Toyota has updated its best-selling model in Europe, the Yaris Cross, with a fresher design and revised interiors. Underneath, it remains unchanged, with it based on Toyota's existing TNGA-B platform, as the current gen Yaris Cross. Does it have what it takes to rival the Nissan Juke?
Updated exteriors
Toyota has given the Yaris Cross a redesigned front-end with a new honeycomb grille, sleeker, more angular headlamps and a newer front and rear bumper design with blacked-out elements. It gets two new colour options, Persian Salt and Precious Bronze, with the Precious Bronze getting a contrasting black roof and rear pillars.
The top-of-the-line trim gets a new 18-inch alloy-wheel design, and the mid-spec gets 17-inch alloys. The GR Sport version also gets its own bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels along with wider bumpers at the front and rear, along with GR Sport logos.
Fresher interiors
The interiors of the Yaris Cross now get new platinum-coloured trims across the doors, the dashboard and the centre console. All the trims can now be optioned with the Sport seats, which were only available with the top variant before. The GR Sport trim also gets its own unique theme, getting GR Sport logos on the seatbacks and red stitching on the leatherette seat upholstery, as well as the steering wheel.
Other features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof in the top variant, wireless charging, ambient lighting and a JBL sound system.
Powertrain
There is only one engine option available with the Yaris Cross, a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with an e-CVT gearbox, along with a hybrid system with a lithium-ion battery with up to two electric motors. It produces 128bhp and 185Nm of torque in the top variant and 114bhp in the mid variant. It gets a top speed of 185kmph and can be optioned either in a front-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive layout.
Prices and rivals
The Toyota Yaris Cross is limited to the European markets only, and its main rivals are the Nissan Juke and the Volkswagen T-Cross. The official prices are not out yet, but it will be priced competitively versus its rivals.
