ON TEST: TOYOTA YARIS CROSS
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Head-turning Cross adds a touch of muscle to Yaris range Toyota has added an SUV option to the Yaris –and it has plenty to offer, as Andrew Walker discovered...
Toyota’s Yaris family – supermini and hot-hatch – now has a small SUV option, with the arrival of the Yaris Cross. Think Yaris on steroids. As you might guess from that description, it’s quite a bit larger than its supermini brethren, and is almost as spacious inside as the larger CH-R. It offers company car drivers tax-friendly CO2 emissions from 102g/km, and Company Car and Van got to grips with one recently and here’s what we thought. What is it? Built on the same TNGA platform as the other Yaris models, it’s powered by a 1.5 litre three cylinder petrol engine with a CVT transmission. The front axle features an electric generator and motor that gives the Cross it’s hybrid powertrain. As a whole, it’s 240mm longer than the standard Yaris, with 60mm added to the front and 180mm to the rear. The ground clearance is 30mm higher and the vehicle is wider and taller overall by 20 and 90mm respectively. 36 | August 2022 | Company Car & Van
Model range and spec There are four model choices available, beginning with Icon as the entry model, then Design, Excel and finally Dynamic. All come generously equipped with Icon offering 16” 10-spoke alloys, Toyota Safety Sense, Toyota Touch 2 multimedia system with 8” touchscreen, DAB, Bluetooth, six-speaker audio system, Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android, AutoSmart entry, push-button start, a reversing camera, automatic air con and a 4.2” multi-information display. To this equipment the Design adds 17” dark grey/machined five-double-spoke alloys, LED projector headlights, rear lights and sequential indicators, light blue ambient cabin lighting, aluminium roof rails, black headlining, a 7” multi-information display and rear privacy glass. Excel enhances this further with the addition of 18” dark grey/machined five-triple-spoke alloys, a power tailgate with kick sensor, 9” Toyota Smart Connect multimedia system, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert with auto brake, intelligent parking sensors, a heated steering wheel and front seats, an auto dimming rear view mirror and dual-zone climate control. Finally, the range-topping Dynamic offers a more distinctive SUV appearance and can be specified with front or all-wheel drive. It features, in addition to the Excel trim level, 18” dark grey five-triple-spoke alloys, a bi-tone paint finish with black roof and the option of intelligent all-wheel drive. All-in-all, it’s an equipment level to rival those of its rivals.
Safety All Yaris Cross models benefit from Toyota Safety Sense active safety and driver assistance systems as standard. The package includes a Pre-Collision System with pedestrian and cyclist recognition and Emergency Steering Assist; full-range intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control; Lane Departure Alert and Lane Trace Assist; Road Sign Assist and Automatic High Beam. Yaris Cross also come with eCall which can automatically summon emergency services assistance in the event of a serious impact. Engine, performance and economy We were testing the Dynamic model, which features a three-cylinder 1.5 hybrid engine, which comes with 114bhp, with the electric motor producing up to 79bhp. Top speed is 105 mph with 0-62mph reached in 11.2 seconds. Fuel consumption is a claimed 54.656.5 mg, with CO2 emissions of 112-117.2 g/km. Interior The cabin features plenty of black, grey and chrome and is unmistakably a Toyota. Quality is good, with decent materials used throughout and solid, straightforward switchgear. The dashboard is dominated by the touchscreen, which is a huge jump up in quality for Toyota compared to previous tech used in its models. There are very clear graphics and fast response to inputs. Underneath the touchscreen, sit narrow air vents and separate climate controls, with a single USB input. Continued on page 38 www.companycarandvan.co.uk
