Toyota Yaris Cross initial PH specs revealed by LTO

The memorandum circular number HAV-2023-2411 released by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) confirms the arrival of the Toyota Yaris Cross in the Philippine market. The document from the LTO has also revealed the initial specs of the Yaris Cross. 

The Toyota Yaris Cross that was launched in Indonesia [Photo: Toyota ID]

Based on the said memo, which is addressed to LTO regional heads and the agency’s new registration unit (NRU), the dimensions of the Yaris Cross we’re getting are larger than the one which debuted in Europe back in 2021. To put things in perspective, the ASEAN-spec Yaris Cross is 4,310mm long, while the Euro version is 4,200mm long. 

This places the model between the larger Corolla Cross and the smaller Raize. It also makes it similar to the Indonesia-spec Yaris Cross that’s based on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture that was released a while ago.

The Indonesian Yaris Cross from the rear

For those curious, the Euro-spec model is a subcompact crossover that is related to the Toyota GR Yaris. Contrary to the ASEAN version, the Euro version uses the Toyota New Global Architecture and the M15-series inline-3 engines also used by the rally-spec hot hatch. 

The LTO memo also classified the Philippine-spec Yaris Cross as a sports utility vehicle (SUV). Likewise detailed is its five-person seating capacity, and its set of 18-inch wheels. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,620mm and a maximum speed of 170 km/h. 

It was also indicated by the LTO memorandum that the Yaris Cross will be using a 1.5-liter engine. According to a report from Autoindustriya, the said engine could be the same 2NR-VE mill that’s found on the Toyota Vios. It wasn’t revealed how much this four-pot engine can make on the Yaris Cross, but on the Vios, it can churn out 104 horsepower and 138 Nm of torque. 

A peek inside the Indonesian Yaris Cross

The same report mentioned that the upcoming PH-spec Yaris Cross might be getting a hybrid electric version (HEV). The one already available in Indonesia uses the 2NR-VEX gasoline engine together with a battery-powered electric motor. The engine alone can produce 89 horsepower and 121 Nm of torque, while the electric motor adds 79 horsepower and 141 Nm of torque. 

The Indonesia-spec model exclusively uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) while power is sent to the front wheels.

No official pricing details for the Philippine-spec Yaris Cross are available just yet. But Autoindustriya estimates that its entry-level variant could be priced at around Php 1.2 million. The mid-spec trim might get a price hovering at Php 1.3 million, and the top-spec hybrid trim could retail at around Php 1.6 million. 

The Philippine-spec version might get the same 1.5-liter mill that the Vios uses

The report added that Toyota Motor Philippines might launch the Yaris Cross this month. But do note that nothing is official yet, and Toyota Motor Philippines has yet to formally announce the Yaris Cross’ arrival. So if you’re looking forward to this upcoming model, keep it here on Philkotse for more updates.