Preview: Mini-crossovers from Honda and Toyota

Now that Volkswagen has launched several new "lifestyle" models based on its smaller, economical line of cars such as the CrossPolo and CrossGolf, it’s only a matter of time until we see similar cars from its rivals. The first such models are likely to be from Toyota and Honda, and as these latest renderings reveal, the new mini-crossovers will likely be based on the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz (known as the Fit in some markets) models.

Several months back a suspicious looking Honda Jazz was spotted in the UK wearing makeshift flared wheel arches, which were concealing the test-mule’s wider track. It was thought that this prototype was actually the next-gen model in testing, but it appears now that it could have been a rumored crossover variant of the current Jazz.

Following the success that Honda has achieved with the development of the Civic hatch, design work for the new Jazz variant has also been assigned to Honda’s UK division. The new model will likely ride on raised suspension, but it’s unlikely to pick up its own version of Honda’s SH-AWD system. The familiar 1.2L and 1.4L powerplants will likely carry over, but a new diesel unit is also expected to join the lineup. We might just a see a pre-production concept version at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, with a possible launch date in early 2008.

Little is known about Toyota’s future small crossover. It already sells an AWD version of the Yaris in Japan, known locally as the Vitz, and it’s expected that a modified version of the AWD Vitz will be introduced into other markets as the Yaris crossover. The new vehicle will feature a taller ride-height, and should adopt plastic bumpers and side-cladding to differentiate it further from the regular models.