2023 (23) Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid Icon 5dr CVT

Toyota further improved Yaris Cross continues to be a strong offering from for this Japanese maker in the class for small SUVs, thinks Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review

In the Yaris Cross, Toyota has a credible truly class-competitive supermini-sized SUV and the car looks more up-to-date in this further improved form. It continues to fill an important gap in the company's Crossover line-up, just below the C-HR, and offers the full-Hybrid powerplant that remains relatively unusual in this segment. The AWD powertrain option is still rare to find in this class too.

Background

Toyota's strong-selling Yaris Cross small Hybrid SUV gets a further update, this time with a sharper look. Despite being announced at the worst possible time (back in 2020 in the middle of Covid), the Yaris Cross has gone on to be a big success story for Toyota. It was launched in 2021, then usefully updated in 2024 and in its first four years of sale sold over 200,000 units across Europe, over 76,000 of them in the UK. Prior to the introduction of this further improved version in Spring 2026. Nothing much has changed as part of what Toyota calls its process of 'kaizen' (continuous improvement) visited upon this model, which continues to be basically a more versatile, higher-riding version of the Yaris Hybrid supermini. Today though, it sells in Toyota showrooms alongside a similarly-sized full-electric small SUV, the Urban Cruiser. It'll be interesting to see how the sales of the two models compare.

Driving Experience

Toyota hasn't made any engineering changes here. So as before, under the bonnet there's still the 1.5-litre full-Hybrid self-charging petrol/electric powerplant borrowed from the conventional Yaris supermini. As there, you can get it in two states of tune. Most customers opt for the standard 114bhp output version, but you can also get this engine in a perkier 129bhp state of tune, with torque increased by 30% from 141Nm to 185Nm. That improves the 0-62mph sprint time by half a second to 10.7s. All Yaris Cross models continue with the same e-CVT auto gearbox. And the Hybrid engine continues with its pleasing preference for reverting to battery power in urban driving whenever possible. As a result, the company expects that over 80% of urban journeys in this car will be able to be completed under electric power alone. Toyota says it put a lot of work into reducing noise and vibration with this model, with thick windscreen glass, plenty of sound deadening and a dynamic damper added to the left-side engine mount. As before, along with the front-driven drivetrain bolted to the Yaris model line's stiff TNGA platform, there's something unusual in this class - the option of 4WD. The 'Intelligent All-Wheel Drive' system in question is, as you'd expect, of the electric rather than the mechanical kind and operates in front wheel drive most of the time, sending drive to the rear wheels only when tractional needs really require it to. The AWD-i version gets a more sophisticated double-wishbone rear suspension set-up too, compared to the front wheel drive car's more basic torsion beam arrangement. Top 'GR Sport' trim gets you retuned suspension for sharper handling.

Design and Build

The main change made to this further updated Yaris Cross lies with the way it looks. What Toyota hopes is a more distinctive front grille has a honeycomb mesh pattern and is finished in body colour. A black lower section combines with the flared wheel arches to try and project a stronger SUV stance. Redesigned LED headlamps aim to sharpen the overall impression and include integrated daytime running lights. And as usual with a facelift, there are updated alloy wheel designs, the rims 17 or 18-inches in size. What hasn't changes are this Yaris Cross model's dinky compact dimensions; to give you some class perspective, it's a little shorter than a Ford Puma but a little longer than a Nissan Juke. Inside as before, the Yaris supermini parentage is much more obvious - even the door cards are the same. But there's differentiation too - the steering wheel, the instrumentation and the larger central touchscreen are all unique to the Yaris Cross, as is the useful storage bin added in the centre console. There aren't any cabin changes for this further updated model, apart from extra platinum-coloured trim on the doors and dashboard; and the standardisation on nearly all models of front sports seats. In the back, it's actually better packaged than a C-HR, a car which, though 200mm longer, offers less rear seat space than this, its cheaper showroom stablemate. There's a more practically-sized boot too, with features like an adjustable-height cargo floor, underfloor storage and Toyota's Belt Flex system for securing small items. Boot capacity remains at 397-litres.

Market and Model

Prices haven't changed much, so continue to expect a Yaris Cross to be pitched between the price of a Yaris Hybrid and a C-HR hybrid. Which means in the £27,000-£33,000 bracket, with a choice of 'Icon', 'Design', 'Excel' and 'GR Sport' trim levels. The 'Design' grade most customers choose now includes sports-style front seats. The front chairs in the plusher 'Excel' grade have a partialleather trim and now include a smarter 'SakuraTouch' material, which incorporates plant-derived PVC, waste cork and recycled PET. This ramps up the style while reducing CO2 emissions during material production by 95 per cent compared to genuine leather. On 'Design' grade and above, ambient lighting and a wireless charger are now standard. A power back door is also provided as standard on 'Excel' grade and auto-retracting door mirrors are included on all models. The top 'GR Sport' version gets a dedicated front bumper design and unique 18-inch machined alloy wheels. Plus branded suede-type sports seats and 'GR Sport'-specific gunmetal silver trim inserts in the doors and instrument panel. As before, safety remains a design priority. The Toyota Safety Sense portfolio includes a Pre-Collision System that can recognise a potential head-on impact with a wide range of objects and vehicles in the car's path, including pedestrians, cyclists and also motorcycles. Acceleration Suppression intervenes to slow any sudden acceleration when it recognises the risk of a collision with a vehicle ahead. Proactive Driving Assist is designed to help avoid familiar accident hazards when driving at low speed. Deceleration Assist provides smooth deceleration when the driver releases the accelerator to slow down when approaching a slower vehicle ahead, or entering a bend. And Steering Assist recognises a bend in the road ahead and adjusts steering force to help the driver make a smooth and stable turn. The Emergency Driving Stop System is able to support the driver, should they be taken ill or incapacitated. If it detects the driver has made no inputs - steering, braking, accelerating - for a certain amount of time, it will sound a warning. If there is no reaction from the driver, it will bring the car to a gentle stop, activate the hazard lights, and unlock the doors. There's also protection when the car is stationary. With the Safe Exit Assist set-up, a visual and audible warning system helps guard against a door being inadvertently opened into the path of vehicles and cyclists approaching from the rear. And the Rear Seat Reminder System will alert the driver with visual and sound warnings if they have left a child or pet on the back seat, helping avoid the risk of 'hot car' incidents. The brand has also included an extra 'Overtake Prevention Support' feature to stop unintentional undertaking manoeuvres. As before, standard advanced driver assistance systems include full speed-range intelligent adaptive cruise control and lane trace assist. In addition to these systems, this Yaris Cross has been developed to provide the best possible occupant protection, in line with the stricter testing standards now applied. 'Excel' variants get a Blind Spot Monitor.

Cost of Ownership

The Yaris supermini has always offered residual values that have usually held up better than more conventional small hatch rivals and that story hasn't changed much with this Yaris Cross. The full-Hybrid engine's intrinsic efficiency helps a lot here - there'll be a ready stream of customers wanting that on the used market when the time comes to sell, most of these people well aware that Toyota Hybrids have an enviable record for reliability. As for frugality, well this Yaris Cross can't match the 70.6mpg combined cycle fuel figure of its Yaris supermini showroom stablemate, but it won't be too far off that kind of level. The quoted figure for the 114bhp model is 62.7mpg (or 58.8mpg for the 129bhp version) and averaging over 55mpg on a regular basis should be comfortably possible. As for CO2, well that's rated at up to 101g/km for the 114bhp version (compare to 91g/km for the Yaris supermini) and up to 109g/km for the 129bhp model. The Yaris Cross is covered by a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty (providing you service the car at a franchised dealer) and buyers also get five years of pan-European roadside breakdown assistance, a three year paint warranty and twelve years of anti-perforation cover. An extended warranty can be bought at extra price as part of a package that includes free MOTs and extended roadside assistance cover. There's a dedicated 'MyT' app that allows you to book a service online using your 'phone. And Toyota has a 'Fixed Price Servicing' plan, so you'll know in advance exactly how much any work will cost before you check into a dealer.

Summary

In some ways, Toyota's never really made the most of its pioneering Hybrid technology, but with this Yaris Cross has really done so. You could observe - rightly - that not many folk choose a fashion-led small crossover with sensible priorities, but if you were to prioritise those in selecting this kind of car, then this one makes an incredible amount of sense, with genuine 45-55mpg regularly achievable economy. That's thanks to a full-Hybrid powertrain that remains the most efficient in its class. And no other car in this segment has a wider portfolio of safety kit. It's not all about sensibility of course; a trendy vibe's been thrown in too, especially with this revised model. You could argue that twenty years ago, the original three-door RAV4 pioneered this class of car, but the brand never properly capitalised on that model, instead bringing us quirky but unappealing small lifestyle products like the Yaris Verso. The RAV4's modernday successor, the C-HR, has found favour but is too expensive for most Juke and Puma folk. This Yaris Cross suits their needs more precisely. This update probably won't persuade you into one if you didn't already like this Toyota, but if you did, then there are now even more reasons to choose it. Which is why you can expect continued sales success from this car.