For over six decades, Toyota has been synonymous with rugged trucks ready for any terrain. But now, the automaker is taking a surprising turn, introducing a truck designed for those who want to talk the truck talk without ever leaving the smooth asphalt. Enter the 2020 Toyota Yaris Adventure, a vehicle poised to make its grand entrance at the 2019 New York International Auto Show.
Responding to the surging popularity of small crossovers, the Yaris Adventure is Toyota’s answer to a question no one actually asked. It’s a quirky blend of truck and sedan, packaged into a vehicle that’s undeniably… awesome? While Toyota’s mid-size and full-size trucks are flying off dealer lots, the Yaris Adventure aims to carve out a niche in a subcompact pickup segment that’s never existed – simply because no one realized they needed it until now. This unconventional pickup features a two-seat cabin with practical storage behind the seats, opting for utility over rear passenger space, because let’s face it, who actually enjoys sitting back there anyway? In the rear, a composite bed liner promises sufficient cargo space for the moderately adventurous, perfectly balancing sedan-like comfort and truck-like practicality, but not so much practicality that your friends will constantly be asking for moving favors.
“Toyota is incredibly excited to launch this unexpected creation,” confessed a Toyota executive, preferring to remain incognito. “We pride ourselves on listening to our customers and reacting to market trends. Truthfully, we’re going to blame the market for this one, as we haven’t received a single customer request for a truck quite like this.”
Pioneering a New Segment
Just as the RAV4 trailblazed the compact SUV segment in 1994, the 2020 Toyota Yaris Adventure is boldly forging the subcompact pickup segment. The 52.3-inch bed boasts a payload capacity of 297 lbs., ideal for transporting coolers to weekend getaways or perhaps that extra set of golf clubs that mysteriously won’t fit in a regular car trunk (though why you’d have three sets when the Yaris Adventure only seats two remains a puzzle).
Class-Leading… in a Class of One
The 2020 Toyota Yaris Adventure confidently leads its segment in every conceivable metric.* Under the hood, a standard 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine churns out a segment-topping 103 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque.* Its 7.6-inch ground clearance and generous 42.5-inch legroom also claim class-leading status. In fact, every specification of the Yaris Adventure seems to come out on top.*
Fun Fact: The Yaris Adventure holds the unique distinction of being the only vehicle with a truck bed that doesn’t include a full-size spare tire.
*Disclaimer: The Yaris Adventure is currently the sole occupant of the subcompact truck segment.
A Design That Dares to Stand Out
The 2020 Toyota Yaris Adventure sports a daring, passenger-centric design that ensures it won’t easily blend into the background. The front fascia exudes a bold attitude, featuring a hexagonal lower grille and sharply styled headlamps. Automatic LED headlamps, complete with daytime running lights, complement the aggressive front bumper, which is equipped with tow hooks – perfect for extracting the vehicle from situations it probably shouldn’t have ventured into in the first place.
With an overall length of 167.2 inches, the 2020 Yaris Adventure Grade is remarkably adept at slipping into parking spaces that larger truck owners can only dream of. This urban agility is a significant advantage for city dwellers, even though the Yaris Adventure is ostensibly designed to escape the urban jungle (via well-maintained highways, of course).
Venturing Slightly Off the Beaten Path
The off-roading capabilities of the 2020 Toyota Yaris Adventure are best suited for excursions that begin and end on well-graded dirt roads. All Yaris Adventure models are equipped with a coil-spring double wishbone front suspension and leaf spring rear suspension. This setup, combined with the 7.6-inch ground clearance, is perfectly calibrated for navigating mall parking lot curbs or clearing low-lying shrubbery when parking on a friend’s lawn.
While the Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system recently debuted on the 2019 RAV4 is not standard, the Yaris Adventure will offer a newly engineered AWD system. This system is primarily designed to assist Yaris owners in gingerly maneuvering their vehicles out of snow-covered underground garages in metropolitan areas.
Immersive Sound (from Two Speakers)
The standard 7-inch Display Audio system delivers crisp, robust sound through two speakers, strategically placed in each door. For seamless connectivity and control, the system includes a USB media port and Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling and audio streaming.
Another surprising feature (or lack thereof) in the 2020 Toyota Yaris Adventure: navigation is not included (because anyone discerning enough to drive the Yaris Adventure intuitively knows exactly where they are headed).
Warranty? What Warranty?
Due to the rigorous and exhaustive testing conducted on the Yaris Adventure, Toyota has decided against offering a warranty for this groundbreaking truck. It’s simply deemed unthinkable that anything could possibly go wrong. However, roadside assistance will be provided, acknowledging the slight possibility that the Yaris Adventure might require a helping hand if it strays too far from the paved path.
