Nother CarGuy

Toyota has finally released the first photos and information on its Yaris-based SUV, appropriately named the Yaris Cross. Offering more room, an increased ground clearance and the option of all-wheel drive, the Toyota Yaris Cross will become the third member of the Yaris family when it launches in Europe in mid-2021. Joining the regular Yaris subcompact hatch and the GR Yaris hot hatch, the Yaris Cross is larger than both. While the wheelbase is the same at 2,560 mm (100.8 in), the crossover is 240 mm (9.4 in) longer at 4,180 mm (164.5 in). The Yaris Cross is also 20 mm (0.8 in) wider and 90 mm (3.5 in) taller than the Yaris. Despite that, it’s still small enough to avoid stepping on the Toyota C-HR‘s toes. Compared to the larger crossover, it appears less controversial from a styling standpoint, adopting a more conventional look. Some could say it looks like a mini-me Toyota RAV4, with the similar front end, generous plastic body cladding, flared wheel arches and overall S...

The all-new Kia Ceed family has become bigger with the introduction of the first-ever XCeed. Billed as a compact crossover, it’s based on the hatchback and looks like a jacked up version of it. However, that’s not entirely the case because aside from the front doors, every other body panel is new. The vehicle sports longer front and rear overhangs, by 25 and 60 mm (1-2.4 in), respectively, it’s 26 mm (1 in) wider and has an extra 42 mm (1.7 in) of ground clearance compared to the Ceed hatchback. At 2,650 mm (104.3 in) long, the wheelbase remains identical to the rest of the Ceed models. The rest of the exterior has been beefed up (visually, at least) with plastic cladding, a more arched roofline behind the B pillars, different lighting units, restyled bumpers, updated grille and silver roof rails. You can choose from 12 exterior colors including the new Quantum Yellow that’s unique to the XCeed, and two wheel sizes: 16- and 18-inch. The cabin layout has mostly been carried ...

If a fully-electric premium SUV like the Tesla Model X, Audi e-tron or Mercedes EQC is outside your price range, then you might just be in luck because China’s Aiways has been pitching its U5 SUV as a more affordable alternative to such cars. After bringing the U5 to Beijing in concept form, the Chinese startup now has a production-ready version, which aims to become one of the safest and most advanced models in Europe’s mid-size SUV segment. While we leave it up to you to judge the U5 with regards to styling, the SUV does come with a lot of modern exterior elements, such as the full-LED headlights, a sharp beltline design, hidden door handles, dual-channel rear spoiler and a continuous light strip at the rear. It measures 4,680 mm (184.2 inches) in length, 1,880 mm (74.0 inches) in width, stands 1,680 mm (66.1 inches) tall and has a wheelbase that spans 2,800 mm (110.2 inches). To put it plainly, it’s considerably smaller than a Model X or even the e-tron SUV, but is more ...

After taking the Corolla nameplate global again with the introduction of the new generation hatchback and the good looking Touring Sports wagon, Toyota has completed the series with a new sedan model. Introduced at the Guangzhou International Auto Show in China today, the new Corolla Sedan will be offered in two different flavors. These include the (somewhat) self-explanatory Sporty in North America, China (called Levin), Japan and other regions, while China, Europe and other select markets will (also) get the higher-end Prestige. The 12th-generation Corolla sedan shares its mechanical and styling genes with the latest Corolla hatchback. Without trying to alienate its broad consumer base, the new compact sedan has a more angular and aggressive design, especially up front, though the rear is more conservative than the hatch. Inside, you won’t find any differences with the five-door model, with the sedan boasting the same design and tech-rich features, including the Ent...

Toyota chose the New York Auto Show as the venue to unveil the new RAV4. But the United States won’t be the only market, of course, where the new crossover will be offered. Following its arrival in North American showrooms later this year, the fifth-generation RAV4 is set for introduction in the European market at the beginning of next year. (In the first quarter, according to the manufacturer.) Full pricing and availability information are still to follow, but the parameters are essentially the same. Based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, the new RAV4 pushes its wheels to the extremities to offer more space inside without significantly enlarging its footprint on the road. That ought to keep the vehicle maneuverable on city streets. The slightly enlarged model is wrapped in entirely new sheetmetal with a more robust design. XSE, Limited, and Adventure models will be offered, though we don’t know if all versions will be available in Europe. As wit...

Following a long teasing campaign, VW has finally pulled the wraps off the all-new, third-generation Touareg during a special event in Beijing, China. The new VW Touareg adopts a sleeker styling, moving away from the off-road character of its predecessors. Despite being built on the same MLB architecture used by the Porsche Cayenne, VW claims that the only exterior part the new Touareg shares with the Porsche is the front windscreen. VW’s new flagship SUV now measures 4878mm long, 77mm more than the outgoing model. Width is now 1984mm (+44mm) and height is 1702mm (-7mm). The new platform and body also helps in making the new Touareg 106kg lighter than its predecessor. Perhaps the most impressive feature of the new Touareg is its interior, which VW calls Innovision Cockpit. The dashboard now features a 15-inch(!) touchscreen display merged under a single glass surface with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. Some switches and knobs are retained for the frequently use...

The HTC U11 has been one of the best flagship Android phones of 2017, and now it has been upgraded and enhanced as a new U11 Plus model, freshly announced by HTC today. What are the big differences? The display is the most obvious one, moving from 5.5 inches up to 6 inches, though HTC has shrunk the bezels to fit the new phone into a physical footprint that’s only slightly larger. A new, substantially bigger battery has also been added, and the two changes together have led to a subtle alteration of the design. But, all in all, this device is exactly what its name suggests: a U11 with more of the good stuff and a topping of Android 8 Oreo to sweeten the deal. For US readers, though, the biggest disappointment is probably that HTC has no plans to bring this device Stateside. It’s intended for other markets around Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world. Firstly, the good stuff. The new screen size and 18:9 aspect ratio might lead you to think this is another of those ill-fa...