The Etios Cross is an attempt by Toyota to make the Etios Liva hatch into an MPV. The car was designed solely for the Indian market but is also sold overseas as well. The Etios was first showcased at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo and was then launched a year later. The Etios Cross does not seem to be a very appealing car mainly because of the manner in which it has been designed. The car competes with the VW Polo Cross but also with other hatches such as the Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Honda Brio and Tata Indica. The Etios Cross comes with petrol and diesel variants in different trim levels.
Design & Styling
The Etios Cross is basically a revised version of the Etios Liva and they share the same design pattern. There is a large and prominent front grille with chrome lining. Then there are the attractive headlamps and the sharp lines along the body. The wheels get very nice 15-inch alloys. The overall design is contemporary, but not the best looking for sure. The car is well under 4metres in length and it also has a decent ground clearance of 170mm, making it perfect for city use. The Etios Cross gets roof rails, a spoiler, and a plastic body surround to make it looks more like a crossover vehicle, but unfortunately the quality of these added components is not very good.
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Interiors
The interiors of the Etios Cross are much the same as the Liva, and are quite funky, in the sense that you have probably never seen anything like it before. The main difference between the Liva and the Etios Cross is the dashboard. There is decent amount of space, but not the best. But what really gets your attention is the way the dashboard has been designed. It is not bad looking; it is just a bit different from the conventional. The instrument cluster is very nice but it is placed right in the middle of the dashboard and not under the steering wheel, plus it illuminates some very bright colours.
Engine & Transmission
The Etios Liva comes with a petrol 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with 89bhp. The car we tested had the 1.4 litre 68bhp engine but with the added 170Nm of torque. The car wears a Toyota badge so you automatically know the engine is top notch in terms of engineering and quality. The engines are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox that does its job well.
Performance and Handling
We know that Toyota doesn’t make the most exciting cars to drive in India, and we were hoping that they would change that with the introduction of this hatch. However nothing has changed and once again this is a Toyota vehicle, which doesn’t really excite. Acceleration is not bad but the power output is not enough. But the one thing that the car does excel at is ride quality. The suspension setup is very good and the wheels are nice to provide a smooth ride. The car handles well and steering response is good. The clutch is light and gear changes are very easy. Overall it is a very comfortable car to drive, with no problems.
Fuel Efficiency
We managed to get a very good fuel economy of around 16kmpl on average, and we have been told that the petrol is also quite good in terms of its economy.
Features
The Etios Cross doesn’t come with too many features. On the top spec model you get power steering, power windows, air conditioning with clean filter, central locking, cooled glove box, and an audio system with Bluetooth and steering mounted controls.
Safety
Safety features include keyless entry, ABS with EBD and dual SRS airbags are optional.
Quality & Reliability
Overall the quality is not bad at all but the exterior use of components is very bad. Toyota is known the world over for its good quality but it does disappoint here. Servicing won’t be much f a problem as Toyota is also known in India to be one of the best OEMs with best after sales service, and they have a huge network with plenty of spares.
Value for Money
The Etios Cross is a good all-round car, and it comes at a very good price, so it’s well worth your money, if you like it.
Verdict
This is a good all-round car. The quality is top-notch and it is very reliable. The interior is very comfortable and the dimensions of the car make it perfect for city use. However it does lack power and an exciting drive feel. So it’s good for a young family, but not for someone who really enjoys to drive.
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