At the ongoing 2025 Gaikindo Indonesia International Motor Show, Daihatsu unveiled its locally made Rocky subcompact crossover, now configured with an e-Smart Hybrid powertrain.
For the uninitiated, the Daihatsu Rocky is sold as the Toyota Raize in our market, and as mentioned, it is built in Indonesia. With the Indonesian Rocky now equipped with hybrid power, the possibility of an electrified Raize steps closer towards reality and a Philippine release.
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The Rocky received a hybrid option back in 2021, with Japan being the first market to get this variant. Since then, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has rolled out several hybrid crossovers, including the popular Corolla Cross and Yaris Cross models. However, the smallest hybrid model at the moment is the Yaris Cross.
With the Rocky’s hybrid system built around a 1.2-liter mill, an electrified Raize would substantially lower the entry point into TMP’s hybrid stable. And performance isn’t expected to dip, as the Rocky e-Smart Hybrid is advertised with a fuel economy of 28km/L. Real-world motoring will probably not produce that high a figure, but with the Raize’s smaller form factor and lighter curb weight, it should be able to stack up against other smaller vehicles with full and mild-hybrid systems.
If TMP is planning to bring this in, it should do it quickly because competitors like Suzuki Philippines are getting ready to launch its mild hybrid subcompact crossover, giving the presently available Raize another competitor with a 1.5-liter engine. With the Kia Sonet also packing a 1.5-liter powertrain, the electrified Raize may need to edge them out in terms of price and fuel economy. But for now, we’ll just have to wait and see.
