Toyota Yaris Cross Car Review

Share This Article

Get the latest industry news
stories into your inbox!

Say hello to…

…the Toyota Yaris Cross a supermini-based SUV with the rare option of all-wheel drive. Based on the efficient and practical Yaris (but not sharing much of the styling), the Yaris Cross has the same wheelbase, but is longer, higher and wider giving it significantly more room inside. This is particularly the case for the boot where luggage capacity is an impressive 397 litres in the front drive Cross, while the regular Yaris makes do with 286 litres.

In the new 2023 model-year version, there are four trim levels:

Icon
Design
Excel
GR Sport

The GR Sport, Design and Icon trims are only available with front-wheel drive, Excel is available with the option of all-wheel drive or front drive.

Standard kit on the Icon specification is lanes assist, adaptive cruise control, road sign assist, auto high beam assist, two Isofix points, 4.2-inch digital dash display, drive modes, reversing camera, auto wipers, auto headlights, aircon, 8-inch infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB connection, 60:40 split fold rear seats and 16-inch alloys.

Design adds a 7-inch digital dash display, digital speedo, 40:20:40 split fold rear seats, uprated headlights, LED rear lights, rear privacy glass, aluminium roof rails and 17-inch alloys.

Excel trim adds blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, auto dimming rear view mirror, front and rear parking sensors, heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, dual-zone aircon, 9-inch infotainment screen, heated front sports seats, power folding mirrors, powered tailgate and 18-inch alloys.

GR Sport adds a sports body-kit, Ultrasuede upholstery, GR logos, gunmetal silver trim, sports suspension and dedicated 18-inch alloys.

Is The Toyota Yaris Cross Suitable For My Fleet

The impressive interior space, excellent safety kit and first-rate efficiency make the Yaris Cross a great fleet car (with the usual proviso, that its not a plug-in, so benefit-in-kind rated at 27%). The Yaris Cross is one of the few vehicles we’ve tested that achieved a better real-world mpg (56.7) than the official figure (54.6). This is testament to Toyota’s 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine and combined hybrid system which consistently produces decent economy figures in all types of driving. Toyota’s 10-year warranty is also class-leading and Gensen Reports predicts a low monthly maintenance figure of £32.48 for a 10,000 mile a year user.

Leasing A Toyota Yaris Cross

Leasing a Yaris Cross from Intelligent Car Leasing on a 3+36 contract for 10,000 miles per year will cost £354 for the Excel specification version we tested.

Driving A Toyota Yaris Cross

With so many supermini SUVs on the market, it’s not easy to offer something different, particularly in the way they drive. At first glance (or should that be ‘first drive’?) Toyota has opted for the middle ground of a decent level of comfort and a respectable handling set up. However, like the regular Yaris hatchback on which it’s based, go a little quicker on a twisty road and the body control and grip are better than you’d expect.

The steering is well-weighted too and the different drive modes make a noticeable difference to the responsiveness of the powertrain.

Unfortunately, the hybrid drivetrain, in particular the automatic gearbox, is noisy and harsh under anything more than light acceleration.

On the plus-side to the impressively efficient hybrid system, it’s quiet around town – doing its best to use electric-only as much as possible – and it is quiet on a steady motorway cruise too.

Inside the Yaris Cross, the general level of standard equipment is very high and the fit and finish of the cabin is, as you’d expect in a Toyota, impressive for a car in this class.

Only the intuitiveness of the infotainment touchscreen lets things down a little, however, Apple Carplay is standard and there’s steering wheel buttons to help out too. Overall, the Yaris Cross is impressive in the practical aspects of car ownership; interior space, comfort, kit and efficiency. It may not be a plug-in, but it’s still an appealing fleet proposition.

FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Toyota Yaris Cross

An impressive, practical and efficient supermini-SUV. The only real negative is the 27% benefit-in-kind tax band.