Why is Toyota so successful in France?

2024 has definitely been a good year for Toyota France, with the Valenciennes plant thriving thanks to the small Yaris Cross being produced there.

The northern Toyota site set a new record in 2024 with 279,613 vehicles produced, surpassing the 273,788 units of 2023. Among them, the Yaris Cross stands out as a flagship model with 206,679 units manufactured, representing a 3% increase compared to the previous year. For comparison, it is twice as many as the Peugeot 3008. This volume makes it the most produced car in France across all brands, with an impressive proportion of 98.2% hybrids.

Launched in 2022, the Yaris Cross has become Toyota’s best-selling model in Europe, surpassing rivals like the Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008. Its success is based on driving comfort and the energy efficiency of its hybrid powertrain. To reinforce its position, Toyota equipped the 2024 version with several enhancements. The more powerful and torquey hybrid 130 engine is one of the main new features. While the 1.5-liter combustion engine remains unchanged, it is now coupled to a reinforced electric motor. As a result, total power has increased by 12%, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.7 seconds (-0.5 s). Despite this performance boost, fuel consumption remains contained between 4.5 and 5.1 L/100 km, and CO2 emissions increase by only one gram per kilometer.

Another advantage resides in the onboard intelligence. The SUV automatically adjusts its response based on the slopes and optimizes regeneration downhill. On recurring routes, it learns the driver’s habits, deploying energy more efficiently to reduce consumption.

After two years on the market, Toyota has also taken customer feedback into account to improve comfort. The 2024 Yaris Cross features thicker glass to reduce wind noise, enhanced dashboard insulation, and better soundproofing of the engine hood. Engine vibrations are reduced thanks to a dynamic absorber, while the intake sound has been redesigned.

With these developments, the Yaris Cross remains a bestseller worth cherishing, confirming its status as a reference in the compact SUV category.

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