Video Summary
The updated Toyota Yaris Cross has adaptive cruise control as standard. There's also a load cover stashed under the boot floor, and its two bits go up to the roof in the rear. The Yaris Cross can have an extra electric motor on the rear for all-wheel drive, which its competitors don't have. There are quick recline levers on the front seats for easy adjustment. The newer Yaris Cross has a thicker windshield, thicker side glass, extra insulation in the dash, and a new engine mount to reduce vibrations, all for a quieter ride.The latest version of the Yaris Cross has similar exteriors to the previous version. Depending on which version you go for, there's slightly different front looks. GR versions have a slightly sportier grill, and the premier versions have some chrome. Alloy wheels start at 16" and rise to 18". There are black roof bars, though the entry-level doesn't have any.
In the interior, most models have a new, updated, independent infotainment screen. The new digital dial display section has also been upgraded in most of the models. Many surfaces are hard plastics, which are covered in new fabric on some places. The glove box won’t stay down properly, and seems flimsy.
The front seating position is well liked. The review noted quick reclining lever on the front seats. But I hate the way you can't just open the fuel filler cap when the car is unlocked. The car tends to feel “cheap” in various ways, especially the exterior’s thin, tinny metal, though it’s still expected to have rock-solid reliability.
In the back, headroom is good, but people over six foot may have limited knee room. There's a throught-loading feature, and cup holders. The back seats are raised a fair amount from the floor and are comfortable. The ISOfix anchor points in the back are easy to get to, though rear-facing child seats may have issues. The car is small, so the doors can't open that wide for installing child seats. Some USB charging ports are missing.
This is a very economical car to drive. Some versions will get around 63 miles to the gallon. The adaptive cruise control and other new additions are good. For these reasons, this review suggests shortlisting the Yaris Cross. This test run averaged 56.8 mpg fuel economy.
Acceleration is fairly smooth. In EV mode with a full hybrid battery, it won’t go faster than 35-40 mph. The car isn’t heavy in handling, compared to other electric cars recently reviewed, though there is some road noise. Overall this all works well in the car for the driving purpose. Claimed zero to sixty mph is eleven point two seconds. In one test, a 0-60mph test was achieved in 9.59 seconds, and then one test did 10.29 seconds.
