ROAD TEST:
Toyota Etios Cross
Even though beauty is meant to be in the eye of the beholder, it's unlikely that Toyota ever imagined anyone using the words Etios Cross and “pretty” in the same sentence.
This one goes for bold in a butch-as-bulldog kind of way.
Even so, I was never able to make peace with the styling. The Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger are butch, but they're still easy on the eye. The Etios Cross, on the other hand, just seems like a big, fussy melting pot of plastic cladding - there's almost more of that than exposed metal. If that's your thing and you do find it rather appealing then the Etios Cross has your name all over it. In fact, its styling would be the only reason to buy it over the regular Etios hatch.
Like the Renault Sandero Stepway and VW Polo Vivo Maxx, the Etios Cross is an affordable hatchback that's been beefed up with some SUV style for those that want to pull the whole trendy pavement-hopper pose on a budget. Yet unlike its rivals, the Etios Cross doesn't even have a higher ride height than its regular hatch sibling, although it could be argued that its 155mm ground clearance is already on the decent side of the pavement-hopping scale.
SPORTY, ROOMY CABIN
The Cross is also set apart by some sporty touches in the cabin, like black seat trim with white stitching and embroidered 'Etios Cross' logos. These seats give the cabin a more upscale vibe, although the piano black dashboard inlays and an upgraded 'double din' audio system conspired to remind me of one of those tacky, old school audio shops. If nothing else, it is sportier than your regular Etios.
The Cross also has Bluetooth connectivity, in addition to the usual Etios features like air conditioning, remote central locking and electric windows. Protective gear comes in the form of dual airbags and ABS is fitted too, but as yet this Indian-built Toyota does not have a Global NCAP safety rating.
Yet just like its hatch counterpart, the Etios Cross does have its fair share of selling points and although its interior quality and ambience might seem a little below par, the sheer space on offer is impressive. For a hatch of this size, the Etios really does offer ample stretching space for rear passengers. The boot is comparatively tighter at 251 litres, although that's still class-competitive.
GUTSY ENGINE
The Etios also likes having its own legs stretched, which is why Toyota fitted it with a rather decent engine. While the 1.5-litre, 16-valve normally aspirated unit is hardly at the cutting edge, and nor does it sound very powerful with just 66kW and 132Nm on tap, the performance it provides is certainly satisfying and it offers smooth flexibility throughout the rev range. The Etios is very easy to drive and a pleasure to operate in the daily grind.
Toyota has also honed its suspension rather nicely - designing it for India's roads means a set-up that's soft enough to provide a comfy ride quality.
VERDICT
With all of its plastic cladding, 15-inch 'diamond-cut' alloy wheels and unique paint options like the 'Inferno Metallic' you see here, the Etios Cross really makes a statement, and if for whatever reason it really floats your boat, the only remaining obstacle is the price premium of R21 200 over the already-well-equipped 1.5 Xs hatch. Toyota has tried to make an emotive version of its Etios, but as far as we're concerned it still works best in its more sensible guises.
FACTS
Toyota Etios Cross 1.5 Xs
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol
Gearbox: Five-speed manual
Power: 66kW @ 5600rpm
Torque: 132Nm @ 3000rpm
0-100km/h (claimed): 11.3 seconds
Top speed (claimed): 165km/h
Consumption (claimed): 6.0 litres per 100km
Price: R159 800
Warranty: Three-year/100 000km
Service plan: Two-year/30 000km
ALTERNATIVES
GWM C20R 1.5 (77kW/138Nm) - R164 900
Renault Sandero Stepway (66kW/135Nm) - R164 900
VW Polo Vivo Maxx 1.6 (77kW/155Nm) - R180 900