The Yaris Cross is underpinned by the same TGNA-B platform and 1.5-litre hybrid petrol engine as the Yaris, but adds a big dollop of power. Toyota RAV4 styling with a gaping grille at the front and some angular wheel arches covered in cool plastic. There’s no increase in wheelbase over the standard car, but a 30mm increase in the suspension gives the Yaris Cross suitably SUV styling.
Unlike many rivals, the Toyota isn’t all off-road mouth and no pants (waterproof with plenty of pockets, of course), because you can actually specify an all-wheel drive version. The intelligent all-wheel drive (called AWD-i) is similar to that of other hybrid Toyota and Lexus models and uses an electric motor to drive the rear axle at lower speeds, eliminating the need for a propeller. axle and transfer case. It doesn’t make the Yaris Cross a full-fledged mud plugger, but it does mean you’re unlikely to be stranded by a snow shower or stuck in a muddy festival car park.
Like the standard Yaris, the Cross is exclusively hybrid. Under its snub nose sits a 1.5-litre petrol that uses a clean-burning Atkinson cycle and is mated to a pair of electric motors, all running through the brand’s famous epiycyclic powersplitting transmission (the one often mislabelled as CVT ).
The motors are powered by a compact 178V lithium-ion battery pack, which has enough juice to carry the Yars Cross for about a mile in EV mode (although it tends to only engage for short periods at light throttle openings to increase overall fuel efficiency).
As standard, this setup produces a combined 114bhp, while for 2024 the GR Sport and the limited-edition (this will be on sale for around a year) Premiere Edition feature a higher figure of 129bhp, achieved through a combination of tweaked ICE and massaged electric motors.
Previous criticism of the car’s refinement means that all 2024 Yaris models get extra sound insulation for the front bulkhead, some hydraulic motor mounts, a revised induction duct and acoustic glass for the windshield and side windows. Combined, these changes should make the Cross a quieter companion.
Given that it’s effectively a Yaris on stilts, it’s no surprise that the Cross gets the same suspension as the standard supermini, with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear.
Entry-level Icon cars get 16-inch alloy wheels, with Design adding larger 17-inch rims, while the Excel, GR Sport and Premiere Edition get 18-inch wheels in a variety of styles. There’s also a special paint option and a handsome two-tone finish for the Premiere Edition, while the GR Sport gets a snappy mesh grille for a sporty visual appeal.