It is becoming increasingly uncommon to find a simple, back-to-basics car in 2024. Even supposedly entry-level vehicles now come laden with technology, increasing their kerb weight and jacking up their purchase prices.

In a pursuit for ever greater levels of efficiency and environmental mindedness, shouldn’t we be buying honest and efficient cars instead? With less kit on board, each car will use less materials to manufacture, and the lighter weight also means greater fuel economy too.

The Toyota Yaris Cross is one such vehicle. But don’t mistake basic for being average, or even sub-par.

Dinky Dimensions

The Yaris Cross is one of the smallest new crossovers that you can buy today. At 4.2 metres in length, it is only marginally larger than the MINI Cooper. And Toyota appears to have taken advantage of its compact dimensions, giving it styling that is equal parts cutesy and muscular.

This ethos appears to have paid off, as despite being originally launched back in 2020, the car still looks fresh even four years later. The blacked out light clusters and pseudo-lightbar round the back are design cues that most manufacturers are including in the design of their latest models.

Focus on the word ‘pseudo’, as the Yaris Cross doesn’t actually have an illuminated lightbar. Though that’d be something the aftermarket could rectify if you decide to do so. Also, speaking of third-party add-ons, our Yaris Cross tester had one of the eight Urban Palette colour options applied to the vehicle.

This dealer-installed wrap has been done via a collaboration with vinyl supplier Inozotek, and the featured colour has been dubbed “Cherry Blossom”.

A Basic Cabin

Underneath the aesthetics and that eye-catching wrap, are the bones of a very basic city runabout. The interior reflects this, as most interior surfaces are finished in hard, scratchy plastics. In fairness, the cabin does feel well screwed together. It’s just that it doesn’t make you feel particularly special. But then again what did you expect from a bread-and-butter car?

Crucially, there’s sufficient space for occupants in the front. Large mirrors make for good visibility, and the driving position also allows you to have a good view out. Faux-leather seats and a steering wheel that feels good in the hands helps the driver to feel comfortable even on longer commutes.

With a fairly straight roofline, the car offers sufficient rear headroom. But it is not all good news. Afterall, this is a small car, and there are just some small car things that you cannot escape from. For instance, the footwell space in the back is small, and the car could really do with a smidge more knee room.

Surprisingly Peppy

A 1.5 litre four-pot lives under the bonnet. On its own, it develops 91 bhp. Toyota, famed for its hybrid drivetrain, has supplemented it with an electric motor, with a combined hybrid system output of 110 bhp. 

In a world of high-powered electric cars and heavily-turbocharged ICE vehicles, 110 bhp does seem paltry, especially on paper. Keep in mind though, that unlike the aforementioned EVs and big turbo petrols, the Yaris Cross is a featherweight, coming in at just 1,190 kilograms. Couple that with the fact that it has been built on Toyota’s TNGA GA-B platform, and you have a compact crossover that is surprisingly agile on the move.

But this is no sports car – the high riding suspension does translate into noticeable body roll, though it does a good job in mitigating the impact from potholes on our roads. The eCVT transmission also reinforces its economy car status, as it doesn’t readily shift between ratios, preferring instead to hold revs at a consistent RPM to let the car build road speed.

Whilst it was never designed to drive as a pure EV, it actually has a 79 bhp electric motor. Typically, it works in unison with the petrol engine as a singular powertrain unit. But if there is sufficient charge, you can drive the car as a fully electric vehicle if you aren’t going too quickly, or wanting rapid acceleration. 

Honestly Refreshing

The Yaris Cross is an honest-to-god, back-to-basics car. In a sea of tarted-up economy cars, it is a breath of fresh air. It doesn’t try to pretend to be expensive or upmarket, because it doesn’t have to be.

Instead, the car lets its impressive statistics speak for itself. This is an affordable crossover with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with excellent fuel economy (we averaged 29 km/l over our test drive) and acceptable levels of driving dynamism. 

No wonder then, that it is one of the most popular cars on our roads!

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