Honey, I shrunk the Kluger: Meet the Toyota Yaris Cross we’re not getting
No, that isn't a scale model of a Toyota Kluger. It's a new Toyota Yaris Cross designed for some developing markets, which is unrelated to the version sold in Australia.
A new 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross has been unveiled overseas with a design that looks more like a miniature version of the Toyota Kluger seven-seater than the Yaris Cross more familiar to Australian buyers.
Toyota revealed the new Yaris Cross for Indonesia this week, which – despite the name – rides on different underpinnings to the Australian version, and wears a bigger body.
It is not planned for Australia as it has been designed for developing markets in South-East Asia with weaker safety standards.
Australia's Yaris Cross is based on Toyota's TNGA-B architecture, while the Indonesian model uses the cheaper DNGA platform – also known as the Daihatsu New Global Architecture, which is shared with the Daihatsu Rocky and Perodua Ativa SUVs sold in emerging markets.
The Kluger-looking Yaris Cross is quite a bit bigger than the one sold here, coming in at 4310mm long, 1770mm wide, and 1615mm high – compared to the local Yaris Cross which quotes 4180mm, 1765mm, and 1560mm respectively.
While Australians get 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engines – with or without hybrid assistance – Indonesian buyers get a choice of a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, also with or without hybridisation.
The Indonesian-market Yaris Cross won't be coming here, as the current model offered by Toyota Australia has been designed to meet the strict safety requirements outlined by the Australian Design Rules.
Let us know in the comments sections below which Yaris Cross design you prefer.
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