Toyota Yaris Cross SUV

1.5 Hybrid GR Sport 5dr CVT [2023]

The Japanese automaker has been producing family cars for decades, and if you want a funky hatchback with personality, the standard Yaris should be the perfect fit.

But, these days, the fit isn’t as perfect as it was. That is not Toyota's fault but more due to shifting consumer habits as people flock to the SUV market for something bigger and more practical.

Not to be outdone, Toyota decided to jack up the Yaris, add a bit of darkened cladding, and badge it as the Yaris Cross.

But it’s far more than a Yaris with a raised ride height and some thicker bumpers – the Yaris Cross has earned a decent reputation for itself. Indeed, after being launched in 2020, the plucky Toyota earned the title of World Urban Car of the Year two years later.

As it enters the halfway point of a model’s traditional eight-year lifespan, the Yaris Cross has received a midlife facelift, which brings revised detailing, upgraded powertrains, and digital and safety enhancements.

But have these changes done the trick – and do they put an end to a handful of the Yaris Cross’s weak points?

We have taken a couple of examples for a test drive to find out.