Toyota is expanding its Yaris Cross compact SUV range with the introduction of a new GR Sport grade inspired by the multi-world championship-winning achievements of Toyota Gazoo Racing. With exclusive exterior and interior features and retuned suspension for sharper, more rewarding handling, the Yaris Cross GR Sport extends the model’s appeal to a wider range of customers, following the success of the established Corolla, Toyota C-HR and Yaris GR Sport editions
Exterior
On the street, the new Yaris GR Sport is distinguished by new 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels with a bright machined finish. The sporting touches also include a new rear diffuser and front grille with an exclusive gloss black mesh pattern and discreet GR badging. A new Ash Grey finish is the GR Sport’s signature colour, available as a bi-tone option with a contrast black roof and pillars. Scorched Orange is also exclusive to the new model.
Interior
In the cabin, the front sports seats have new black Ultrasuede upholstery with red stitching; similar bright stitchwork is featured on the steering wheel and shift lever. The GR logo is prominently featured, on the front head rests, carpet mats, starter button, combimeter and steering wheel, and there are GR Sport-specific gunmetal silver trim inserts in the doors and instrument panel.
Dynamic Performance
Yaris Cross has a proven foundation for rewarding handling thanks to the GA-B platform – the same as that featured in the European Car of the Year 2021-winning Yaris hatchback – which gives it a low centre of gravity, a highly rigid body and balanced chassis. In the GR Sport, performance has been sharpened with retuning of the suspension, giving the driver better steering, roll and grip feel.
In other respects, the new GR Sport retains all the qualities that helped the Yaris Cross win the 2022 World Urban Car of the Year title. Bringing together Toyota’s mastery of small car and SUV design engineering, it majors on quality and practicality. Customers appreciate the high SUV driving position and the car-like dynamics, virtues that reference those of the original Toyota RAV4 – the world’s first recreational Sports Utility Vehicle.
Practicality
Convenience is designed-in with a 40:20:40 split folding rear seat and a split-folding deck board that allows load space to extend from 397 litres (with all seats in place) to a maximum 1,097 litres. The skilful packaging maximises interior space within compact exterior dimensions that are ideal for nimble urban manoeuvring.
As a high grade model, positioned alongside the Yaris Cross Excel, the Yaris Cross GR Sport has a rich standard equipment specification, including nine-inch Toyota Smart Connect multimedia system with wireless smartphone integration and cloud-based navigation. Other equipment highlights include dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and rear privacy glass.
Hybrid Powertrain
The Yaris Cross GR Sport is powered by Toyota’s highly efficient three-cylinder, 1.5-litre Hybrid Dynamic Force engine. The powertrain’s long stroke, high-speed combustion, high 14:1 compression ratio, and temperature and pressure controls help the unit achieve a high 40% thermal efficiency. CO2 and fuel economy performance of the Yaris Cross GR Sport is targeted to be on par with the Yaris Cross Excel model.
Yaris Cross
Launched in 2021, the Yaris Cross has been a consistent top-seller for Toyota in Europe with sales of more than 77,000 units in the first half of 2022 to secure a B-SUV segment share of 7.7 per cent. It has achieved a 48 per cent share of the Yaris Family in the same period.
Pre-sales of the new Yaris Cross GR Sport in the UK and Europe will begin in the third quarter of 2022.
