Toyota Yaris Cross Review & Prices

The Toyota Yaris Cross is the Japanese giant’s answer to the likes of the Volkswagen T-Cross and the Renault Captur. It’s a small SUV, based on the tiny Yaris hatchback (the clue was in the name) but with styling that’s even cuter and more appealing than the smaller hatchback.

Think of it as an adorable Pokemon character, which has evolved from something small and fluffy into something taller and chunkier, but which is still adorably fluffy.

The Yaris Cross certainly looks more interesting than the smaller Yaris hatch, especially now that it’s been updated with a new honeycomb grille to make it look like a shrunken RAV4 SUV. There’s even a racy-looking GR Sport model, which gets no extra power nor tuned suspension, but which looks - in the same way that a toddler in racing overalls does - like a cosplay rally car.

After the really quite stylish exterior, the Yaris Cross’ cabin is a bit of a let-down. It’s classic Toyota, which means you get lots and lots of dark grey and black plastic. True, it’s all really well bolted together and nothing’s going to break, but still - it’s very drab. At least higher-spec models now can be had with chunkier sports seats, and the GR Sport version gets contrasting red stitching to brighten things up a bit.

There’s a basic 9.0-inch touchscreen for the cheapest Yaris Cross, but everything else comes with a 10.5-inch screen, which gets the latest Toyota software. That works well, although some menus are a bit too deep and confusing. At least the Yaris still gives you proper physical buttons for the major controls, and there’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for your phone connection.

There’s lots of space up front, but in spite of the tall roof, space in the back is a little more restricted. If you’re trying to carry four tall adults, you might find things too tight, and a Skoda Kamiq has more cabin space. More boot space too, as the Yaris Cross’ boot tops out at slightly less than 400 litres, which is useful but far from class-leading.

The Yaris Cross comes with one engine - a 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid - but you can choose from two power outputs, 116hp or 130hp, with the ‘sporty’ GR Sport only available with the higher power engine. There’s also an all-wheel drive option for the 130hp engine, which uses a small extra electric motor to drive the rear wheels.

Fuel economy is pretty much identical for both power outputs, and you shouldn’t struggle to hit 60mpg on average. The extra power of the 130hp engine is well worth it too, as it’s more flexible on the motorway, where the Yaris Cross is almost surprisingly refined and quiet.

It’s good around town too, with decent poke from the hybrid system at low speeds, while the combination of sharp steering, good visibility, and compact dimensions make the Yaris Cross easy to manage in tight spaces. The suspension is on the stiff side, though, which isn’t so good.

It’s not bad on a twisty road, either. OK, so no Yaris Cross is truly sporty, but there’s inherently good balance and plenty of grip, so you can have a little fun.

Verdict

The Yaris Cross isn’t a car to set the heart racing with excitement, but if what you need is a reasonably roomy compact car with cute styling and exceptionally good fuel economy, it’s a winner.

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The Yaris Cross is among the more expensive models in its segment of the market, but that has to be balanced against the fact that it comes only in hybrid form, whereas many competitors make you pay extra for that privilege.

For instance, in basic trim, a Renault Captur is as much as £5,000 cheaper than the cheapest Yaris Cross, but that gap narrows considerably when you add hybrid power to the Renault. There’s currently no hybrid option for the Volkswagen T-Cross, so that manages to undercut the price of the Yaris Cross by around £2,000.

It’s also worth pointing out that an MG ZS Hybrid+ is some £5,000 cheaper than the Yaris Cross, and bigger inside, but it’s much less sophisticated and refined.

The Yaris Cross is nippy around town and very fuel efficient, but it’s fidgety over bumps

In town

Being a high-riding hatchback the Toyota Yaris Cross is ideal for city driving. You get a more commanding view of the road than the Yaris Hybrid, yet it’s still compact enough to squeeze into tight parking spaces and down narrow streets. Fun fact; although we think of the Yaris Cross as being a small car now, it’s actually pretty much the same size as the original 1994 Toyota RAV4.

It’s also only available as a hybrid with a CVT automatic gearbox, which makes for smooth and nippy performance thanks to the electric motor which gives you a boost off the line. You can also drive at low speeds in EV mode to save fuel, and up to 60mpg is easily achievable.

All models come standard with autonomous emergency braking which will detect cyclists and pedestrians in your path, and you get a reversing camera as well to make tight car parks a bit less stressful. A 360-degree camera can also be optioned on top-spec models.

If the roads around your local town are a bit broken and potholed then you might find the Yaris Cross can be a bit firm, however it’s never uncomfortable.

On the motorway

If you find yourself regularly venturing out onto the motorway then the 130hp model may be worth considering over the standard 116hp version. It’s still not especially rapid, however the extra power can prove useful when overtaking. Beyond this, the Yaris Cross is very well-mannered as you push on down a fast-moving road.

A recent update brought improved sound insulation, meaning wind and road noise is fairly unintrusive. It’s certainly no worse than you’ll get on a Volkswagen T-Cross. The engine can get noisy if you call upon all the available horses under the bonnet, however, a typical issue with hybrid-engined cars that use a CVT gearbox.

The Yaris Cross gets both adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist as standard, something which isn’t too common in this class and a very welcome addition. The seats are comfortable as well, providing plenty of support to keep the backache at bay.

On a twisty road

While the Yaris Cross won’t get your pulse racing on a B-road, the firm suspension limits body roll through the corners and the steering is accurate enough to inspire confidence. If it’s fun you’re after, consider a Ford Puma instead - but the little Toyota is perfectly competent. Don’t go assuming that the GR Sport version is actually sportier to drive - it’s really just some nice badges and a bodykit, and the suspension and engine remains the same.

That firm suspension does come with a drawback, and that’s the fact it can get unsettled by broken or undulating roads. A Skoda Kamiq maintains its composure a bit better.

The Yaris Cross will seat four adults in comfort, but fitting a child seat can be a pain thanks to the narrow door openings

The Toyota Yaris Cross’s interior is broadly the same as the Yaris hatchback, meaning it offers plenty of space up front to get comfortable. There may be no option of electrically-adjustable seats, but they still offer plenty of adjustment to suit drivers of all shapes and sizes.

Go for one of the higher-spec models and you get heated front seats and a heated steering wheel to stay toasty on cold winter mornings, and all but the entry-level car get adjustable lumbar support.

As for storage space for your bits and bobs, it’s pretty average. The door bins are decent and will take a big bottle with ease and there are a couple of cupholders in the centre console, although the armrest can interfere with larger bottles here.

Underneath that armrest is a pretty meagre storage cubby which is barely tall enough to fit the car’s key, and the glovebox is best described as adequate. There’s a handy tray in front of the gear selector for your phone as well, which also has a USB port for charging.

Space in the back seats

Space in the back is decent on the whole. Headroom will be at a premium for taller adults, but carrying two people will be no bother. Taking three in the back on the other hand could be tricky thanks to the narrow centre seat.

Rear seat occupants have a pair of front seatback pockets and some small door bins to store their possessions, and all but the entry-level car get two cup holders in the back as well. It’s just a shame there are no charging points back here.

The two outer seats have easy-reach ISOFIX anchors, although you’re almost certain to lose the removable covers. Fitting a child seat is a bit of a faff as well because the rear doors don’t open very wide. A Skoda Kamiq is more practical for growing families.

Boot space

At 397 litres, the Toyota Yaris Cross just about matches the Kamiq’s 400-litre boot capacity. It trails behind the Peugeot 2008’s 434 litres though, and the lack of clever sliding seats means it can’t come close to the Renault Captur’s 536-litre figure.

Numbers don’t tell the full story though, and the lack of a load lip and the wide boot opening make it very easy to sling heavy items in. You get an adjustable boot floor and some handy luggage hooks and belts to make the most of the space on offer. The Excel trim also gets an electric boot that can be activated by waving your foot beneath the rear bumper (oddly, the more expensive GR Sport doesn’t get that feature).

The seats also fold down flat, and the clever fabric parcel shelf can be placed on the floor without taking up space making it easy to exploit the new-found 1,097 litres of space. The Yaris Cross is also available with all-wheel drive, another unusual feature, but it does reduce overall boot space to 320 litres with the seats up.

It may not be the most exciting cabin out there, but the Yaris Cross feels solidly built with high-quality materials

As soon as you climb aboard the Yaris Cross you’ll notice that everything is logically laid out and very well-made. It has that typical Toyota solidity, giving you the impression that it’ll last forever. There’s not much in the way of design flair here, you’ll have to look at a Peugeot 2008 for that, but there’s something to be said for the no-nonsense simplicity. The optional panoramic glass sunroof also adds some much needed light.

Entry-level models get a 9.0-inch infotainment system, while every other grade has a 10.5-inch touchscreen. Regardless of which one you go for you get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the graphics are clear and bright. It’s responsive to your touch as well, and the menus are logically laid out, plus the software can now be updated over the air.

You also get a digital driver’s display as standard, measuring 7.0 inches on lower-spec cars and 12.3 inches higher up the range. The larger display is certainly more impressive-looking, and you get all your vital information at a glance in a clear and concise manner. It’s just not as configurable as the system you get in a Volkswagen T-Cross.

There are two engine options to choose from in the Toyota Yaris Cross, although both are based on Toyota’s 1.5-litre petrol-hybrid setup. All but the top two trim levels use a 116hp setup, while GR Sport models have 130hp on tap.

They're all great all-rounders, and it’s not really worth upgrading to a higher-spec model just for the added power. It’s hard to notice the difference in performance in daily use - the 130hp engine shaves just half a second off the 0-60mph time - and both cars returned very similar economy during our time with them.

That economy was very impressive though. These two engines are both supposed to do close to 60mpg, and we managed to get within 5mpg of this figure in both cars during real-world testing. This is thanks largely to the hybrid system, which does a great job of keeping the engine switched off around town as much as possible.

It’s this efficient hybrid system which keeps the emissions down as well. The 116hp model emits as little as 101g/km of CO2, while the more powerful car puts out between 102g/km and 117g/km, depending on which alloy wheels you choose. This places it in a low Vehicle Excise Duty band, and Benefit in Kind tax won’t be too ruinous for company car drivers either.

Euro NCAP score: 5/5 (2021)

Adult occupant: 79%
Child occupant: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 83%
Safety assist: 76%

The Yaris Cross comes fitted with an impressive list of standard safety devices including a pre-collision system, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera. Rear-cross traffic alert is available on higher trims as is a 360-degree camera and advanced parking assist.

It achieved a full five-star Euro NCAP test result when it was tested in 2021. The safety assist systems score of 81% is commendable as is the 86% scored for adult occupant safety.

Toyota came 14th out of 31 brands in the 2025 Driver Power survey for owner satisfaction, which is a disappointing result given its typically stellar reputation for build quality and reliability. The Yaris Cross itself finished only in 41st position in the Drive Power Top 50 New Cars To Own list, which must surely count as a poor result.

The standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty can be extended up to 10 years and 100,000 miles as long as you service your car each year at an authorised Toyota repairer. Kia’s class-leading standard seven-year/100,000-mile, which you might prefer as the car does not have to be serviced at an authorised Kia dealer to retain its warranty.