Toyota Yaris Cross

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Driving

A 1.5 litre three-cylinder engine works with an electric motor in this regular hybrid powertrain. You'll get 114bhp in the base Icon trim, but all trim levels above provide 128bhp - useful when passing motorway traffic. Toyota's hybrid powertrain leans on electric as much as possible, so gentle application of the throttle around town will avoid calling the internal combustion engine into action. There's even a fully EV-mode for slow urban commuting to eke even more miles out of the Yaris Cross, which routinely achieves up to 60mpg. Toyota employs its CVT automatic gearbox in the Yaris Cross, promoting smoothness. Although, when called on for a quick burst of acceleration, the CVT unit revs highly, creating a bit of a buzz that emanates through the cockpit.

A softer suspension compared to rivals such as the Nissan Juke or Ford Puma means the Yaris Cross deals well with bumps. Body roll is manageable, so you can confidently navigate twisty roads, and you could opt for four-wheel drive if you fancy a bit more grip.

Interior

A high seating position, low dashboard and low bonnet means you have strong forward visibility, and the windscreen pillars are easy to see around. Rear pillars are on the chunkier side, but large mirrors and windows mitigate this, coupled with a rear-view parking camera. Front and rear sensors on Excel trim inspire further confidence.

A lack of side support in the seats is noticeable through tight corners. Still, there's a range of manual steering wheel and driver's seat adjustments to enjoy, and adjustable lumbar is available on all trims except the Icon. The highlight is the neat row of easy-to-reach dials and switches to control the standard-fit climate control.

The central infotainment screen comes in 9.0in or 10.5in, depending on trim, and has smartphone connectivity for Android and Apple. Both screens are simple enough to learn, but can be a touch slow to respond to inputs. A 7.0in or 12.3in (depending on trim level) driver's display sits in clear view behind the steering wheel, with the larger option offering stronger configurability. Elsewhere, the interior is well thought out and well put together.

Space and practicality

Tall passengers will easily fit in the front of the Yaris Cross, and it will take four six-footers too, although with slightly compromised legroom in the back. The doors open to 60 degrees, and they're smaller at the rear, so look out for that if you require extra room in the back. There's strong versatility in the rear of the Yaris Cross, as the back row of seats boasts 40/20/40 split-folding in all but entry-level trim. The boot capacity is strong at 350 litres, which opens up, thanks to a two-piece movable floor. We folded two rear seats to load our TGA Whill R mobility scooter and, with the boot floor at its highest setting, there was basically no lip, meaning this was done with little fuss.

Equipment

As standard, the Yaris Cross is equipped with 16in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, climate control, cruise control and automatic headlights. One step up to Design trim gets you 17in alloys, adjustable lumbar, electric rear windows and rear privacy glass. The Excel, which we tested, adds a heated steering wheel and heated front seats, plus dual-zone climate control. There's also the GR Sport version, which adds sporty styling to evoke the Japanese marque's racing heritage.

Photos: Toyota, WHAT CAR?, Jayson Fong/Lexus, John Bradshaw/WHAT CAR?