YARIS SUV TO TAKE ON JUKE

Toyota has unveiled its new compact SUV, the Yaris Cross, designed to go headto-head with the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008 and VW T-cross.

Sitting below the Toyota C-HR and Rav4, the Yaris Cross shares its TNGA platform and wheelbase measurement with the latest Yaris super mini but is 24 cm longer and 9 cm tall er, with 3 cm extra ground clearance.

The Yaris Cross gets its own different design of grille and headlights compared to the Yaris, while the side profile shows a much more rugged, tough look due to its large squared-off wheelarches — surrounded by black plastic cladding—and-a-newc-pillar.

There’s also new styling at the rear, and on some models the tailgate will be powered. While Toyota has yet to confirm the boot size, we should expect it to be larger and more practical than that of they ar is. The Yaris Cross is powered by the same 114bhp 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid as in the

Yaris. The Cross will emit less than 120g/km on front-wheel drive models. Unusually for the sector there will also bean all-wheel-drive variant with emissions of 135g/km.

While the company has yet to confirm performance or fuel figures, it does emphasise this fourth-generation hybrid system has been tuned to ensure the Yaris Cross feels responsive to drive.

Toyota is remaining tightlipped on the car’s interior details; though the images released clearly show it closely resembles that of the Yar is super mini with a large central touchscreen housing Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

A number of driver assistance systems — including automatic braking and steering intervention — have been integrated and come as part of Toyota Safety Sense.