Globally, SUVs have become the flavor of the season. Even in India, SUVs have become a rage and any new launch in this segment is eagerly awaited and scrutinized in detail. But, recent trends show a slight deviation in the form of a cross hatchback.
A cross hatchback is designed like an SUV but has the size and functionality of a hatchback. It reflects the macho presence of the SUV but is easy to maneuver in the day-to-day city traffic. Till recently, a handful of auto companies had a presence in this segment but a slew of new launches is expected to heat up the competition in this segment. The newest entrant is Toyota’s Etios Cross.
The Etios Cross is based on the Liva hatchback and is pitted against the Volkswagen Cross Polo and Skoda Fabia Scout. Suzuki is also expected to bring another model in this segment which is currently being called the S Cross.
Let’s take a look at the two keen competitors in the current market:
Toyota Etios Cross v/s
Volkswagen Cross Polo
Exterior and Interior
To start with, Toyota designers have done a wonderful job of jazzing up the plane Jane that is the Liva. The car has an imposing presence even with minimal increase in the overall length of the car. This has been done by adding high quality cladding across the car’s length. Also, the new grille is larger and has matte silver finishing, which adds to the refined touch. The bumpers are matte black as opposed to the normal body colored bumpers and this gives a bulky finish. Also, the roof rails in silver add to the sporty SUVish look.
VW Cross Polo is based on the regular VW Polo and even though there are cosmetic changes in the exterior the essential essence of the car remains the same. VW has added a hefty front bumper, round fog lamps and silver chin bit to differentiate the car from the regular Polo.
The piano black interiors on the Etios Cross are quite classy. The materials used, the doorknobs, buttons etc exude understated quality. The audio system comes equipped with aux, Bluetooth and USB compatibility. The top model also offers steering wheel mounted audio controls. The seat covers have a sporty feel with the Etios Cross badge stitched on it. Safety wise, the car comes with ABS, EBD and dual front airbags. The car is spacious from the inside and the rear legroom space is quite impressive.
Etios Cross Interiors Cross Polo Interiors
The titanium black interiors of the VW Cross Polo are the only differentiating factor between the Cross Polo and the standard Polo. Otherwise, interior wise there is not much difference between the two cars.
Under the Hood
The Etios Cross sports both petrol and diesel options. The petrol version has two variants-1.2 litre and 1.5 litre. The diesel engine is a 1.4 litre variant. Though diesel engines are what SUVs are famous for, the 1.5 litre petrol engine is fantastic to drive and has a very sporty vibe. The 1.4 litre diesel engine performs great in the city as well as on the highway. The 5 speed gearbox performs well in synchronization with the engine.
The VW Cross Polo has only one diesel option – 1.2 litre, 3 cyclinder turbo diesel engine. The 5-speed gearbox mated with this engine isn’t smooth and gear shifts are not quite hard.
Etios Cross Engine Cross Polo Engine
Driving Manners
The suspension on the Etios Cross does a good job of keeping the bumps and potholes being felt in the cabin but the cabin insulation is a drawback with quite a bit of noise filtering in through to the cabin. The steering and handling is also decent.
The VW Cross Polo sports the same suspension as the standard Polo, which was not that great to begin with. And in an SUV set-up it falls quite short of expectations.
Final Verdict
To sum it up Toyota Etios Cross is definitely a step up from the bland Etios Liva hatchback. It manages to stand out in the segment where the Liva gets lost. The styling and overall package makes it a winner and it is expected to be cheaper than the VW Cross polo to boot.
The VW Cross Polo does not give much in addition to the standard Polo on which it is based, but is priced much higher than the latter. So overall, we expect the Toyota Etios Cross to win the sweepstakes.