Toyota Yaris Cross
The small crossover is here to stay and when you’ve got a base as popular as Toyota’s Yaris supermini, it made perfect sense to expand the range into something altogether more ‘urban’. What we have here, then, is the Yaris Cross; based on the Yaris and even available with AWD, it takes the ubiquitous supermini and makes it more suitable and appealing for the school run and city driving alike.
This isn’t Toyota’s most diminutive crossover, by the way, that title goes to the ultra-compact Aygo X. The Yaris this Yaris Cross is based on isn’t uncomfortably tiny inside thanks to clever proportioning and during the transition to the Cross it’s gained a couple of centimetres in width and it’s a full 24cm longer. In fact, if you put the two models side-by-side there’s not much visually similarity at all once you get past the headlights and grille. 99% of what they share is buried well beneath the skin.
What engines?
Under the bonnet there’s one 1.5l, three-cylinder hybrid engine available but it does come in two power outputs; 116bhp & 130bhp. Both are mated to automatic transmissions, both emit just over 100g/km CO2 and both manage around 55mpg.
The 130bhp version is actually officially slightly more economical at 56.4mpg vs 54.3mpg in the 116bhp model and that’s because all Yaris Crosses are hybrids; a variant Toyota has vast experience with. To gain the extra power in the 130bhp Yaris Cross the electric motor in the hybrid setup is more powerful so can offer more in the least economical part of driving; accelerating.
AWD?!?
There’s four specs on offer but we’re going to ignore the GR Sport version for now and concentrate on the more everyday Icon, Design & Excel. Prices start from £27,145 for the base model Icon going all the way up to £35,095 for the top-spec Excel but that is AWD and I’m not sure how many Yaris Crosses are going to be specced with that drivetrain.
Inside the Yaris Cross is what you’d expect from Toyota. The cabin is mainly made from sturdy black plastics that are more than acceptable at this price point. The dashboard has a central touchscreen that’s easy enough to navigate yourself around and Toyota has made the sensible decision of leaving heater controls etc as actual buttons and dials.
Being a crossover you sit higher up as the whole car is raised when compared to the Yaris and that does improve the view out if only slightly. The front seats are more comfortable than you might expect and the driving position is good, the only annoyance coming from the transmission tunnel eating into room for your inside knee.
More refined than some hybrids
Being a three-cylinder engine linked to a CVT transmission, you’d expect a fair bit of whining under acceleration, right? Well, thanks to the way this CVT has been set up and the initial power from the electric motor, the engine in the Yaris Cross is actually quite nice and serene when getting going from standstill. If you absolutely boot it or you’re travelling at motorway speeds the characteristic noise does become noticeable but it’s still not overbearing.
Despite being raised up a bit and therefore lifting the centre of gravity, the Yaris Cross manages to avoid pitching and rolling on its suspension around bends. Toyota like to give the impression that the Yaris Cross has a degree of sportiness about it which is possibly pushing it a bit but, to be fair, it does grip the road well and there’s a reasonable amount of feedback through the steering wheel.
Unless you go for the AWD version, the SUV element of the Yaris Cross is pretty much limited to that increased ride height. Toyota has put a few off-roady bits inside, though, to add to that all-important ‘lifestyle’ feel. The rear seat backs are rubber so they’re wipe-clean along with the boot floor; that’s actually quite handy if you throw your muddy boots in there after walking the dog.
Should I buy a Yaris Cross?
The Yaris Cross offers enough over the Yaris its based on to warrant its SUV-lite tag. The added ride height is its main selling point but there is an AWD version which is very rare in this category. Couple this with Toyota’s excellent pedigree when it comes to making hybrids and the Yaris Cross has lots to offer.
By Ben Harrington
The 2025 Toyota Yaris Cross is available now, priced from £27,145. For full details go to:www.toyota.co.uk
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