Maruti Suzuki and Toyota use each other’s products and powertrains as a result of their joint venture. Could there be a Toyota Yaris Cross version of Maruti for India?
Is Maruti planning to bring a version of the Toyota Yaris Cross to India? Well, there have been a few spy shots of an SUV testing on the Indian roads that fit this description. We have all seen Maruti’s rebadged versions of the Baleno and Brezza sold under the Toyota’s banner as Glanza and Urban Cruiser, respectively. This time around, however, Maruti could be the one using the Toyota Yaris Cross, which is a popular hybrid compact SUV in various international markets. A test mule of the vehicle was recently seen driving past a Maruti VItara Brezza, thereby giving us a look at how its road presence compares to the popular B-SUV.
You may also like: Maruti Brezza Max Pickup Truck is a Cheaper Toyota Hilux!
You may also like: 2022 Suzuki Vitara Hybrid Looks Like A Perfect Upgrade From Brezza
Maruti-badged Toyota Yaris Cross
The spy shot you see above has been posted by Autodriven_India on their Instagram page. The SUV being tested is completely camouflaged but the silhouette resembles that of the Yaris Cross. But Maruti already has the S-Cross representing this mid-size SUV crossover niche. That is why it is a bit unclear if Maruti wishes to launch it or is just using the crossover SUV to test the new 1.5-litre hybrid engine. Maruti has already said that until enough volumes could be ensured, it is unlikely to enter the EV space. In the meanwhile though, it could bridge that gap between EV and IC powertrains by introducing its products with hybrid powertrains. This might well be a testing vehicle for that engine.
Meanwhile, a video shows the Maruti-badged Toyota Yaris Cross driving past a red-coloured pre-facelift Maruti Vitara Brezza on a road in Gurgaon. While the video states that the test mule that has been spied is the next-gen Brezza, it’s actually the highly camouflaged Yaris Cross that was seen earlier. Seen next to each other, the Yaris Cross seems to be wider and has a more planted stance but the Brezza is taller and has a more SUV-ish profile.
Specs
The Toyota Yaris Cross comes with a few engine options depending on the market. In Australia, for instance, there are 3 engines on offer. This includes a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder FWD petrol engine that makes 118 hp and 145 Nm of power and torque, a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol hybrid engine that outputs a combined 114 hp and 120 Nm of power and torque and a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol hybrid engine with AWD that produces 114 hp and 120 Nm of combined output. The difference lies in the mileage which is much better with the hybrid versions.
You may also like: 2022 Maruti XL6 vs Old Model Comparison
You may also like: Top 10 Features of Upcoming 2022 Maruti Brezza
It is unlikely that Maruti will launch yet another crossover in India in addition to the already existing S-Cross. But there could be a possibility of Maruti bringing in the next-gen hybrid engines for enhanced fuel economy until the fully electric vehicles begin to be sold in our market.
