Toyota Motors adds to its SUV lineup with a new small crossover dubbed the Raize. Taking the space that the now-sizable RAV4 used to occupy, the 2020 Toyota Raize is less than four meters long (3995mm to be exact), with “class-leading luggage capacity and interior space, and numerous convenient storage solutions,” says the vehicle’s press release.
The ‘class-leading’ boot capacity amounts to 369 liters, while the rear seats can also be folded to further increase storage volume.
The Raize may bear the Toyota name, but it actually uses the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA), a spin-off of Toyota’s own Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), the platform from which the current Corolla, Camry, Prius, and RAV4 are built on.
Power comes from a 1.0-liter turbo engine with D-CVT that, combined with newly developed light-weight, highly rigid body and suspension, helpt the Raize deliver better handling stability and ride comfort, as well as the stellar torque, fuel efficiency, and driving joy that 1.5-liter engines are known for.
The 1.0-engine is sends power to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT), but all trims come with an all-wheel-drive option.
Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, 7 -inch driver display, and an Android Auto and Apple CarPlay-compatible infotainment system.
The 2020 Raize also comes with Toyota’s latest Smart Assist driver assistance systems package, which includes Crash Avoidance Braking Function, which is capable of detecting both vehicles and pedestrians, and the Erroneous Start Prevention Function with braking control (forward and backward).
2020 Toyota Raize price starts at JPY1,679,000 (approx. PHP777,000 before taxes and fees). It is currently available in Japan, with entry into Australia soon to follow. Whether it will reach our shores in the future remains to be seen.
Updated by Wilbert Tan on August 3, 2020
