seen its sales drop 30% since the beginning of the year, its cumulative sales with the Yaris Cross reach 35,000 copies, while Toyota sold 27,000 Yaris between January and September 2021.
