2024 Toyota Yaris Cross review: Full range detailed

The Yaris Cross is the smallest SUV Toyota sells in Australia. You might not guess that the Cross is based on the Yaris small car as its exterior shares few styling cues with the hatchback. Instead, the Yaris Cross goes its own way with a tough mini-RAV4 aesthetic.

Introduced locally in November 2020, the Yaris Cross sits below the Corolla Cross small SUV and RAV4 medium SUV, utilising three-cylinder engines and TNGA-B underpinnings. Australian buyers are lapping up hybrids, with the petrol-electric powertrain accounting for more than three-quarters of Yaris Cross sales here – and with good reason.

Available in three trim levels spanning $26,990-$37,990 before on-road costs, the Yaris Cross isn’t as cheap as its size might have you believe but generous standard safety features, frugal powertrains and a fun drive make up for some of its packaging shortcomings.

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JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing
• What body styles are available for the Yaris Cross?
• What features are standard in every Yaris Cross?
• What key features do I get if I spend more?
• How safe is the Yaris Cross?
• How comfortable and practical is the Yaris Cross?
• How much boot space does the Yaris Cross offer?
• I like driving, will I enjoy this car?
• Which Yaris Cross engine uses the least fuel?
• What is the Yaris Cross’s towing capacity?
• How long is the warranty and what are the Yaris Cross’s servicing costs?
• Which version of the Yaris Cross does Wheels recommend?
• What are the Toyota Yaris Cross’s key rivals?
• What might annoy me?
• What might I miss that similar cars have?
• What’s the infotainment system like?
• Where does Toyota make the Yaris Cross?
• Are there plans to update the Yaris Cross soon?

Pricing

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What body styles are available for the Toyota Yaris Cross?

The Toyota Yaris Cross is a five-door, five-seat light SUV.

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What features are standard in every Toyota Yaris Cross?

The features listed below are standard in the entry-level model and will appear in higher-grade models unless replaced by more premium equivalent features.

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What key features do I get if I spend more?

The entry-level Yaris Cross is well equipped, but stepping up adds a number of key features.

Moving to higher grades adds welcome goodies like surround-view monitors and blind-spot monitoring, as well as additional LED lighting. More premium trims feature in upper grades, too, along with extra customisation.

The mid-spec Yaris Cross GXL adds:

As the range-topper, the Urban scores:

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Meanwhile, the ‘sporty’ GR Sport trim gets in addition to the Urban, or swaps in:

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How safe is the Toyota Yaris Cross?

Entry-level GX trim is equipped with a decent safety suite with plenty of airbags and driver assistance technology, enough to grant it a five-star rating from ANCAP when it was tested in September 2021.

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Additionally, The mid-range GXL and range-topping Urban grades gain front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a panoramic view monitor and low-speed reverse AEB.

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How comfortable and practical is the Toyota Yaris Cross?

The Yaris Cross is around 200mm shorter than a Corolla hatch, yet there’s just enough room in the back seat for two six-footers even with the gently sloping roofline. There’s ample space for kids too, which is what really matters.

Getting little ones and baby capsules in and out of the back may prove tricky, as the doors don’t open very wide. Once in, the Yaris Cross has ISOFIX child seat anchors for the two outboard seats and top tether points for all three rear positions.

Aside from relatively good space and kiddie provisions, there are very few amenities for second-row occupants; no grade has USB charge points, air vents, or even grab handles in the back seat, for example. That’s not so egregious in a GX, but in a near-$40K on-the-road Urban or GR Sport, we don’t think that’s good enough.

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Even in the front seat, no Yaris Cross features a vanity mirror or central armrest, and the cargo cover is a flimsy mesh item that provides no noise insulation.

Then there’s the automatic gear selector that looks like a hangover from the eighth-gen Corolla, and the switch blanks.

At least there are some saving graces; the quirky digital dash, for example. There are two eye-like pods with a digital screen between them that give you all the information you need.

The seats are comfortable – if only manually adjustable in GX and GXL – and the fabric upholstery doesn’t look too bad. Some (including us) will find that the Urban’s brown leatherette-accented upholstery clashes with the Yaris Cross’s jazzy, young, and fresh-looking exterior, though.

Urban spec also adds a few extra niceties, such as a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, front seat heating and a fast-charging USB-C port.

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How much boot space does the Toyota Yaris Cross offer?

Front-drive models have a little more boot space at 390L when the floor is in its lower position. This is actually quite generous compared to rivals, and enough to challenge cars a size larger than the Yaris Cross.

In AWD trims, space falls to 314L as Toyota has to package not only a battery and electric motor but also double wishbone independent rear suspension.

The Urban scores a kick-to-open power tailgate, but the boot is otherwise short on smarts with few places to hide valuables. And, while it can easily manage a trip to the shops or a day out with a pram, a weekend getaway with the usual family garb like soft bags, a pram, travel cot and any other kiddie-associated kit would see the Yaris Cross struggle.

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I like driving – will I enjoy this car?

The Yaris Cross is not a driver’s car, but this is a comfortable, maneuverable and – in hybrid guise – a quiet city runabout.

Unlike larger Toyota models, core trim levels (the GR Sport is hybrid-only) are available with all three powertrains. Each is based around a three-cylinder petrol engine, with the 88kW/145Nm 1.5-litre petrol being most affordable.

It’s a decent unit for pottering about and runs commendably smoothly, but is barely powerful enough to get out of its own way at high speeds and can be quite vocal under heavy acceleration owing to a CVT with 10 simulated stepped ratios.

Add $2000 to the price and you get that engine running in Atkinson cycle (67kW/120Nm) teamed with an electric motor for a combined 85kW (and no combined torque specified) at the front axle.

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The added instant grunt of the electric motor is more than worth the $2K extra. It means the petrol engine is less stressed, and the whole show is quieter, more responsive, and miles more pleasant.

Hybrids have three driving modes: EV, Auto and Power. Over many miles, we haven’t found much difference between the latter two, with no obvious boost in performance in Power. It is surprising, though, just how far a Yaris Cross can travel on electric-only power, regardless of whether you’ve flicked the EV Mode switch.

Equally impressive is the speed at which the transmission responds to the shifter. Making tight manoeuvres or parking in a hurry is simply a pleasure, such is the eagerness of the Yaris Cross to oblige instructions.

Driving all four wheels is dear, with a $3000 premium on top for the Yaris Cross hybrid AWD. You don’t get any more total power, but the rear traction motor does improve grip in slippery conditions. AWD cars also score double wishbone independent rear suspension.

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While the double wishbone rear end adds meaningful compliance and dynamism over the torsion beam set-up of the front drivers, arguing its necessity and expense is a chore. If a true GR Yaris Cross existed – sure. As it stands, though, most will be fine to go without.

Even the front-drive models have solid body control and a sense of planted predictability at low to medium speeds. Up the pace and the Yaris Cross’s soft suspension tune can feel a little floaty, but the trade-off is comfort around town.

The firmer GR Sport does complicate things with its lower, firmer suspension, so we’d recommend sticking to the mid-spec GXL that amps the light SUV’s excellence in its natural habitat of metropolitan labyrinths.

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Which Toyota Yaris Cross engine uses the least fuel?

Hybrid models use the least fuel, with the Yaris Cross rated as low as 3.8L/100km on the combined ADR81/02 cycle in front-drive hybrid guise, while the AWD is rated at 4.0L/100km.

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What is the Toyota Yaris Cross’s towing capacity?

The Yaris Cross petrol is certified to tow a 1250kg braked load and 550kg unbraked, while the hybrids are limited to 400kg maximum.

How long is the warranty and what are the Toyota Yaris Cross’s servicing costs?

The Toyota Yaris Cross is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Toyota will extend the warranty up to seven years for hybrid powertrain components providing servicing is kept up to date at an authorised dealership, and 10 years for the battery.

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Servicing is due every 12 months/15,000km – whichever comes first – and each of the first five trips to the Toyota dealer is capped at just $215 – much cheaper than most rivals.

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Which version of the Toyota Yaris Cross does Wheels recommend?

The Toyota Yaris Cross is far from the cheapest way into new-car ownership and isn’t even the most affordable way into the smallest SUV segment.

Instead, Toyota has come to the light SUV market with a bulging safety suite and pleasant appointments.

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On balance, the Yaris Cross GX is probably all the Yaris Cross you ever need, though stepping up to the GXL hybrid FWD is what we recommend if you need a fuel-sipping and relatively chic urban kickaround.

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What are the Toyota Yaris Cross’s key rivals?

• Kia Stonic
• Volkswagen T-Cross
• Nissan Juke
• Mazda CX-3
• Ford Puma
• Renault Captur
• MG ZS
• Hyundai Venue

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What might annoy me?

Many of the Yaris Cross’s shortcomings are shared by similar-sized rivals, such as a lack of space in the rear seat compared to price-parity larger models.

However, there’s an expectation that those shopping for a Yaris Cross are looking for a compact vehicle anyway.

A lack of clear indication of what certain controls do (for example, the window switches that are all blank without icons) is more annoying, as is the lack of amenities in the back seat.

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What’s the infotainment system like?

Unlike the Corolla Cross and MY23 RAV4, the Yaris Cross is fitted with Toyota’s older 7.0-inch touchscreen that runs washed-out, low-contrast graphics.

Thankfully, Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feature so you can use the mapping software of your choice, which we recommend. No Yaris Cross variant has a particularly powerful stereo, either.

Onboard the Yaris Cross are some of Toyota’s connected services – free of charge for three years. MyToyota integration uses a smartphone app so users can check diagnostic details, odometer readings, and their owner's manual. There’s also stolen vehicle tracking, automatic collision notification, and an SOS call function.

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Where does Toyota make the Yaris Cross?

Toyota manufactures the Yaris cross in two locations – Valenciennes in France for Europe, and at its East Japan plant for Australia and Asia.

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Are there plans to update the Yaris Cross soon?

The Yaris Cross debuted globally in 2019, before an Australian arrival in late 2020.

Lately, the light SUV has fallen into the shadow of its bigger Corolla Cross brother. Expect to see a facelift in the coming 12-24 months, likely bringing refreshed cabin technology and new looks.

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