On the face of it, the Toyota Yaris family is the very picture of conformity, a collection of polite compact cars with global appeal and no desire to rock the boat. The ‘Yaris’ name – apparently derived from the Charites, the Greek goddesses of beauty – has been around since 1999.
From the first generation onwards, the template has remained the same, a compact supermini-style car for markets around the world, with some subtle body variants depending on regional taste (sedans for Asia and South America, hatchbacks for Europe).
Most Yaris customers are either very young or very old, and the basic car exudes a classless pragmatism that is largely missing from today’s brand-driven marketplace.
In the past there’s also been a mini MPV, the Yaris Verso (although admittedly the Japan-market name was better – the Toyota FunCargo), and for those in the know, there’s also the exceptionally good GR Yaris, a cultish high-performance version that shares a family likeness but little else with the stock machine.
This is the Yaris Cross, built in France using the same platform as the regular flavour Yaris. As you can see, it is a tough little cookie, with pumped-up suspension and the black plastic wheel arches and body trim that have become visual shorthand for ‘utility’ and practicality.
Although it obviously rides a little higher than the standard car, the Yaris Cross is precisely the same length, at 4.1m. A hybrid power unit pairs a 3-cylinder engine with a rear-mounted electric motor, and the car benefits from Toyota’s multi-million unit experience of combining battery power with an internal combustion engine, making it extremely efficient and easy to use.
Everything about the Yaris Cross is modest and unassuming. Despite the jacked-up styling, it’s hardly aggressive, with a friendly face and compact dimensions. Much has been written about the validity of driving big SUVs in cities, but smaller crossovers like this make far more sense.
The elevated driving position puts you closer to eye level with cyclists and pedestrians, and the little Yaris is well proportioned without relying on excessively awkward styling elements.
The interior includes a ubiquitous touch screen display but goes the analogue route for heating and ventilation, and there are useful trays and pockets for bits and pieces scattered around the cabin. The steering is light and responsive, with the battery giving a welcome added zip to the acceleration.
At highway speeds, the Cross isn’t quite as smooth and silent as an EV equivalent, but it is comfortable, well-equipped, and perfectly capable of serving as an effective long-distance machine as well as a runaround.
Car use is changing fast. Compact hybrids are still a compelling proposition for a small(ish) car, even if the tech is relatively complex. And being a Toyota, one expects the Yaris Cross will last forever.
In fact, we suspect that when the curtains finally come down on the combustion engine’s access to major city centres, the Yaris Cross will still be going strong, even if it no longer has an urban environment to play in.
INFORMATION
Toyota Yaris Cross, from £28,950
-
Rediscover a classic midcentury hotel in SydneyFender Katsalidis leads a major renovation of the landmark Sofitel Sydney Wentworth hotel, pairing 1960s modernism with an elevated, Australian-minded reset
-
Haute Couture Week A/W 2025: what to expectFive moments to look out for at Haute Couture Week A/W 2025 in Paris (starting Monday 7 July), from Glenn Martens’ debut for Maison Margiela to Demna’s Balenciaga swansong. Plus, ‘new beginnings’ from JW Anderson
-
Inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House – a project built with accessibility at its heartThe dwelling, which you can visit in Illinois, is a classic example of Wright’s Usonian architecture, and was also built for a client with a disability long before accessibility was widely considered
-
With the FT-Me Concept, Toyota is thinking big about the power of micromobilityWe talk ultra-compact city cars with the head of New Mobility at Toyota Motor Europe
-
Why the Toyota Prius is the stealthiest and most discreet automotive choice you can makeThe billions that Toyota poured into hybrid development has paid off. We sample the stylish fifth-generation Prius and reckon it’s the best yet
-
Danish manufacturer Zenvo Automotive’s Aurora is the true enthusiast’s hybrid hypercarZenvo Automotive dovetails Danish design culture with a love of high-end engineering and exceptional performance. We talk to the company’s Jens Sverdrup about its newest machine, the Aurora
-
Yves Béhar gives striking shape and form to this new hybrid-electric catamaran conceptSolsea is a concept catamaran from Italian shipyard Rossinavi, blending zero emission cruising with design by Yves Béhar
-
Quirky but quotidian, Toyota’s C-HR has brave looks but is a risk-free propositionToyota’s oddball C-HR might have concept car looks, but it’s still a rigorously engineered machine for those who like their cars to be solid, safe and reliable
-
The Volkswagen Passat is a sober, straight edged estate car that feels increasingly out of timeWhy would anyone pass on a Passat? Volkswagen’s big load lugger proves that the old ideas are still the best
-
Bentley describes the updated hybrid Flying Spur Speed as a four-door supercarThe latest version of the Bentley Flying Spur is a technological showcase and an outstanding performer
-
New Volkswagen California is a hybridised camper van that has it allThe Volkswagen New California camper van is here, the latest update to VW’s evergreen classic, bringing a larger platform, more flexibility and hybrid power for the first time
