[QUICK OVERVIEW] Toyota Yaris Cross Arrives in Vietnam: Challenging Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta

In the first five months of 2023, the Toyota Vios, Toyota’s flagship model, faced underwhelming sales results. However, with the upcoming launch of the new model, the Vios is expected to regain its momentum in a few more months. On the other hand, the Corolla Cross has remained a consistent performer and has consistently ranked among the top five best-selling cars in Vietnam since the beginning of the year.

Alongside the Corolla Cross, the Toyota Veloz has also gained a competitive edge due to the declining performance of the Toyota Vios. Given the challenging economic situation, the automotive market in 2023 is facing numerous obstacles. To turn the tables, Toyota Vietnam is gearing up to introduce its new “trump card” – the Yaris Cross. So, what sets it apart? Let’s start by examining the success of the Corolla Cross.

The Toyota Corolla Cross was globally launched in Thailand in July 2020 and reached Vietnam the following month. Since its launch, this B-segment crossover has been quick to captivate buyers, consistently ranking among the top-selling cars each month. The Corolla Cross has garnered acclaim for its breakthrough design, modern and spacious equipment, safety features, durability, and even its hybrid green technology that aids in fuel economy and environmental conservation. Its success is evident in its subsequent launch in North America and Japan. This backward sequence of launches serves as a testament to its popularity!

The transition of customers from sedans to crossovers has long been predicted in the automotive world, and it is now becoming a prominent trend. Recognizing the opportunity, Toyota wasted no time in bringing the Yaris Cross to Vietnam, leveraging the winning formula that propelled the Corolla Cross to success.

Just like the Corolla Cross, the Yaris Cross boasts a new design and a comprehensive set of features, including a hybrid variant. Toyota has ensured that the Yaris Cross, a B-segment crossover, offers a more compelling price point compared to its larger sibling. This effectively fills the price gap of 600 – 700 million VND below the Corolla Cross, a segment that the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, and Mazda CX-3/CX-30 have been actively targeting with great success. Let’s delve into what this “high-riding Vios” brings to Vietnam.

First and foremost, let’s gauge the opinion of an industry insider – Mr. Henry Tanoto, the President of Toyota Astra Indonesia, shares, “This small SUV offers customers greater access to eco-friendly vehicles at affordable prices, along with enhanced comfort and modern amenities. Despite these enhancements, it still retains the basic driving ability and reliability for urban commuting.”

Mr. Henry’s emphasis lies on the Yaris Cross being environmentally friendly. The 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross is equipped with a hybrid engine with the 2NR-VEX code, comprising a 1.5L I4 petrol engine coupled with a lithium-ion battery and an electric motor. This hybrid setup enables the Yaris Cross to unleash a power output of up to 110 horsepower, including an all-electric EV mode.

Alternatively, the Yaris Cross can also be powered by an internal combustion engine, sharing the same configuration as the Avanza and Veloz duo. This entails a 1.5L 2NR-VE petrol engine that yields 104.5 horsepower and 138 Nm of torque. This setup efficiently tackles all paved roads in Vietnam, complemented by a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Real-world experiences have attested to the Yaris Cross’s driver-friendly characteristics. The electrically adjustable leather seats provide a snug and comfortable seating experience, while the 4-way adjustable steering wheel caters to a range of body types. Upon pressing the accelerator, the electric motor takes precedence, resulting in a smooth and silent initiation.

Thanks to its hybrid powertrain, the Yaris Cross offers responsive performance and swift acceleration. The top-of-the-line GR variant even features paddle shifters on the steering wheel, allowing for a more exhilarating driving experience.

The Yaris Cross exhibits impressive sound insulation at low and medium speeds. Its supple suspension ensures a comfortable ride over speed bumps and road humps. The continuous zig-zag steering experience at low speeds adds to the driving enjoyment.

Notably, the car boasts a remarkably tight turning radius of only 4.2 meters, making it highly maneuverable and convenient in densely populated and confined areas. This stands out as a noteworthy feature compared to competitors such as the HR-V or Creta.

According to Mr. Fumitaka Kawashima, Marketing Director of the Toyota Astra Indonesia Joint Venture, this urban SUV promises a fun driving experience while striving to achieve the global Toyota group’s carbon neutrality target. He comments, “The 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross is highly suited to the diverse needs of Indonesian consumers. The value proposition it offers relative to its price is extremely enticing, which is a crucial consideration.”

Safety is also an area where the 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross excels, thanks to its range of attractive standard features. These features include an electronic parking brake with Auto Hold, six airbags, ABS-EBD-BA brakes, rear parking sensors, emergency brake lights, hill start assist, body control, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and even a small fire extinguisher tucked away in the glove compartment beneath the dashboard.

The top-tier versions of the Yaris Cross come with a complete TSS safety package, which includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and automatic collision avoidance braking, automatic high/low beam headlights, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, pedal misapplication warning, moving vehicle detection, and even parking assistance in restricted areas.

The Yaris Cross also offers a range of convenient features such as a 360-degree camera, panoramic electric sunroof, power-adjustable driver’s seat, wireless phone charging, and a power tailgate with a kick-sensor. These features undoubtedly give it an edge over competitors like the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta, who often compromise on equipment to offer competitive pricing.

The 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross is built on Daihatsu’s DNGA platform, Toyota’s subsidiary responsible for developing markets. This sets it apart from the Yaris and Yaris Cross models sold in premium markets like Japan, North America, and Europe, which utilize the TNGA-B platform. Consequently, many details and components of the Yaris Cross are familiar, including the steering wheel, gear lever, and dashboard. These elements are shared with models like the Raize, Veloz, and Avanza.

Similar to the Toyota Raize, the Yaris Cross is outfitted with a 7-inch TFT screen behind the steering wheel and a 10-inch center infotainment touchscreen. The car features interior ambient lighting, and both front seats are power-adjustable. Users can also download the T-Intouch app to remotely control the car using their smartphones.

The 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross boasts dimensions of WxDxH: 4,310 x 1,770 x 1,615 mm, making it slightly smaller than the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Creta in the B-segment crossover segment. Despite its smaller size, the car offers the most spacious interior in its segment, a characteristic Toyota has consistently excelled at in the past.

Real-world experiences reveal that passengers around 1.7 meters tall can comfortably sit and stretch their legs in the rear seats, provided the front seats are adjusted appropriately. The headroom between the head and the roof is also generous. The Yaris Cross offers one of the most spacious cargo areas in the B-segment crossover segment, with a capacity ranging from 452 to 458 liters depending on the version. This capacity can be expanded to 800 liters.

The car’s generous ground clearance ensures a comfortable ride on paved roads and the ability to handle light off-road terrains. Additionally, the 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross is available in 10 exterior color options, including seven solid colors and three dual-tone combinations. Similar to the Raize, Toyota enables customers to express their individuality by choosing their desired paint color for the Yaris Cross.

Prior to its recent launch in Indonesia on June 13, 2023, the Toyota Yaris Cross was manufactured at the company’s factory in Karawang, West Java. Toyota plans to export the Yaris Cross to 25 different markets worldwide, including Vietnam. The car’s battery pack is sourced from Japan.

In Indonesia, the Toyota Yaris Cross is available in six versions, encompassing four regular engine versions and two hybrid versions, with prices ranging from 351 to 711 million Vietnamese Dong. These prices are highly competitive compared to rival offerings. Furthermore, the pricing also includes attractive promotions, such as an eight-year or 160,000 km battery warranty, a free T-Care package for the first seven maintenance intervals (inclusive of service costs and spare parts), a three-year or 60,000 km warranty that can be extended by an additional year or 20,000 km with regular servicing at authorized service centers, and more.

In Indonesia, customers also have the option to subscribe to a plan (priced at six million Indonesian Rupiah per month, roughly 1/60th the value of the car) to use the Yaris Cross without purchasing it outright. This option is available for a minimum of 36 months and a maximum of 60 months under the attractive Kinto program. The Kinto car rental policy frees customers from concerns about taxes, registration fees, insurance, breakdown services, and even maintenance costs like tire and battery replacement.

In Vietnam, dealers have been accepting deposits for the Toyota Yaris Cross since May 2023. The car is slated to be launched in August 2023, with two high-end versions priced between 680 and 720 million Vietnamese Dong. Deliveries are estimated to commence in September.

Anh Phan (Tuoitrethudo)