SMALL IN SIZE, BIG ON ENJOYMENT
Toyota’s Yaris Cross baby SUV gives drivers a feel-good factor
Sometimes you get behind the wheel of a car, start it up and within a few seconds of driving you like it very much. Of course that can be the case with some very expensive and powerful vehicles, but last weekend I had that feeling with Toyota’s smallest SUV, the Yaris Cross.
The throbbing three-cylinder engine, its retro cabin and somewhat controversial exterior styling are very endearing. It looks a bit like a shrunken RAV4.
But it’s based on the Yaris hatchback and appears to offer better bang for the buck than the hatchback.
The Yaris Cross starts at $30,399 for the petrol or $32,169 for the hybrid version. The review vehicle was the mid-range GXL hybrid from $35,229. The top of the range Urban with all the bells and whistles is $41,809.
Squared-off wheel arches and plastic cladding give the Cross a rugged look but it is no off-roader. The wheel arches are noticeably big and need the larger 18in wheels of the flagship to fill them out.
The SUV gets rear disc brakes instead of the Yaris’s drums, plus there’s a handbrake button instead of a lever.
Three grades — GX, GXL and Urban — have identical engines to the regular Yaris, albeit with no manual gearbox.
That means a choice of a 1.5-litre threecylinder petrol with 88kW/145Nm or the hybrid with an electric motor for a combined 85kW. Each is paired with a CVT auto, one of the better versions too.
The Yaris Cross has 16in alloys, eight airbags (including centre front), a smart key, digital radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on a 7in touchscreen.
It also debuts Toyota connected services, which uses a phone network to track the car if it is stolen or dial a call centre after a crash to relay information to emergency services.
The hybrid adds about $2100 but lowers claimed fuel use from 5.4 litres per 100km to 3.8L/100km. The GXL, as driven last weekend, adds sat-nav, parking sensors front and rear, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Urban has a head-up display, powered tailgate, heated front seats, powered driver’s seat and “tweed-like” trim with fake leather highlights.
The taller stance makes getting in and out easier than a regular Yaris and the back seat has reasonable room for adults, although knee space is a bit tight. There’s no covered centre console but there are many storage areas.
The hybrid makes the most of modest outputs, although the thrumming threecylinder petrol engine does most work if pushing on.
It’s a delight to drive and very appealing. The hybrid’s motor has a useful swell of torque to get things moving nicely. The Cross handles well and has a comfortable ride. It whizzed up and down the wet Kuranda Range and was a quiet cruiser on the open road stretches to Mareeba, Atherton, Herberton and back. There was a bit of wind noise though. There is good vision allround and it is easy to place and park.
It sips fuel and is better around town than on the open road. Over 300km I consumed 4.6L/100km.
Test drive at Pacific Toyota, Cairns, or John Cole Toyota, Atherton and Innisfail