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He had the SUV in view while building the Yaris platform
The Yaris Cross was decided at the stage when the Yaris's GA-B platform was being developed. Suezawa has revealed that at that time he obtained approval for development that also had the Yaris Cross in view. Back then, SUVs were mostly big, sturdy vehicles and there were few in the B segment; in Europe, it is said, only the Renault Captur and the Nissan Juke were popular, especially with women. What Suezawa aimed for was a car that met the uses of an SUV, with a big luggage space and the ability to drive on gravel and forest roads, in the smallest possible size.
