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Reviewed | 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross HybridBack


On June 04, 2021
Quiet, economical and the best part there's stock available!
Reviewed | 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid

Our story begins in the yard of Werribee Toyota, which like most dealerships, is not currently bursting at the seams with cars in their new or used car lots. The coronavirus pandemic has brought automotive supply chains to a screeching halt, globally, having a huge impact on new car production. 

With this in mind, we made a beeline toward the Yaris Cross Hybrid. With a selection available for our test, we jumped behind the wheel, hit the start button, and silently disappeared down the road. 

Yaris Cross Mineral Blue

Our Mineral Blue example didn’t require the assistance of its 1.5 litre, 3 cylinder combustion engine. Or at least until I sunk the right Aquila into the carpet and called for every one of its 67kW and 120Nm @ circa 3800–4800rpm (boosted to 85kW @ 5500rpm & 141Nm @ 3800rpm when combined with the 59kW electric motor) to power the front wheels, via a CVT automatic and merge onto the highway.  

Now with this type of behaviour, achieving the claimed 3.8L/100km as per the red and yellow sticker on the windscreen may not be a reality, but hey! I was not going to be kind to a car that has an odd number of cylinders. I mean really. Three Cylinders??? But enough about my OCD and even number cylinder engines. 

Instead, let’s get stuck into my other obsession, rear seat passenger vents. Yaris Cross gets a big red X and not only doesn’t offer our rear seat guests, air vents, they don’t even get USB ports, but drop that centre seat and if there’s two in the back they have somewhere for their bottles.  

Yaris Cross Interior

Now if I’m being honest, the size of the cabin means that the air pumping from the front is adequate for everyone on board and despite the cozy cabin, it doesn’t come at the cost of comfort. With the front seats adjusted to my comfortable driving and seating position, our fearless photographer/cameraman and all-round nice guy, Julien, had plenty of room in the back seat and ample space for his gear, in the 390L boot (314L in the AWD version). 

Like most automobiles in the Toyota range, Yaris Cross comes in three variants, GX, GXL and Urban. If I were choosing, I’d take the middle road every time and park a GXL in the garage. All three versions come with a good helping of safety features including, but not limited to, lane keep assist, AEB, adaptive cruise and my favourite, Road Sign Recognition. But in the variants other than the GX, you get the addition of LED Headlights, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Monitors.  

The entire range will have you parking your backside on cloth seats and if you are squeezing offspring in the back, you’d tap out with 2 booster seats and anyone sitting in the middle would be snug to say the least.  

Many are critical of the infotainment system having only a 7-inch screen, but I don’t think Yaris Cross needs anything bigger or fancier with its practicality being more than enough. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, DAB+ and access to vehicle diagnostics between, this and the dual dial dash gives the Yaris Cross a pleasant cockpit feel, with very useable and sensible steering wheel buttons.  

So, after coming to terms with its odd number of cylinders, and yes, I know that some impressive powerplants have had 5 cylinders over the journey, I must admit the Yaris Cross Hybrid is a great little package.  

If you were buying one to hit the track, I’d say you were looking at the wrong Yaris and will reserve further comment, till I get the Keys to a Yaris GR for review. But as reviewed, the Cross, feels great on the road, be it around town or on the highway. It’s quiet, economical, unassuming, and the best part, with stock available, which means you can get into one sooner rather than later. So, if you’re keen, contact the friendly Eziway Leasing Team and drive away in your own Yaris Cross today. 

AUTHOR

Nick Kotsonis 

T 03 8768 5777

E nickk@eziway.net.au

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