The Toyota Raize and Daihatsu Rocky have received a series of small updates for 2022 including the addition of the “e-SMART” range-extender hybrid powertrain. The new hybrid option combines a newly developed naturally-aspirated 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that is not connected to the wheels but is used to charge the 4.3 Ah lithium-ion battery located under the rear seats. An electric motor with 105 hp and 170 Nm of torque powers the front wheels, eliminating the need for a gearbox.

As a result, the driving experience is very close to a BEV – despite the noise from the ICE – in terms of responsiveness and torque. The driver also benefits from the Smart Pedal (S-PDL) feature which allows one-pedal drive. Toyota claims the average fuel consumption of the hybrid is 3.57 lt/100km (65.9 mpg) measured in the WLTC cycle.

                                                                  

Besides the addition of the hybrid variant, both models will also be available with just the 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, which offers improved thermal efficiency and is exclusively offered as a 2WD with a CVT gearbox. Toyota hasn’t given us the power/torque figures for the new gasoline engine but claims it has a 4.83 lt/100 km (48.7 mpg) WLTC fuel consumption and benefits from “high power performance” and “improved acceleration in the low-speed range”. The existing turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder is reserved for the 4WD variants, again mated to a CVT gearbox.

Standard equipment includes the Smart Assist with improved collision warning and collision avoidance systems that can now detect pedestrians in the dark. Additionally, the adaptive cruise control (ACC) has a new “stop holding function” thanks to the adoption of an electric parking brake, and supports “all-speed tracking”.

 

Toyota/Daihatsu also added a welcoming light function that turns on the cabin lights when the owner is approaching a locked vehicle with the key. The hybrid variants also come standard with an AC100V, 1,500W accessory outlet that can be used as an emergency power supply system.

The models are already available in Japan, with prices starting from 2,163,000 yen (US$ 18,943) for the Toyota Raize Hybrid and from 2,116,000 yen (US$ 18,531) for the Daihatsu Raize Hybrid.