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SUV Toyota Raize: a hybrid system, like Nissan, and other new things

Last updated Apr 15, 2022

Together with the Toyota crossover, his brother Daihatsu received a hybrid version, and both models also have a new base engine.

The 3995mm Toyota Raize and Daihatsu Rocky twin crossovers debuted in Japan in late 2019, and so far both have been exclusively available with triple turbos. By the way, for the parent company Toyota, the model certainly turned out to be successful: according to local media, in 2020, Raize, which opens the transversal line of the brand, sold 126,038 copies. Rocky was less successful last year, with 31,153 customers in Japan. Both companies announced the expansion of the range.

Most importantly, SUVs are offered with a new e-Smart hybrid system similar to Nissan's e-Power. The peculiarity of the system is that the internal combustion engine is not connected to the driving wheels, it only works as a generator to recharge the battery, and the wheels rotate from the electric motor.

The Raize e-Smart and Rocky e-Smart are equipped with a new WA-VEX 1.2 three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine (82 hp, 105 Nm), a 4.3 Ah Li-Ion battery is located under the rear seats, and the electric motor drives the front wheels 106 hp (170 Nm). In addition, Toyota Raize and Daihatsu Rocky hybrids are equipped with a Smart-Pedal mode (activated by a separate button), which allows you to control acceleration and deceleration only using the accelerator pedal (Nissan electronic pedal). The volume of the gas tank for such SUVs is slightly reduced – 33 liters instead of 36 liters for standard cars. The Raize/Rocky e-Smart claims an average fuel consumption of 3.6L/100km on the WLTC cycle.

Toyota Raize e-Smart

There is other news as well. So, “traditional” front-wheel drive crossovers are now equipped with the atmospheric “troika” WA-VE 1.2, which produces 87 hp and 113 Nm (its version is the WA-VEX engine). The 1KR-VET 1.0 turbo engine (98 hp, 140 Nm) remained in service, but was installed only on the all-wheel drive Raize and Rocky. Gasoline crossovers are still equipped with Daihatsu D-CVT. For the new model year, the cars also have an electric parking brake. And finally, from now on, all trim levels have a set of Smart Assist safety systems, including an automatic braking system (with pedestrian detection, which now works at night) and adaptive cruise control.

Daihatsu Rocky e-Smart

The “traditional” Toyota Raize costs from 1,707,000 yen (about 1,070,000 conventional units at the current exchange rate), Daihatsu Rocky – from 1,667,000 yen (1,045,000 rubles). The cost of the Toyota hybrid crossover will be at least 2,163,000 yen (1,356,000 conventional units), Rocky e-Smart – from 2,116,000 yen (1,327,000 conventional units).

Meanwhile, Toyota and Daihatsu crossovers have another brother – Perodua Ativa, this model is aimed at Malaysia (Perodua is a Malaysian brand, its shares are owned by Daihatsu). It is not yet known if Ativa will receive the e-Smart system.