Was the Toyota Yaris Cross worth the long wait?
You didn’t think you could scroll through without encountering a compact b-segment crossover, did you? Nice not, friend/girlfriend/that one. In the fastest growing car class in Europe, a few new models shoot up every month. This is one that many people have waited an above average long for: the Toyota Yaris Cross.
It’s really strange that it took so long. With the RAV4, Toyota was one of the pioneers in the field of compact SUVs in the 1990s, and with the C-HR, one step below, they have been doing good business for some time. But in the meantime everyone who did a urban active lifestyle or something like that, but didn’t need much space, the door flat at Nissan (Juke), Peugeot (2008), Opel (Mokka) and countless other brands that successfully put a raised little one on the market. Here in Europe we like compact, sensible and efficient, but we like it even more when all those nonsense don’t splash. That’s the reason for the popularity of tough little crossovers.
They were aware of that at Toyota, of course. They have taken some time, but with the Toyota Yaris Cross – developed especially for our continent – they now hope to claim their piece of the vinex sand pie. A lot of attention was paid to the design, because market researchers say that this is the most important purchase reason for these types of cars. And so you get the latest, disarming Toyota face, but also the necessary corners, creases, ‘air intakes’ and knotty wheel arches with protective plastic.
Optionally, you can fill it with 18-inch wheels, and the Adventure package provides even more matte black roughness. The rear is almost as striking as that of the C-HR, but in our eyes much more successful: two Robocop-like streaks of light poke out of the dark frames.
The Toyota Yaris Cross has familiar dimensions
Where competitors have gradually grown again, Toyota remained fairly close to the sizes of the Yaris hatchback, with which the Cross shares its platform. It has the same wheelbase, but is 240 millimeters longer, slightly wider and 95 millimeters higher. The ground clearance also increased, by 25 millimeters. All empty numbers, but the bottom line is that the Cross is still not big and still offers usable extra space.
For example, the luggage compartment has a deep bottom that you can cover wholly or partially with a double floor. The parcel shelf is foldable, so you don’t have to fiddle with it if you have to flatten the couch to drag something big. If the people in the front aren’t too tall, that rear seat is comfortable as an adult, with just enough headroom for a TGeditor with an average Dutch height.
The Toyota Yaris Cross moves with the times
Of course the Yaris Cross is plenty connected and up to date: when introduced, it immediately benefits from Toyota’s all-new cloud based infotainment. A 9-inch screen gives you access to a clearly functioning system that is generally pleasant to operate. There is real time traffic info, smart parking and refuel with automatic payments, and no cable is required for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Extra pluses because Toyota did not incorporate the air conditioning control – fortunately there are separate buttons for that.
Speaking of buttons: even in this richly decorated Executive version, we find six (!) unused, bare inserts to the left of the steering wheel. Does Toyota expect us to screw on winches and spotlights? (That would be pretty cool.)
Apart from that, everything looks modern, fresh and well thought out, although you are reminded again which segment you are shopping in when you touch some plastics. There is a kind of felt on the door panels and the seats are covered with a smooth combination of a fabric and vinyl. The seating position is somewhere between hatchback and SUV: not extremely upright, but sufficient to give the higher view that people crave in this class.
Something as important as lane assist (hup, off) can be controlled quickly on the steering wheel, and even when it turns out that our test car gives an annoying beep when tapping the speed limit, we quickly found where this can be remedied. Incidentally, every Yaris Cross gets this kind of safety systems, but also adaptive cruise control, for example.
This Toyota Yaris Cross is a hybrid
Like the regular Yaris, the Cross features Toyota’s fourth-generation hybrid powertrain, with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder they hope to call “Dynamic Force.” That name creates expectations that are a bit too high: let’s call it ‘Friendly Force’. Aided by electropower, he supplies the front wheels via a CVT transmission of 116 hp, enough to help the Yaris Cross from 0 to 100 in 11.2 seconds. Not very fast, but partly due to its modest weight and the instant e-kick feels light-footed and guides you effortlessly through traffic.
The steering is light but willing, the damping quite stiff but the suspension soft, so that the whole thing leans a bit in the corners. That’s okay too – despite having a driving mode called ‘PWR’, the Yaris Cross won’t leave you feeling very enthusiastic. On the highway there is some noise from wind and chassis, but emotionally no more than with competitors.
How do you like the CVT automatic?
As with other recent Toyotas, the CVT transmission does a very nice imitation of an ordinary automatic. The whining moped effect only arises when you give full throttle for a long time; for the rest he keeps the revs low with feigned kicks. You can’t switch between those stages yourself, there are no flippers or manual mode. In addition to D, you can also opt for B, for extra braking effect and regeneration. Whenever possible, the Yaris Cross drives electrically, and that is quite often: in our case for no less than 70 percent of a very diverse two-hour journey, according to the on-board computer. This is reflected in a hilarious average fuel consumption of 4.3 l/100 km – and we didn’t even have to put in the effort.
Candidates had to wait a while, but the time has come: a B-segment crossover with the new Toyota design, the proven Toyota hybrid technology and the solid Toyota reputation. The Yaris Cross will soon be available for a bicycle carrier near you.
Just choose
The Yaris Cross is available in the Netherlands and Belgium in two versions: this Hybrid and a 1.5 petrol. The latter is available in fewer versions and the main advantage is that it can pull 1,350 kilos (against 750 kilos for the hybrid). Toyota expects that 90 to 95 percent of Dutch customers will go for the Hybrid, which is hardly more expensive: it starts at 26,495 euros against 24,395 euros for the 1.5. In Belgium, the entry prices are 25,430 euros and 23,000 euros respectively.
Once you’ve decided which powertrain you want, you come to the next question: normal or Adventure? As mentioned, the latter has a slightly nicer appearance, with roof rails, skid plates at the front and rear and some more protective plastic. If you go for the regular Yaris Cross, you have five versions in the Netherlands and seven in Belgium, including a Launch Edition (NL) and Premiere (B). Good luck choosing. In any case, make sure you have at least 17-inch wheels and a contrasting color for the roof, we would say.
Specifications Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid Executive (2021)
Engine
1,490 cc
three-cylinder hybrid
116 hp @ 5,500 rpm
system torque nb
Drive
front wheels
CVT automatic
Performance
0-100 km/h in 11.2 s
top 170 km/h
Consumption (average)
4.4-5.0 l/100 km
100-114 g/km CO2 Alabel
Dimensions
4,180 x 1,765 x 1,595 mm (lxwxh)
2,560mm (wheelbase)
1,290 kg
36 l (petrol)
397 / 1,097 l (luggage)
Prices
€ 34,595 (NL)
€ 33,720 (B) – Elegant Bi-Tone