Toyota Yaris Cross Review & Prices

The Toyota Yaris Cross isn’t - as the name suggests - a Yaris hatchback in a foul mood. It’s actually a small SUV with a fuel efficient hybrid engine and plenty of standard kit, but it’s a bit dull inside and it could be a touch more comfortable over bumpy roads.

It’s a bit like a Pokemon character, because though it shares its oily bits with the aforementioned Yaris and the even smaller Aygo X, the Yaris Cross has evolved into something a bit bigger and tougher - though it hasn’t lost any cuteness in the process.

There are lots of small SUVs to choose from these days, from the stylish Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 to the premium Volkswagen T-Cross and sporty Ford Puma. There are some electric alternatives, too, such as the Leapmotor B10, BYD Atto 2 and the Skoda Epiq.

The Yaris Cross has a rugged appeal to its styling which few others can match, that being said. While the Skoda and BYD feature plenty of body cladding, there’s something about the Toyota’s pronounced wheel arches and high ground clearance that make it look like one of the Japanese brand’s big, America-only 4x4s - just really far away.

Shame the interior can’t quite match the outside’s pizzazz, because while it’s inoffensive and full of common sense features (such as the physical climate controls and tactile steering wheel buttons), it’s a bit too…grey, and depressing. The 9.0-inch infotainment display (or 10.5-inch in posher trims) is crisp enough, but it’s neither particularly fast nor are the menus all that clear to navigate.

Everything feels properly put together, though, in classic Toyota fashion. A million years from now, Yaris Cross interior pieces will be some of the few things left on a barren Earth.

You won’t struggle to get comfortable behind the wheel of the little Toyota, but it’s a bit cramped in the back. The rear seats feel a little claustrophobic on account of the small windows, too. A Skoda Kamiq is definitely better equipped for carrying four adults, and features a bigger boot, as the Yaris Cross doesn’t even have 400 litres of cargo capacity.

There’s a single engine option in two states of tune, a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder hybrid with either 116hp or 130hp, but it’s worth going for the more powerful version. You can even have all-wheel drive (with a tiny electric motor for the rear wheels) kicking in if things get too slippy.

Don’t mistake this for a serious off-roader, however, because the Yaris Cross is at its best in town thanks to its sharp steering, solid forward visibility and compact dimensions making it a breeze to drive in urban environments. It’s a bit noisy when getting up to motorway speeds, and the more powerful version is more at home at the national speed limit where it settles into a quiet cruise.

It isn’t hugely comfortable on account of its fairly stiff suspension, but that pays dividends on country lanes where the Yaris Cross is surprisingly fun to drive.

Verdict

The Toyota Yaris Cross isn’t perfect, but it’s not far off. Sure the Peugeot 2008 is posher inside and a Skoda Kamiq is more spacious, but the Yaris Cross is the most fuel efficient small hybrid SUV around, and it’s pretty great to drive, too.

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The Yaris Cross is expensive relative to its main competition, but that owes to it being available only as a hybrid.

For example, a base Renault Captur is as much as £5,000 cheaper than the cheapest Yaris Cross, but that gap narrows considerably for hybrid models. The Volkswagen T-Cross undercuts the Yaris by around £2,000, but doesn’t offer hybrid power.

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. A Chery Tiggo 4 is even cheaper still.

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

In town

The taller Toyota Yaris Cross offers better visibility than the Yaris Hybrid, yet it’s still compact enough to squeeze into tight parking spaces and down narrow streets. It’s also only available with a CVT automatic gearbox. The car’s hybrid system will charge itself in normal driving, and can offer a small burst of EV-only driving.

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 the extra. It’s not rapid, but the extra power can prove useful when overtaking.

With improved sound insulation in its most recent update, wind and road noise is fairly unintrusive. The engine can get unpleasantly noisy if you put your foot down, which is a typical issue with hybrid-engined cars using a CVT.

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.

On a twisty road

The Yaris Cross won’t get your pulse racing on a B-road, but it doesn’t lean too much and the steering has a nice feel. 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 remain the same. Don’t bother spending extra on the four-wheel drive model, as it doesn’t really offer any benefits.

Firm-ish suspension does come with a drawback, and that’s the fact that 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, and all but the entry-level car get adjustable lumbar support.

Extra storage space isn’t all too impressive. The door bins are decent and will take a big bottle with ease, and there are a couple of cupholders in the centre console, but there’s no clever hidden solutions or particularly cavernous spaces.

Space in the back seats

Headroom in the Yaris Cross will be at a premium for taller adults, but carrying two people will be no bother. Three passengers at once may lead to plenty of rubbed shoulders.

Rear seat occupants have 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 getting a child seat is a bit of a faff as well because the rear doors don’t open very wide.

Boot space

At 397 litres, the Toyota Yaris Cross just about matches the Skoda 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.

That said, the lack of a load lip and the wide boot opening make it very easy to sling heavy items in. The Excel trim also gets an electric boot that can be activated by waving your foot beneath the rear bumper. Oddly, this isn’t available on more expensive GR Sport cars.

The Yaris Cross is also available with all-wheel drive, but that 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

The cabin of the Toyota Yaris Cross is logically laid out. Build quality is impressive, and everything feels robust to the touch, if a little dull to look at. It’s not as stylish as a Peugeot 2008, but it’s a welcome no-nonsense design. Also, an optional panoramic glass sunroof 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, with all getting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is 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, available in a larger size on higher-spec trims, which certainly looks more impressive. 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 available

Economy is impressive across the board. These two engines are quoted as doing close to 60mpg, and we managed to get within 5mpg of this figure in both cars during real-world testing.

The hybrid engine keeps 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 Toyota Yaris Cross 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 19th out of 30 brands in the 2026 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 31st position in the Driver Power Top 50 New Cars To Own list, which is unremarkable.

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 garage. Kia’s class-leading standard seven-year/100,000-mile warranty comes with fewer strings attached, which might be preferable.