The Toyota Yaris Cross gets enhanced and might finally come to Malaysia in this form.
The Toyota Yaris Cross has long eluded the Malaysian market. We never got the ASEAN version which was just an XP150 Yaris with body cladding and larger wheels. That version has been replaced by a DNGA-based vehicle that’s most likely to eventually come to Malaysia. We also didn’t get the Japanese/European version from 2020/21, but that’s the version that just got update this week in the UK. Malaysians will probably only see this one through grey market dealers if at all, but here are the changes.
2024 Toyota Yaris Cross UK-Spec Update
In the UK, the new Yaris Cross gets some new versions including the Premiere and updated GR sport trim levels. The Premiere edition comes with an Urban Khaki paint finish in two-tone with 18″ wheels, and new interior colour options. All models get a new Juniper Blue paint option.
The new Yaris Cross has been given a much more digital experience in-cabin. It now comes with a 12.3″ digital driver’s instrument cluster and a 10.5″ multimedia touchscreen on the highest spec. Lower specs come with 7″ and 9″ versions of the same. The driver can customize the display’s appearance with four styles: Smart, Casual, Sporty and Tough.
Toyota Smart Connect is also integrated this time around for an ‘always-connected’ system with functions like cloud-based navigation, voice recognition, and more. Another update is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Many of the car’s systems can be upgraded over-the-air.
There’s a new Smart Digital Key which can be linked through the MyToyota app to give up to 5 users access to the vehicle via their smartphone alone. With the digital key, the car can be unlocked and started without having to even take one’s phone out. The MyToyota app also has other useful features including pre-journey climate control start-up and remote locking/unlocking.
Better Safety
The Yaris Cross now features the latest in Toyota Safety Sense, which too can be updated over the air. There’s also new hardware in the form of a new camera and radar system. New software allows the Pre-Collision System to recognise a potential head-on impact with motorcycles too, on top of pedestrians and cyclists.
A new feature is Acceleration Suppression, which slows the car if there’s a risk of a collision with the vehicle ahead. Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) helps avoid low-speed accidents while Deceleration Assist works by smoothing out deceleration when approaching a slower vehicle ahead or a bend. A new Emergency Driving Stop System stops the car, engages the hazards and unlocks the doors should the driver stop providing inputs to the car while in motion. Safe Exit Assist, Rear Seat Reminder and revised Lane Departure Alert, Lane Trace Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control system are also worth noting.
5th Gen Toyota Hybrid Tech
The hybrid electric powertrain has been updated with a new transaxle for a larger electric motor generator (MG1). With software updates to the power control unit, the new Yaris Cross gets a 14% system output increase to 130bhp and a 30% torque increase to 185Nm of torque. These new figures cut the century sprint acceleration time down to 10.7 seconds with a modest emissions hit. However, it’s worth noting that this new powertrain is only available on the new GR sport and Premiere Editions – other versions of the Yaris Cross continue with the same old power output.
Improvements to Yaris Cross NVH
The new Yaris Cross also gets improvements to noise and vibration. A dynamic damper has been added to the left-side engine mount, while a resonator has been fitted to the intake hose and the cowl top silencer and inner dash silencer have been redesigned. Thicker glass is also being used for better wind and road noise reduction.
