Toyota Yaris Cross review: a 63mpg antidote to complexity
A light nip-and-tuck seems like a fair description for the visual changes that have been made to the Yaris Cross’s styling.
As mentioned, there’s a new body-coloured honeycomb grille that gives it a stronger resemblance to the recently launched Mk6 Toyota RAV4, revised LED daytime running lights and some slightly different roughty-toughty cladding on the doors – but that’s your lot.
Underneath it’s all very familiar, with the same TGNA-B platform and 1.5-litre petrol hybrid powertrain as before. The three-cylinder engine runs on the clean-burning Atkinson cycle and is teamed with a pair of electric motors to send power through Toyota’s well-known e–CVT transmission.
The motors are powered by a 178V lithium ion battery, which is tiny but holds enough energy to power the Yaris Cross in pure-EV mode for around a mile. The motors cut in at slower speeds on a light throttle to help boost fuel efficiency.
Given that this is essentially a Yaris on stilts, it’s no surprise to find that the Yaris Cross uses the same suspension set-up, with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion-beam arrangement at the rear.
You can still have the Yaris Cross with four-wheel drive. It’s similar to other hybrid Toyota and Lexus 4x4s in that it uses an electric motor to drive the rear axle at lower speeds, forgoing the need for a transfer case and propshaft. Sure, it won’t give the Yaris Cross the go-anywhere ability of a Land Rover Defender but for snow and muddy fields it should come in handy.
Toyota has enhanced equipment levels across all four trims, which include Icon, Design, Excel and GR Sport. The entry-level Icon has gained auto-folding door mirrors and LED headlights, while the Design gets wireless phone charging, parking sensors, sports-style front seats and redesigned 17in alloy wheels.
Excel, which is expected to be the trim of choice, has gained restyled 18in wheels and a new leather and recycled material seat upholstery. Range-topping GR Sport gets some additional safety kit and a powered tailgate. Both of the upper trims can be had with an optional panoramic roof.
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