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The Yaris Cross Shouldn’t Be This Good

Joe Talks Cars

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The Toyota Yaris Cross is one of those cars I expected to forget about after a few days. But the more I drove it, the more it started to make sense.

It’s not fast.
It’s not exciting.
And yet somehow… it’s really good.

In this video I spend some proper time with the Yaris Cross AWD hybrid to find out why these things are absolutely everywhere, and whether Toyota has quietly built one of the best everyday cars on sale.

From the hybrid system and AWD setup, to the practicality, comfort and surprisingly relaxed character, this is a review from the perspective of somebody who usually drives cars that make absolutely no sense at all.

And honestly… I kind of loved it.

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20 Comments

@paultaylor1518 4 months ago

I like this chap, slightly old fashioned car reviewer and there's nowt wrong with that.

@joaopedromartinsdealmeidal5331 4 months ago

The CVT is not a gear box. It is something else. It's indestructible! No fun, but works wonderfully! I've owning already some Toyotas with this system and it is simply pertfect. It gives you the feeling of driving a 100% electric car for a fraction of the price and no autonomy anxiety. 3.5L/100km is what my Yaris Cross does!

@vladlapadatescu 1 month ago

Great review. I've own this car for about half a year and everything you say about it it's point on. The only thing I would add is how mechanical simple and brilliant the hybrid system works.

@napoleonnz 4 months ago

We've had one of these for two years now, the room inside is impressive, it can even take my wife's electric bike inside with the back seats folded. Legroom in back is limited for adults, otherwise I agree with your assessment.

@TheFunkhouser 1 month ago

Thank you so much.... it actually looks cool, thank you a lot 🙏

@petshopgirl39 4 months ago

We have a 26 plate Yaris Cross Excel, leased. We love it. Easily 78mpg on most trips locally. Switches into EV mode on short journeys under 30mph. Handles beautifully, we appreciate all the safety features. It’s comfortable to drive and Apple Car Play is brilliant. We also like the manual knobs for the aircon. And the 360 cameras are superb. But our previous car was a 25 year old V70 that finally went to Volvo heaven.
We are Toyota people now!

@garywhitbread9584 3 weeks ago

Really good review - thank you. I’ve currently got a 2024 1.8;Corolla GR Sport. If or when I get around to changing it, I’ll be looking to get a Yaris Cross.

@GrandTheftAoto 1 month ago

Bought a Yaris Cross last year, I’ve done 29.800 K so far, and I have to say its been super fun to drive, very economical and not gonna lie it has a lot of space considering that its a Yaris… one thing to know is if buying one, give the car time or approx 1000K for the engine and car to get used to the driving and to open up a bit, I regularly drive 130/140 kmh, sometimes if the road allows I accelerate it to 170 very comfortably, its not the fastest but it accelerates well and you kinda get to know your car and its tweaks after a while and know when to pass etc

@skudlugs 3 months ago

Great in town with all the 20mph zones, to get mad economy you have to learn how to drive it right, 70mpg I mean. Great vid, thanks

@DudeAnonymous-u5s 1 month ago

Excellent video dude. Aside from Gandalf in the LOTR flicks, I've not heard anyone use the word "verge" sp? when referring to the grass? Actually J R R Tolkien did write that in the book. You're a hoot with the inflatables. Great presentation skills and keep people watching. So many of these make you want to throw up and fall down in it and then click away. People used to put pink flamingos in their yards in the good old USA. They still probably do down in the rural south of the country

@toyo671 3 months ago

I keep looking at these as a small alternative to my awd 2.2dcat RAV4 Invincible, but I think they are probably not strong in a real life crash, plus I’d never fit in all my kit when I go away.
My RAV4 awd 2.2dcat Invincible has also never had a single thing go wrong since it was new in 2013 it’s also safe as houses in the Snow. Never been stuck anywhere. It just works perfectly

@richardsmith579 4 months ago

SUVs are not that handy, being too big and cumbersome for most day-to-day purposes. We have switched back to a small car and the relief is joyous. To fit into car parks and small drives and roads, as well as being able to nip about and have, dare I say, fun, while driving is refreshing.

@hedydd2 4 months ago

The Dacia Duster is its main hybrid rival. My wife has a well run in Yaris 1.5 hybrid but not the Cross. My daughter has just bought a Duster 1.6 hybrid. On a test route I regularly use, the Yaris does 80 mpg while the very new 200 mile Duster did 66. For comparison, the family business Range Rover 300D, Defender D250 and Ranger 200hp diesels all do the route at between 40 and 42mpg which are remarkable results for such vehicles and better my first car, which was a Mk1 Fiesta 1300 with only 66hp and nothing powered or safe, which only managed 30mpg back in the 1970’s and was an unreliable rustbox after only two years.

@robc8593 1 month ago

Had a Premier Yaris Cross, the top, top edition for a couple of months, averaging 62mpg, 360 degree cameras, head up display, heated steering wheel, electric boot, drives great. 10 year warranty if you have an annual Toyota service, remote start to defrost from a phone app while your in the shower!
Your point that its everything in a big car shrunk down is spot on, we also have its big brother a high spec RAV4 and swapping between the 2 feels perfectly natural.

@TheJohnnycash75 4 months ago

It's just one of the best most reliable cars, just like most of Toyota's from 20 years ago and before. With some current Yaris cross trims, you get less windnoise and more elegant driving.

@juliangarner56 3 months ago

I've got one. Perfect.

@nezumi7794 1 month ago

I’m Japanese, and I own a 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross (Hybrid). It has great fuel efficiency and is very easy to drive. My actual fuel economy is around 25 km/L, which is excellent for a compact SUV.

Since it’s a compact SUV, you shouldn’t expect much interior space. The rear seats are quite small, and anyone taller than about 170 cm will probably feel cramped. For women or children in the back seat, it’s perfectly fine.

If you plan to use the car mainly with four people, I recommend choosing something a bit larger, like the Corolla Cross. With the Yaris Cross, it’s better to think of it as a car designed primarily for two people.

@redpenguin1818-b4u 4 months ago

Fantastic video. In January 2024, I bought my first Toyota. £30K (10% discount) for a 2.0 Corolla in Design trim. 16k miles later, and I am very impressed. So I completely understand why you would be impressed with the Yaris Cross. I can see me keeping my Corolla for a long time.

@stephenjones4856 4 months ago

You test cars and you bought a range rover 😂

@calibreman 4 months ago

I drive a current model Honda HR-V which is more roomy than this Yaris Cross. Two of my daughters have each had I believe four of the small Yaris cars and both now have the current hybrid model in Design trim.