Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid AWD 130bhp
By Tim Saunders
A small vehicle is my preferred mode of transport. Not just for reasons of economy but because I can usually squeeze one into a tight space by the roadside, meaning I don’t have to pay exorbitant car parking charges.
After patiently waiting for a P driver to parallel park in Fareham, I follow her and do the same in the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid AWD, which is reasonably easy to manoeuvre, helped by the reversing cameras. Although it is considered to be a small hybrid SUV it still feels quite large when I compare it to my wife’s ageing Vauxhall Corsa. Inside, my growing children complain about the lack of legroom in the rear. The driving position is ok and the automatic box makes for lazy driving. What we particularly like is the large panoramic glass roof, which really lightens the dark interior. There’s a cover that takes us some time to operate but we get there in the end.
I find the doors a bit plasticky when closing them from inside. Another qualm – and I have the same issue in the VW Tiguan – is its over sensitive reversing sensors, which do not like the hedges lining my driveway and a resulting automatic emergency stop not only frightens but infuriates me. Cars of today seem to be built purely for flat roads with no obstacles. No good at all.
Toyota has paired a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with an e-CVT automatic gearbox. An extra electric motor powers the rear wheels to give all-wheel drive. This model generates 130hp but there is another model that will produce 116hp. Its 36 litre fuel tank allows it to travel just over 500 miles with super efficient driving not exceeding 56mph, I find. The nearer the bottom of the tank the digital reading becomes unreliable.
I find the inside door handles are in an odd place, too – out of sorts with other cars I drive and every time I go to open the door I find myself missing the handle. I have to actually look at where the handle is whereas in other cars I just automatically know. The children concur. The armrest on the driver’s door isn’t quite right for me either. And the driver’s seat is too low, possibly my fault but I can’t seem to make it higher so for the duration of the test I feel like a little schoolboy driving around. Caroline in the front passenger seat seems taller. Perhaps I’m shrinking with old age.
The model tested is all wheel drive but there is a slightly more efficient version available in front wheel drive.
I take it for a trip to Torquay. It’s a three to four hour journey and I find that my back starts complaining, so I think it would appreciate more padding in the driver’s seat. It copes with all manner of traffic jams, roadworks, closed roads, diversions due to accidents, water pipe repairs and wild fires and due to the clumsiness of these diversions which cause me confusion it is necessary to do a little off-roading as we park up and scratch our heads. The sat nav could be improved considerably. There are some that have the ability of spotting diversions and road closures, this is not one of them and some of the instructions could be clearer too. When the A380 around Torbay is closed and very poor diversion signs put in place this device keeps telling me to go back in the long long queue because I’m going wrong. Terrible. It’s only talking to a helpful customer in a petrol station that we learn that we need to drive to Teignmouth and then on to Dawlish and then to Exeter where we wish to visit. Later, a shocking New Forest wild fire closes the M27 which means we have to drive to Salisbury and then pick up the A36 and then onto the section of the M27 that is open. We only learn this from a helpful petrol attendant at the only petrol station that seems to be open in these parts. We finally return home after midnight.
Facts at a glance
