Toyota Kirloskar has just launched the Etios Cross in India with a price range of Rs. 5.76 to Rs. 7.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Etios Cross though has the name Cross in it, is not an actual crossover or SUV. It is essentially a refurbished Etios Liva hatchback with more aggressive looks and better dirt-kicking abilities. It is a sportier looking hatchback with some better capabilities. Thus, it is somewhere in between a hatchback and a crossover, a segment which is not lucrative in India, as the consumers really don’t understand how these are any different than the hatchbacks.
Toyota Etios Cross Front
However, Japanese car major Toyota has done an excellent job on making the Etios Cross a super pseudo-SUV. It looks very bold and attractive with a muscular no-nonsense appeal and its exteriors look very different than the Liva. The redesigned interior is also very impressive. The Toyota Etios Cross gets its spunky looks from full body claddings and stout bumpers. The matte black claddings with silver inserts look dashing and cool and along with the bulkier bumpers they make the vehicle look tough and very powerful. The 15-inch dual tone black and diamond cut alloy wheels add to this appeal aggressive looks. The Etios Cross has elegantly designed black dashboard and centre console and is spacious and comfortable for 5. The great seats are adorned with Etios Cross logos.
The Toyota Etios Cross is available in two petrol and one diesel engine choices. The 1.2 liter petrol engine generates 80PS of power and peak torque of 104Nm, the 1.5 liter petrol delivers 90Ps and 132Nm, while the D-4D, 1.4 liter turbocharged diesel mill offers 68PS and 170Nm.
Renault Duster
The Toyota Etios Cross is actually pitched against the likes of the Volkswagen Cross Polo and Skoda Fabia Scout, but it might dampen the demands for some compact SUVs as well, such as the Renault Duster.
The Renault Duster is the one that actually started off the today’s extremely popular compact SUV segment. This 5-seater utility looks like a proper rough and tough SUV. It has an aggressive face for the urban mini cars to look at with respect. The vehicle’s bulky wheel arches, roof rails and high roofline makes it a tough looking SUV along with a compact size to make it a feasible city car as well. Though it can handle the rough road conditions better than the conventional city cars, it cannot be termed as a tough off-roader. Thus, it is more of recreational vehicle.
The Duster is also available in India with both petrol and diesel engines. Its petrol engine is the same that goes under the hoods of the Nissan Sunny and Renault Scala. Its acclaimed K9K diesel engine is available in two power options of 85bhp and 110bhp mated to a 6 speed manual transmission.
Considering that both the Etios Cross and the Duster are aimed at the adventurous and young consumers, these cars are well pitched against each other though from different segments.
This post was written by
I am into the auto blogs field for quite a long time. Living my passion of reviewing cars.
Tagged: Renault Duster, Toyota Etios Cross
Leave a Reply