Skip advert
Advertisement

New Toyota Yaris Cross 2021 review

The new Toyota Yaris Cross has arrived in the UK, but what's it like on the road? We find out...

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Toyota Yaris
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

Verdict

The new Toyota Yaris Cross effectively packages what we’ve come to like about the latest Yaris Hybrid into a compact SUV body without any needless surprises or alterations. It’s exceptionally efficient, if not the most startling performer. The hybrid drivetrain takes little getting used to and is easy to extract fantastic efficiency from. It could be a great company car option too, thanks to CO2 emissions from as low as 102g/km for Design trim.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Yaris name now spans a family of small cars within the Toyota line-up; it’s a title applied to an efficient supermini, a searing hot hatch and now, a small SUV.

This is the Yaris Cross, and it takes its name and some styling cues from its supermini counterpart, but mixes it with design inspiration from the larger RAV4.

It’s a hybrid, so direct rivals include the Hyundai Kona hybrid and the Renault Captur E-Tech. The Yaris Cross is built on the same small-car TNGA platform as the regular Yaris supermini, with a drivetrain that consists of a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine linked to a CVT transmission. A hybrid transaxle packages an electric generator and motor alongside each other on the front axle.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The electric motor produces up to 79bhp, with the maximum combined output for both power sources quoted as 114bhp. Better still, it’s straightforward to get the best out of the set-up.

There aren’t too many modes; just a default one, plus Eco and Power settings, an EV mode and a setting marked ‘B’ for extra regeneration to unlock the Yaris Cross’s trump card: effortless efficiency.

EV is good enough for short stints around town, with the 79bhp motor providing sufficient propulsion. It’ll stick resolutely in this mode up until 30mph, or until the battery is empty. Above this speed it’ll run in hybrid mode, with the car’s ECU deciding when to use either petrol, electric, or a combination of both sources. The result of this is plain to see on the driver information screen, which shows a breakdown of how much you’ve been using electric power only.

Advertisement - Article continues below

You’ll find that, with little effort, you’ll cover a lot of ground on electric power. Even on our test route, which combined urban settings with dual-carriageways, and faster A-roads and B-roads, more than half the journey was completed on electricity; 66.5mpg was the end result with no effort on our part, and that’s a figure that outstrips the official claims made by Toyota. Put a bit of effort in and rely on Eco mode’s softer power map, and you might even hit 80mpg.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s in keeping with the Yaris Cross’s dynamic make-up, because this small SUV is far from scintillating, but feels solid to drive. It retains the best aspects of the Yaris supermini, with its positive steering and good body control, and it feels composed and comfortable. The CVT transmission is well behaved, too.

The suspension is still ever so slightly on the firmer side of things, but not unacceptably so. The ride height is increased by 25mm over the Yaris, but the impact of that is felt more in the seating position; it certainly feels like you’re perched higher up than in a supermini, although the driving environment feels more functional than flashy, combining decent materials with fairly straightforward switchgear.

The eight-inch infotainment screen on Design trim models is a massive improvement on older Toyota tech.

Design trim certainly has lots of kit. Alongside the main screen there’s a seven-inch driver information display and a strong level of safety and assistance kit, including adaptive cruise control, automatic air-con, a reversing camera, LED lights, aluminium roof rails and 17-inch alloys. Heated seats are found on the next grade up, however.

It’s good value, and mid-spec Design trim is expected to account for as much as 50 per cent of UK sales.

Model:Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 VVT-i Design
Price:£24,140
Engine:1.5-litre 3cyl petrol hybrid
Power/Torque:114bhp/120Nm
Transmission:CVT auto, front-wheel drive
0-62mph:11.2 seconds
Top speed:105mph
Economy:62.2mpg
CO2:102g/km
On sale:Now
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

MINI Aceman review
MINI Aceman - front

MINI Aceman review

In-depth reviews
29 Oct 2024
Subaru Crosstrek review
Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i e-Boxer Touring - front

Subaru Crosstrek review

In-depth reviews
21 Oct 2024

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: fuel-sipping Toyota Yaris Cross with new tech for £257 per month
Toyota Yaris Cross - front tracking

Car Deal of the Day: fuel-sipping Toyota Yaris Cross with new tech for £257 per month

Toyota’s recently updated, highly efficient hybrid SUV is our Deal of the Day for 2 November
News
2 Nov 2024
New Suzuki e Vitara revealed: Japanese brand’s first EV only offers 248-mile range
Suzuki e Vitara reveal - front

New Suzuki e Vitara revealed: Japanese brand’s first EV only offers 248-mile range

The compact Suzuki e Vitara electric SUV will be available with four-wheel drive, and should arrive next summer
News
4 Nov 2024
Best car headlight bulbs 2024
Best car headlight bulbs - header image

Best car headlight bulbs 2024

Which car headlight bulbs will brighten your night?
Product group tests
1 Nov 2024