Toyota Yaris Cross
New small SUV features hybrid technology and is available with four-wheel drive On sale Early 2021 Price from £21,000 (est)
FIRST LOOK
IT’S FUNNY HOW fashions change. In 2012, Toyota discontinued its last small SUV, the Urban Cruiser, after three years of sluggish sales (although the fact that its name made it sound like the kind of person who engages in dubious night-time activities probably didn’t help its popularity). However, fast forward to today and cars of this sort are in huge demand, which is why the Japanese brand has just unveiled a successor: the Yaris Cross.
As its name suggests, it’s closely related to the fourth-generation Yaris hatchback, which is due to go on sale this autumn. But just as you wouldn’t mistake the rival Nissan Juke for a Micra, despite the two models having plenty in common mechanically, the Yaris Cross gets its own, distinct look.
Other small SUVS that it will have to beat include the Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur and
RIVALS
Volkswagen T-cross, plus our 2020 Car of the Year, the Ford Puma.
Toyota has become synonymous with hybrid power in recent years, and the Yaris Cross continues its march in that direction, featuring a 1.5-litre petrol engine that works in conjunction with an electric motor to produce a combined 114bhp.
It’s the same setup that you get in the latest Yaris hatchback.and the good news is it impresses in that car, switching between petrol and electric power almost imperceptibly. Re nement is further enhanced by a new CVT automatic gearbox that’s much less inclined to send the engine revs soaring than other CVTS.
Despite their rugged looks, most small SUVS aren’t actually available with four-wheel drive, but the Yaris Cross is an exception, with that version still emitting less than 135g/km of CO2 in of cial WLTP tests. Front-wheel-drive models, meanwhile, pump out less than 120g/km, compared with the 126g/km of our favourite Puma.
It’s also worth noting that Toyota’s latest hybrids perform well not only in the lab but also in real-world conditions. During our recent road test of the Yaris hatchback we averaged more than 60mpg on a two-hour route that included town and motorway driving, and even some challenging mountain passes.
In some countries, a conventional 1.5-litre petrol Yaris Cross will be sold alongside the hybrid, but this is unlikely to come to the UK.
As with the exterior, the Yaris Cross gets its own interior design, although this isn’t quite so distinct; the centre console is deeper than the Yaris hatchback’s and it features more gloss black plastic, but details like the air vents and the metallic strip running across the upper dashboard are carried over.
The touchscreen infotainment system also appears to be the same.that would mean sluggish responses and dated graphics, although you do get handy shortcut buttons, and you can bypass Toyota’s own software, thanks to the presence of Apple Carplay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.
We’re yet to sit in the Yaris Cross, so it remains to be seen how much more spacious it feels than the hatchback. However, the boot features useful touches such as a heightadjustable oor and straps for holding smaller items in place.you can also have an electric tailgate that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper – useful when you’ve got your hands full of shopping.
The Yaris Cross sits beneath the C-HR in Toyota’s SUV range, and with that model costing from £26,250, a starting price of a little over £20,000 seems likely.this would also keep the Yaris Cross competitive with the awardwinning Puma, which costs from £20,705.
WITH AIR POLLUTION down across the world due to the Covid-19 lockdown, no doubt some of you will be thinking about how to cut your emissions when you get back on the road. To help, the turbocharged 1.4-litre Suzuki Vitara now has a 48-volt mild hybrid system that cuts its CO2 output by an impressive 20%. A promised 15% fuel consumption reduction will please your wallet, too, while company car drivers will pay 4% less benefit-in-kind tax than they would for the outgoing 1.4-litre non-hybrid engine.
As to how the Vitara drives with the new engine, it’s really business as usual. At 127bhp, it’s 11bhp down on the previous 1.4, but there’s an extra 11lb ft of torque to improve low-rev urgency, so you’re unlikely to notice any shortfall in everyday driving. In fact, its decent 0-62mph time of 9.5sec is unchanged. What you might notice, though, is that the engine’s automatic stop-start function – now taken care of by the hybrid system – is smoother.
Little has changed elsewhere, though, and the Vitara now looks vulnerable against the might of newer rivals such as the Ford Puma and Skoda Kamiq. The Vitara’s ride is comfortable enough, but it can be a touch frisky through bumpy corners taken at speed. The Ford Puma takes such imperfections in its stride while putting a bigger smile on your face thanks in part to steering that has a greater sense of connection with the front wheels.
The Vitara claws some points back with an Suv-style driving position that’s far
BUYER’S FILE Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Boosterjet Hybrid SZ-T SHVS
Price Engine Power Torque Gearbox 0-62mph Top speed Economy C02, tax band
FIRST DRIVE higher than the Kamiq’s and an interior that’s airier than the Puma’s, but its infotainment and material quality are well off the pace.
Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it looks like it might clash with the Puma on this front. If this is the case, we’d struggle to recommend the Vitara over its newer rivals. Unless you really must have the optional four-wheel drive system that’s available with top-spec SZ5 trim, there are better options out there.
Small SUV gains a new 48-volt mild hybrid system to cut emissions and fuel consumption Now
£22,000 (est)