A few months ago, my then seven-month old daughter couldn’t take her eyes off an ad for the Toyota Yaris Cross. Maybe because it was blue, or maybe she was genuinely interested in it. Well, we don’t really know what goes in a baby’s mind, do we?
But her interest sparked my curiosity. I haven’t actually driven the hybrid version of the said small crossover. Sure, I’ve tested the non-hybrid version when it was relatively fresh from its launch, but the hybrid? Not yet.
“Okay, daddy will borrow one,” I told her. Hopefully she understood what she said. Fast forward a few weeks later, there was that very same blue Yaris Cross sitting on our street. It’s been well over a year since its launch, so I thought it would be a good time to see if it’s still good after the hype had worn off. Think of it as an assessment after the honeymoon phase.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:?
Some of the local car scene’s finest will be coming together this Sunday at Neo Classic
MMDA eyeing 7am-4pm working hours for national government agencies to improve traffic
Getting reacquainted
When the Yaris Cross appeared in 2023, we were rather pleased with the way it looked. For me, it had a bit of a baby RAV4 vibe going on the outside, if a bit droopier with that fanged grille and the downward tips of the tail lights. As far as proportions went, one can call it a right-sized crossover, a plus given out roads. I know there will be those who disagree, but I think it looks rather handsome. I’d proudly have one in the garage.
For exterior design, it has good showroom appeal. Perhaps it’s one of the reasons why so many bought one without even taking it for a test drive.
Hopping in
On of the big surprises of the Yaris Cross was the interior. Granted, the space isn’t revolutionary, but I liked the fact that it had, get this, soft touch panels. Whereas most of its rivals came with hard plastics, this one had a padded dash and door panels. I have to give props to Toyota for making an effort in making the cabin feel richer.
It’s not all rosy, though. If you’ve hopped in the Raize and Wigo, some interior bits might look or feel familiar. The buttons and layout come straight from the Raize, or at least it looks that way. Some bits of trim do wiggle about and it’s most noticeable in the gear shifter. So while the dash and door trims feel good, the other bits? Not so much. Well, you can’t have it all, as they say.
As mentioned, it’s not that roomy in the Yaris Cross, especially at the back. It’s acceptable for most but I could say that its competitors make better use of available space. There are no complaints about headroom, though, something that couldn’t be said about similarly-sized models.
Will it baby?
Of course, the reason people consider one of these is for the family. As a parent, there are three things I look for in a potential family car. The first would be the ease of putting a child seat, followed by rear passenger comfort, and cargo space.
In the case of the Yaris Cross, the ISOFIX child seat mounts are wedged between the seat cushions. The advantage is that you won’t lose any covers, but it might be tough to click into place. There’s also the risk ripping the leather with repeated attempts to clip it. I also wish that the doors opened wider to make mounting easier. But once the seats are in, it’s all good.
The rear seats are supportive, so that’s a plus, but again, the space works against it. I’ve had to move the front passenger seat forward to make it more comfortable for my wife who, incidentally, is also taller than me.
I did notice this: The rear passenger space was sacrificed for greater cargo capacity. The Yaris Cross is easily one of the biggest in its class. The best part is, it comes with a false floor that can be lowered for even more room back there. Baby carriages are no problem, and you can even throw in a good chunk of groceries along with it.
So, more legroom or more cargo space? Take your pick and you can’t have both.
On the road
The Yaris Cross shares the same bones as the Avanza, Veloz, Raize, and Wigo. If there’s one thing common among all of them, it’s that the ride is on the soft side. Coupled with the supple seats and one can say that it’s generally comfortable in there.
I didn’t hear any complaints from my wife, yaya, or my daughter, although my little one did take a liking to the big windows. So, it’s good enough for those at the back, but what about the parent that has to drive it?
I can tell you that the steering is on the weighty side, good for those who actually want to know where the front wheels are pointed. Vibration can be felt through the floor when the hybrid system charges itself, ironic given that hybrids pride themselves on quiet operation. Brakes are a touch on the grabby side and could take some getting used to, especially for those coming from a non-hybrid vehicle.
Performance is okay for a compact hybrid engine. On paper, its 1.5-liter engine and electric motor make a total output of 109hp. It won’t set the tires on fire, but the motor provides a good amount of kick from a standstill. As far as small crossovers go, this is one of the peppier ones, no doubt helped by its electrified powertrain.
Of course, the main talking point here is fuel economy. The Yaris Cross hybrid simply refused to dip below 12km/L, even in heavy traffic. If anything, you’ll easily see 14 to 15km/L on a normal day and over 20km/L in light traffic.
Those who need to take one of these on a long-distance drives will appreciate the adaptive cruise control. The 360-degree-view cameras, while far from high definition (it looks more like 240p resolution), are good parking aids, not that you’ll need it so much in a small crossover.
Toyota Yaris Cross HEV: Still worth it?
In hybrid form, the Toyota Yaris Cross rings in at P1,604,000. It was a competitive price until the Chinese contenders game in. Yes, I’m aware of the geopolitical issues going on at the moment, but it seems that it hasn’t stopped consumers from buying the bigger and more affordable offerings from PRC.
But on its own, the Yaris Cross hybrid is a good subcompact crossover. Not too spacious, but it’s comfortable, good on gas, and well-equipped. For those in the market for one, I won’t stop you from buying it.
The thing is, the biggest competitor of the Yaris Cross is its big brother, the Corolla Cross. The base model of that is nearly P100,000 less than the Yaris Cross, is bigger, although not as well equipped. I’d recommend trying out both first before buying to see what suits you better.
Well, those are my insights on the Yaris Cross hybrid, and it’s all because my daughter couldn’t stop looking at the ad. Maybe I should start choosing my following reviews according to the car my kid stares at next. Hopefully, it’s a Lexus RX.
