This Toyota-badged twin to the Traz could bring the missing kit many expected from the Perodua.
Yes, it may have long been expected, but it is now finally official that the Toyota Yaris Cross will soon be launched in Malaysia. This twin to the Perodua Traz is expected to arrive within the next couple of months, and should address many of the shortcomings that were widely highlighted when the P2 model first debuted earlier this year.
Likely following the same formula as the Toyota Veloz–Perodua Alza and Toyota Rush–Perodua Aruz pairings, the Yaris Cross will sit slightly more upmarket than its Perodua-badged counterpart, justifying a higher asking price with added features and refinement. And just to spell out what that actually means, the Yaris Cross should arrive with adaptive cruise control, auto high beam (AHB) and lane keep assist (LKA), among other ADAS features.
The more compelling differentiator, however, could lie under the bonnet. While some variants of Yaris Cross is expected to share the Traz’s 2NR-VE 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, there is nevertheless also a strong likelihood that Toyota will introduce a hybrid variant locally.
This hybrid setup would mirror what is already offered in the Vios HEV, pairing a 1.5-litre engine with an electric motor in a self-charging configuration. Power is sent to the front wheels via a CVT, with a combined system output of 111 PS.
A quick glance at the Indonesian-spec model also suggests that UMW Toyota could introduce GR-inspired aesthetic upgrades to further spice things up. This would align neatly with its current strategy, where models like the Vios and Corolla Cross are also offered with sportier GR-themed variants.
Finally getting back to pricing for a bit, historical trends suggest that the Yaris Cross could command a premium of around 15–20% over its Perodua twin. So while the RM 82,000 price tag of the Traz H may have raised eyebrows for its relatively sparse kit, the real question is this: would you be more willing to spend closer to RM 110,000 for a fully-loaded, hybrid-powered Yaris Cross instead?
