When was the last time you spotted a compact city car that was genuinely fun to drive? Nowadays, it seems like every car manufacturer is jumping on the aggressive design trend. While this may make sense for performance vehicles, it leaves me puzzled when I see sporty cues on regular family cars. That’s why the new Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid is such a welcome change for car buyers.
The Yaris Cross has a youthful and simple aesthetic that sets it apart from the crowded market of aggressive looking cars. It doesn’t try to be a flashy showstopper; instead, it focuses on being a practical and reliable family car that performs well in any condition. With its impressive range of features, the Yaris Cross is an enticing package for car buyers of all ages.
Toyota has designed the Yaris Cross to be accessible to a wide range of demographics. Whether you’re a young family in need of a reliable daily driver or a retiree looking for a simple car for grocery runs, the Yaris Cross has you covered. Its compact dimensions make it easy to navigate through tight parking spaces, and its short overhangs allow for nimble parking maneuvers.
Yaris by Name but not by Nature
Despite sharing the “Yaris” name, the Yaris Cross doesn’t bear much resemblance to its hatchback siblings or the high performance GR Yaris. The only noticeable similarity is the rear tail lights, which have been restyled to fit the taller and more upright dimensions of the crossover. Standing at 1.59 meters tall, the Yaris Cross looks like a soft roader with its plastic cladding along the wheel arches and side skirts.
The front of the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid features a friendly face with a modest grille that includes a sensor panel for its active safety features. It also sports Toyota’s signature blue badge, indicating that it’s a hybrid vehicle. However, there are some disappointments when it comes to cost cutting. The entry level Active trim comes with halogen headlights, while the more premium Excite trim gets LED headlights. Toyota should have matched the standard equipment list of other competitors by providing LED headlights across all trims.
Keeping the Bright Appeal
To make up for this, Toyota offers striking and unique color options for the Yaris Cross. The Urban Palette Collection includes eight special colors, including a soft shade of pink called “Cherry Blossom.” This color adds character to the vehicle, and the best part is that it’s a vinyl wrap, so it can be easily removed if desired.
Inside the cabin, the Yaris Cross keeps things simple. The predominant material is hardy, scratchy black plastic, with a few metal finish trim pieces to break the monotony. While it may not offer the soft-touch plastics and premium materials found in its competitors, Toyota has a proven track record for durability, and the panels in the Yaris Cross are well-assembled with no noticeable squeaks or rattles.
The leather upholstery is slightly stiff but comfortable enough for daily use. It features contrasting blue stitching and the “Yaris Cross” logo on the front seats’ backrests. The instrument cluster is visually appealing, with a pair of deeply recessed digital instrument binnacles within binocular like housings, along with a central screen. The more premium Excite trim also comes with a head-up display, which projects critical driving information onto the windscreen.
It’s all within Simple Reach
All the switches and buttons in the Yaris Cross are easily accessible from the driver’s seat, including the native 8.0 inch infotainment screen that features wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. However, the glossy black plastic surrounds are fingerprint and dust magnets.
The rear cabin of the Yaris Cross is basic, lacking AC blowers and USB outlets. It technically fits three passengers, but it’s more comfortable for two adults due to the floor hump. While knee room may be tight for passengers above 1.75 meters, headroom is ample thanks to the boxy dimensions of the Yaris Cross.
With 390 liters of boot space, the Yaris Cross can easily accommodate luggage and has a wide and boxy aperture for easy loading and unloading. However, the load lip is relatively high.
Offering Impressive Driving Dynamics
Despite not being a high performance vehicle, the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid impresses with its driving dynamics. It handles corners well, with minimal body roll thanks to its firm suspension and the excellent TNGA-B platform it shares with the Sienta. The steering is light and nimble, providing decent feedback to the driver. Along straight lines, the Yaris Cross delivers a smooth, albeit uninspiring and slightly noisy, drive. The hybrid powertrain, consisting of a 1.5-liter Dynamic Force three cylinder engine paired with Toyota’s hybrid system, produces a combined output of 110 horsepower and 120 Nm of torque. While these figures may not be impressive, the Yaris Cross excels in fuel efficiency, offering over 26 km/L.
Safety is a priority for Toyota, and the Yaris Cross is fitted with the latest safety features. It comes with Toyota Safety Sense, including Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System, and Intersection Turning Assist. Additionally, it has eight airbags as standard, a feature that was rare in compact crossovers just a few years ago.
In a competitive market, the Yaris Cross faces tough rivals like the Kia Niro Hybrid and Peugeot 2008. However, it stands out for its impressive fuel efficiency and safety features, which are priorities for pragmatic car buyers. If you’re looking for a car that meets all your family needs without breaking the bank, the Yaris Cross should be at the top of your list.
In conclusion, the Toyota Yaris Cross offers a refreshing change from the aggressive design trend seen in many cars today. Its simple yet youthful aesthetic, practicality, fuel efficiency, and safety features make it an attractive option for a wide range of car buyers.
Currently only the petrol Yaris Cross is available from Toyota Cambodia starting from $37,500