Toyota Yaris Cross: we test the Japanese hybrid "mini SUV"

With the new Toyota Yaris Cross, the Japanese brand completes the body style offer of the Yaris range and adds an SUV to its line-up, joining the C-HR, Rav4 and Highlander. Toyota’s goal is to win back market share in the SUV segment among mainstream brands, reaching 10% in 2022. Let’s not forget that the brand once held 18% of the SUV segment with the second-generation Rav4, when the segment had far less choice than it does now.

And what does Toyota offer in a segment as crowded as that of the urban SUVs? A car that stands out for its design, versatility, low running costs and a comprehensive equipment list of safety, comfort and multimedia features, in addition to 4×4 versions. We took the wheel in a first brief encounter, and here is what we thought.

The exterior and interior design of the Toyota Yaris Cross

Outside, the Yaris Cross is a very eye-catching SUV. Without the Yaris name at the front, you wouldn’t guess it is really the SUV version of the Japanese city car, although the platform is the same, logically, with the suspension and steering adapted for a bigger, heavier car.

Surprisingly, despite the difference in size, with equivalent equipment the Yaris Cross weighs only 95 kg more than the Yaris. Its dimensions come to 4.18 metres long and 1.56 metres high, which is 24 and 9 cm more than the Yaris respectively. The width increases by 2 centimetres. The driving position is 6 cm higher than in the Yaris, and ground clearance rises from 14.5 to 17 centimetres. The increase in length comes from the overhangs, as the wheelbase does not change and remains at 2,560 mm.

Inside there are some changes compared with the Yaris, but the general dashboard design lines are kept, with new materials and a little more prominence given to the centre console. The door panels also change. Around the gear lever are grouped the controls related to driving, such as the drive mode selector, the electric parking brake, the button to deactivate the stability control and, on the 4×4 versions, the control for the all-wheel-drive programmes.

Interior space and boot capacity

Overall, the sense of fit, the ergonomics and the visibility are very good, with the multimedia system screen in an elevated position, a tray for storing items between it and the climate controls, a generous space in front of the gear lever and additional storage behind the lever and in the armrest.

I particularly liked the seats in the Adventure versions we were able to drive, which look sporty yet are comfortable and offer good support. The steering wheel also has a good feel, and its controls for the main functions are accessible and well grouped. During the test the wireless connection of the smartphone with Apple CarPlay had some stability issues, but both the software and the menus, as well as the quality of the multimedia screen, have improved greatly.

Naturally the Yaris Cross offers a roomier cabin, especially in the rear seats. You could consider it a four-seater car, or one for two adults with children, because the boot capacity keeps up as well. It offers 397 litres (320 in the 4×4 version), more than 100 litres over the Yaris. It is not among the best in its class, sitting mid-table compared with its rivals such as the Volkswagen T-Roc, the Peugeot 2008 or the Renault Captur, which clearly exceed 400 litres. It is in the same range as the Ford Puma, an Seat Arona or a Skoda Kamiq.

That said, the shapes are very regular and practical, with features such as load-securing straps and a floor that can be set at two heights, and the option to fold down the rear seat backrests in a 60:40 or 40:20:20 split on the better-equipped versions. It can also have a hands-free tailgate opening system using a foot sensor.

116 hp hybrid engine: only one version… for now

At least for now, Toyota offers the Yaris Cross only with the same self-charging hybrid powertrain as the Yaris. It has not been confirmed, but nor has it been ruled out that more powerful versions will be added to the range in the future. Honestly, with the approach this small SUV takes, the 116 hp it claims is more than sufficient.

The 1.5 three-cylinder petrol engine with an Atkinson cycle, producing 92 hp and 120 Nm of torque, is supported by a 580-volt electric motor delivering up to 80 hp (59 kW) and 141 Nm of torque. In this fourth generation of Toyota’s hybrid system a compact power control unit is used, with more efficient cooling. The lithium-ion battery also increases the power it can supply compared with the one used in the previous generation Yaris hybrid. It has 48 cells, works at a nominal voltage of up to 177.6 volts, and its capacity is 0.76 kWh.

All this allows the time the vehicle can run in electric mode to be increased. Moreover, the car can now travel for short periods powered by electricity alone at speeds of up to 130 km/h. As a result, the Yaris Cross’s homologated consumption figures are very good: from 4.4 to 5.2 l/100 km in the 4×2, and from 4.7 l/100 km in the 4×4.

To configure a version with rear-wheel drive, Toyota fits a second electric motor on the rear axle, which also means replacing a torsion-beam suspension with a multi-link layout. That is why the 4×4 version loses almost 80 litres of boot capacity.

In reality, this system that Toyota calls AWD-i is not a performance-oriented all-wheel drive. The independent electric motor on the rear axle produces 3.9 kW and 52 Nm of torque, and only operates at speeds of up to 70 km/h, to improve grip when setting off or driving on very grippy surfaces. Equipped with this system the Yaris Cross has a rotary dial that lets you choose between Snow mode or the Trail programme, or return to normal mode simply by pressing it.

In Snow mode the torque the system sends to the wheels is reduced so they don’t spin when pulling away or accelerating, while in Trail mode it lightly brakes the wheels that lose the most grip to distribute more torque to those with greater traction. In normal driving the system splits torque from 100:0 up to a maximum of 60% to the rear axle.

Behind the wheel of the Toyota Yaris Cross

During our first brief encounter with the Yaris Cross we were able to cover many kilometres on the motorway, as well as a very twisty stretch of secondary road in rain and on slippery asphalt, and various urban routes.

Compared with the Yaris, behind the wheel you can feel that the Yaris Cross is more of a car… but don’t expect the feel of a Corolla, for example. The Yaris Cross moves like a fish in water around town and on inter-urban routes, where the hybrid system moves the SUV with agility, making it very easy to drive and delivering consumption that would be hard even for a diesel to match. It isn’t difficult, using ECO mode, to get close to the official figures, with around 4.5 l/100 km on average.

This does not mean you can’t travel in the Yaris Cross. But you should bear in mind that if you regularly take long motorway or open-road journeys, it will demand a calm approach if you want to enjoy the drive. The way the hybrid system works encourages efficient driving. Above all because if you don’t maintain a steady speed, or when you need to accelerate for any reason (to overtake, to tackle an incline or to regain speed quickly after braking, for example), the Yaris Cross’s distinctive transmission, as with all Toyota hybrids, makes the engine revs and noise rise, which is not comfortable.

Add to this that, unlike in town, at motorway speeds the Yaris Cross’s cabin is not especially quiet, and long journeys can take their toll. A Corolla Touring, which is positioned in the Toyota range at the same price as the Yaris Cross, is far more comfortable and gives a more pleasant feel behind the wheel on long trips, with a much better insulated cabin and suspension that absorbs bumps better.

Otherwise, the handling is good, and the Yaris Cross is an easy car to drive. The 4×4 versions have a slightly firmer suspension setup, which can feel a little harsh over pronounced potholes, speed bumps or asphalt joints; the 4x2s, with softer tuning, will probably be more comfortable in this respect. The driver assistance arsenal includes as standard the Toyota Safety Sense package, with pre-collision assist, adaptive cruise control -which works really well-, lane keeping assist and a standard centre airbag.

Prices and discounts on the Toyota Yaris Cross

Leaving aside the Business Plus trim, which is mainly aimed at fleets and companies, the Yaris Cross range has three trims for the 4×2 versions, namely Active Tech, Style and Style Plus; and two trims for the AWD-i 4×4, Premiere Edition and Adventure.

These are the prices with the dealer discount that Toyota offers already applied, which ranges from 2,400 euros for the Active Tech to 3,400 euros for the rest.

• Yaris Cross Active Tech: €23,350
• Yaris Cross Style: €24,350
• Yaris Cross Style Plus: €26,100
• Yaris Cross Adventure: €27,600
• Yaris Cross Premiere Edition: €30,300

The good news is that at these prices an additional discount of 1,850 euros still applies when financing the purchase through the brand, which brings the entry-level Yaris Cross Active Tech down to 21,500 euros.

When financing the purchase, the additional discount is not the only advantage. Toyota offers two very interesting service packages that we recommend not overlooking. The Easy Plus package, priced at 500 euros, adds an extended warranty of 4 years, and 4 years of maintenance. With the Easy Complet package, costing 950 euros, a year of comprehensive insurance is added, with a 300-euro excess.

Financing through Toyota Easy Plus, the monthly payment for a Yaris Cross Active Tech is 185 euros, with a deposit of 6,079 euros and a final payment of 11,150 euros after 48 monthly instalments. With Kinto One renting you can get a Yaris Cross Business Plus from 279 euros (plus VAT) per month, with no deposit and everything included.

Equipment on the Toyota Yaris Cross: what do I get?

The Active Tech version of the Yaris Cross will be the best seller. Although it is the entry-level trim, the equipment is very comprehensive, with full LED headlights, automatically folding exterior mirrors, keyless entry and start, and a 7-inch colour TFT screen.

For this trim there are two optional packs. The one called Comfort adds intelligent parking assist, 360-degree cameras, a hands-free tailgate and automatic rear pre-collision braking. Its price is 1,750 euros.

The Connect pack, meanwhile, adds the Toyota Smart Connect multimedia system with a 9-inch screen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, navigation with online map updates and a wireless smartphone charger. The price is 750 euros. The only catch is that you cannot take both packs together; you have to choose one or the other.

If you’re going for an Active Tech with the Connect pack, it’s better to make the jump to the Style trim, which costs 1,000 euros more but adds to everything the Connect pack includes the 18-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear glass, partial leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear seats that split 40:20:40, dual-zone climate control and blind-spot detection. In addition, from this trim you can also choose the two-tone paint with a contrasting roof, which costs 900 euros. Some of the combinations are really eye-catching.

The Style Plus has features such as a sunroof, a hands-free tailgate, or a colour 10-inch head-up display that projects information onto the windscreen.

Among the 4×4 versions, the Premiere Edition is a launch version that will eventually disappear from the range. It has a very comprehensive equipment list, but it costs over 30,000 euros. The most sensible option is the Adventure, which in addition to the specific styling details that enhance its off-road look (mouldings and bumpers) includes as standard roof bars, two-tone bodywork, partial Adventure leather upholstery and the Smart Connect system.

Toyota Yaris Cross image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverToyota Yaris Cross4 versions · from 30,750 €