Toyota Yaris Cross – What you need to know

The Toyota Yaris Cross is a distinctive high-riding compact wagon that will hold special appeal for buyers moving from traditional passenger cars to an SUV but don’t want too much of a change from what they’re used to.

As the name suggests, the light-sized crossover is based on the Toyota Yaris hatch.

It’s priced from $28,000 plus on-road costs, extending to 10 model variants across four trim levels – GX, GXL, Urban and GR Sport – two powertrains (petrol and petrol-electric hybrid) and two drivelines (front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive).

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is common to all models.

There’s plenty to choose from, so let’s dive into the specs and features to uncover the one to suit you and your budget.

The Toyota Yaris Cross GX petrol 2WD is the price leader of the range at $28,000 plus ORCs, and comes with the following standard features:

• 7.0-inch colour touch-screen display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Reversing camera
• Fabric seats
• 40/20/40-split folding rear seats
• Eight airbags
• 16-inch alloy wheels

Five exterior colours are offered on the Toyota Yaris Cross GR Sport – grey, white, black, red and blue – with other variants adding a ‘mineral blue’, ‘latte’ and ‘Tuscan gold’.

Premium paint adds $500 and two-tone finish with premium paint costs $1350. Go for the two-tone on the GR Sport and it includes silver Yaris Cross nameplates on the rear doors.

Standard on all Toyota Yaris Cross models is ‘Safety Sense’ – Toyota’s suite of driver assist technologies including emergency steering assist, daytime intersection turn assist, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane trace assist that keeps you centred in the lane and a pre-collision safety system with day and night pedestrian detection and daylight cyclist detection.

There’s also road speed sign recognition, automatic high beam, adaptive cruise control, active cornering assist, hill start assist, a reversing camera with guidelines, and eight airbags – including a front-centre airbag.

The Toyota Connected Services (TCS) system is fitted, too, bringing three years’ complimentary access to the myToyota app and the ability to make a call to emergency services in the event of an airbag deploying.

TCS can also help track your vehicle if stolen, among a broad range of other remote functions.

If you go for the GXL model as a minimum, you get front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, park support braking and rear cross traffic alert, plus a panoramic view monitor showing what is around the vehicle.

Would you like head-up display? It’s available on Yaris Cross, but only at the high-series Urban model grade.

Independent testing by ANCAP has seen the Toyota Yaris Cross achieve a maximum five-star safety rating, based on 2021 assessment protocols.

Every Toyota Yaris Cross model includes a 4.2-inch instrument display along with a central 7.0-inch colour touch-screen that operates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and myToyota apps including Waze, Stitcher and WebEx.

An AM/FM/DAB radio, Bluetooth phone and music connectivity, six speakers and voice command functions are also found across the range.

If native satellite navigation is a necessity, bypass the GX and head for the GXL as a minimum, and while all variants have a USB-A port, you also get a USB-C outlet in GR Sport and Urban models.

All Toyota Yaris Cross model grades are fitted with single-zone air-conditioning, however the GR Sport and Urban have air ionisation to cut pollutants and viruses entering the cabin.

Is privacy glass a deal-maker? If so, head over to the GXL, which also introduces LEDs for the headlights, turn signals and reversing light.

What about a power-operated tailgate? For this handy feature you’ll have to go for the top-spec Urban variants and its motion-sensor power tailgate.

And if heated seats are a necessity, stick with the Urban as its fabric and synthetic leather-trimmed front seats have this feature, along with a powered driver’s seat to help you easily find the right position.

Is a leather-clad steering wheel on the wish list? Happily, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel is found in all models.

What’s more, if you’re after selectable drive modes, then all Yaris Cross variants have this feature.

Would you like sports pedals and sports seats? Although all Yaris Cross models are equipped with an automatic transmission, the GR Sport adds flair to the cabin with gun metal garnish and aluminium sports pedals, along with synthetic leather, perforated black suede seats with grey stitching.

Outside, the GR Sport stands out with its black door mirrors, a ‘G’ mesh pattern on the black grille and rear bumper along with a rear diffuser with vertical aero fins.

The GR Sport also features unique 18-inch twin five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in exclusive sports tyres along with red brake callipers with GR logos up front.

The only other Yaris Cross to use 18-inch alloy wheels is the Urban, with the GX and GXL both having 16-inch alloy wheels.

Toyota Yaris Cross models with a traditional petrol engine rely on a 1.5-litre three-cylinder powerplant that develops 88kW and 145Nm of torque.

It drives the front wheels only through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with 10-speed manual shift function.

Hybrid models are also powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine (Atkinson-cycle) supplemented by two electric motor-generators to deliver a combined power output of 85kW.

Additionally, all-wheel drive hybrid variants add a third electric motor-generator (4kW/52Nm) to the rear axle, splitting torque between the front and rear axles to maximise traction in slippery conditions.

The hybrid system also uses a CVT that offers Eco, Normal, Power and EV modes, the latter enabling pure-electric driving for short distances via a 4.3Ahr lithium-ion battery, while the AWD version adds a Trail mode to enhance off-road capability.

Combined fuel economy sees the 2WD hybrid models achieve 3.8L/100km on the official combined test cycle, with the AWD versions a tad behind at 4.0L/100km. The petrol-engined Yaris Cross returns 5.4L/100km.

The Toyota Yaris Cross measures 4180mm long, 1765mm wide and 1590mm high, with a 2560mm wheelbase.

That makes it a little bigger all-round compared to the Yaris hatch, while ground clearance is slightly higher at 170mm (+20mm).

Maximum cargo capacity is 390 litres in petrol and 2WD hybrid models, dropping to 314L with the AWD hybrid. The volume can be extended via the 40/20/40-split folding rear seat fitted in all models.

Maximum braked towing capacity is 1250kg with the petrol engine, but restricted to 400kg in hybrid cars.

The entry-level two-wheel drive Toyota Yaris Cross GX is well specified, especially on the safety and infotainment fronts.

It’s also competitively positioned in class, despite a recent price increase, so for most buyers that gives it a tick.

But thanks to the uprated handling and sharper steering, unique wheels and grippier tyres, sporty cabin details and heavily bolstered front seats, the GR Sport is the one for me.

It neatly ramps up the fun factor without compromising practicality or safety.

How much does the 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross cost?
GX 2WD – $28,000
GX 2WD Hybrid – $30,000
GX AWD Hybrid – $33,000
GXL 2WD – $31,000
GXL 2WD Hybrid – $33,000
GXL AWD Hybrid – $36,000
Urban 2WD – $34,000
Urban 2WD Hybrid – $36,000
Urban AWD Hybrid – $39,000
GR Sport 2WD Hybrid – $36,000
*Prices exclude on-road costs