Toyota Yaris Cross - Economical and with attitude

These are tricky times when it comes to buying a new car. Incentives come and go, the government usually shifts the goalposts in terms of BIK (Benefit in Kind) whenever there’s a Budget, and of course, the January 1st 2030 deadline for buying a car with a petrol or diesel engine will be here before we know it. 

All of that before you even start considering model, trim, colour, etc. 

Another trend is for manufacturers to offer a version of one of their cars and provide it with a bit of attitude…like this Toyota Yaris Cross, for example. 

A taller, wider, longer Yaris

It’s largely based on Toyota’s hugely popular Yaris hatchback supermini. It shares the same. engine, gearbox, and wheelbase, but the bodywork differs because is taller, wider, and longer. You really spot the difference if you manage park next to the ‘normal, Yaris. There’s even an all-wheel drive model, which will appeal to anyone who lives out in the sticks. 

And it’s a hybrid, which is something that Toyota has more experience in than any other car manufacturer, so it’s a tried and trusted set-up. 

Trim levels, price and engine options

You can choose from four trim levels: Icon, Design, Excel and GR Sport. The latter is purely a trim designation and not a performance version. 

Prices kick off at £27,245 (Jan’26). They all use a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, but you can have different power outputs because you can opt for a larger battery, which gives the engine some additional grunt.

To complicate things slightly, the engine options are trim dependent. Icon trim only gets the smallest power option (114bhp), while the top GR Sport trim only gets the 128bhp set-up. Design trim gets both, and Excel gets the 128bhp output, which you can also opt for with all-wheel drive. The electric motor is shifted to drive the rear wheels. No matter which FWD model you go for, Toyota reckons you’ll manage around 60mpg, but the AWD system knocks 4-5 miles off that predicted total. 

Driving experience

There are two driver modes: Eco and Power. Eco encourages the battery to do the heavy lifting. 

Out on the road, the Toyota Yaris Cross is a nimble little mover. The 0-60mph times feel much the same, no matter which engine output you go for. Start with 11 seconds, and the 128bhp version is 2-3 seconds quicker while the 114bhp is 2-3 seconds slower, although you’d never know it in general day-to-day motoring. Hit the throttle and, unlike a lot of hybrids, the Yaris Cross surges off the line without hesitation. Yes, if you hammer it, the engine revs hit the stratosphere, but they soon die down to a reasonably muted thrum. The ride is a tad firm around town, but once you’re onto the quicker stuff it smooths out nicely. It’s a rewarding car to drive. 

It's a great tool for town driving because you get a tight turning circle and an elevated seating position. If you do the school run, you’ll be popular. 

Interior

Inside is simple but smart. The entry-level Icon trim gets a 9-inch central touchscreen, while the others increase things to 10.5 inches. Both work well and have clear graphics. There’s also auto lights and wipers, keyless entry and start, powered mirrors and windows, intelligent cruise control, wireless phone connectivity, reversing camera and air con. 

Move up to Design trim, and you now get rear privacy glass, bigger touchscreen, LED headlights and 17-inch alloys as opposed to 16-inch.

The one I’d go for is Excel trim because you add heated seats and steering wheel, 18-inch alloys, 12.3-inch instrument cluster rather than 7-inch, powered tailgate and parking sensors. Compared to the Icon trim, this will add around £8k to the price, but I think it’s worth it and will make the car more attractive when the time comes to sell. You also have the option of all-wheel drive, which may appeal if you live on a hill at this time of year…which I do. I had the Yaris Cross during a snowy January here in the North East, and while I was able to get up the hill, others weren’t. Hah. 

If you like the Toyota Yaris (I do) but fancy one with a slightly jacked-up ride, higher seating position (seats are great by the way) that offers a touch more in terms of versatility and will make for ideal family transportation whenever you’re either pootling around town or cruising along the motorway, the Yaris Cross will appeal to you. It looks good, drives well, is economical and, if you go for Excel trim, comes with everything that you really need. 

It's a Toyota with attitude. 

words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Toyota