Used car tests

Used Toyota Yaris Cross (Mk1, 2021-date) buyer’s guide: small SUV is a smash hit

A full used buyer’s guide on the Toyota Yaris Cross that’s been on sale in the UK since 2021

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11 Aug 2025

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Verdict

SUVs are big business, and the Yaris Cross has deservedly been a smash hit in the UK (and elsewhere) for Toyota. It accounts for around half of Yaris family sales and it’s easy to see why. It looks distinctive, costs just buttons to run and is as reliable as you’d expect a modern Toyota model to be. So it will come as no surprise that this smart-looking Toyota has been praised for its fuel economy, compact dimensions and easy driving experience. However, as we found out when we ran an example for six months on our long-term fleet, the Yaris Cross is one of those cars that’s very easy to respect, but it’s a lot harder to love.

Believe it or not, but it’s more than 25 years since the Toyota Yaris first went on sale, replacing the Starlet in the process. It was back in March 1999 that the Yaris Mk1 arrived in the UK, and since then more than 10 million of them have been sold around the world.

While city cars and superminis are still very popular, the market has shifted towards SUVs, so it’s no surprise the firm came up with the bright idea of a raised Yaris, in the shape of the Toyota Yaris Cross. It proved to be a good move, too, because buyers have embraced Toyota’s smallest SUV; it has lots to offer, even if it isn’t necessarily the very best car in its segment.

History

The Yaris Cross arrived in summer 2021, priced from £22,515. There were five trim levels, all of which were fitted with a 1,490cc three-cylinder petrol engine with hybrid assistance. Together, the engine and electric motor produced up to 114bhp, and this was sent to the front or all four wheels via a CVT automatic transmission.

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2025 Toyota

Yaris Cross

33,534 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £18,841

View Yaris Cross

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2025 Toyota

Yaris Cross

40,128 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £17,697

View Yaris Cross

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2025 Toyota

Yaris Cross

11,881 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £19,918

View Yaris Cross

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2025 Toyota

Yaris Cross

19,907 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £20,827

View Yaris Cross

By the time the GR Sport was added to the line-up in autumn 2022, Premiere trim was obsolete; this new edition featured a sportier design for the exterior and interior, along with retuned suspension for a more engaging drive. A facelifted Yaris Cross arrived in summer 2024, priced from £25,530 and with a significantly updated exterior design, along with an upgraded powertrain for the GR Sport and relaunched Premiere Edition, which was now rated at 129bhp.

The 114bhp set-up was still fitted to the Icon, Design and Excel cars, however. All models benefitted from extra standard equipment, including more or upgraded driver- assistance systems.

Configure your perfect Toyota Yaris Cross through our Find A Car service now. Alternatively, check out the best deals out there on a new Toyota Yaris Cross from stock or top prices on used Toyota Yaris Cross models...

On the road

The Yaris Cross is typical Toyota, in that it’s easy to drive, rather than rewarding. Refinement is good aside from some road noise at motorway speeds, while the ride is decently compliant on broken surfaces. The CVT automatic gearbox works well, while the steering is well weighted, and the switch between electric power and the engine is seamless, so it’s just the thing for urban driving.

But this isn’t a car that you’d jump into for an early morning blast just for the hell of it; the best car in the segment for that is most definitely the Ford Puma, which is genuinely fun to drive.

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Alternatives to the Toyota Yaris Cross

Supermini-sized SUVs are everywhere, so you’re spoiled for choice. If electrification is key, take a look at the Hyundai Kona hybrid or the Renault Captur E-Tech; both are available without hybrid power if you prefer.

The most enjoyable car in this class to drive is the Ford Puma, which is also hi-tech and very practical, while the Volkswagen T-Cross and its SEAT Arona and Skoda Kamiq cousins are also very practical. The Dacia Duster looks smart and offers excellent value, while the Jeep Avenger, Vauxhall Mokka, Peugeot 2008 and Citroen C3 Aircross are all the same underneath. Also view the Kia Niro, Nissan Juke and Mazda CX-30.

Which one should I buy?

GR Sport edition aside, all Yaris Crosses are mechanically the same, so it’s just a question of choosing a colour and trim level, then going shopping.

While the GR Sport has tauter suspension, which reduces body roll, comfort levels are reduced, so we’d avoid this edition unless you’re keen to have the sportier looks. Whether or not you need all-wheel drive is up to your circumstances, but no Yaris Cross is poorly equipped.

The entry-level Icon has 16-inch alloys, an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera and climate control. The Design adds 17-inch rims, LED headlights, ambient cabin lighting, privacy glass and adjustable driver’s lumbar support.

Range-topping Excel models get 18-inch alloys, a heated steering wheel and front seats, a powered tailgate, a nine-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, electrically folding door mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, synthetic leather trim and blind-spot monitoring.

What to look for

Four play

Buyers could pick between front or all-wheel drive, with the latter marketed as the AWD-i. Only the Dynamic and Premiere trims were offered with AWD and such cars are rare; just one in 20 Yaris Crosses is a 4x4.

Going spare

All Yaris Crosses come with a tyre-repair kit rather than a spare wheel. But you can buy a space-saver spare wheel from any official Toyota dealer, as part of a kit that also includes a jack and wheelbrace.

Assault on battery

Lots of owners have found that if they leave their Yaris Cross for as little as a week, the 12-volt battery can discharge. Toyota recommends using a solar charger to keep it topped up; an upgraded battery is worthwhile.

A noise annoys

The Toyota’s powertrain is pretty quiet, but the result is that road and wind noise are more obvious, especially at high speeds. It’s something you just have to live with.

Interior

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The Yaris Cross feels modern with its large touchscreens and digital instruments. The quality is good rather than exceptional; Toyota got it right with the switchgear, though, with physical controls for the things that matter. Rear-seat space is tight for adults, but boot room is good, at 397/1,097 litres; AWD models knock 77 litres off this.

Prices

You’re not short of choice if you fancy a Yaris Cross; we found more than 1,000 used examples for sale. Design is the most common trim level and it accounts for a third of the cars available, while Excel is in second place. This spec accounts for a quarter of the Yaris Crosses for sale, with Icon not far behind. About one in 10 cars is a GR Sport.

Check the price of a Toyota Yaris Cross with our free car valuation tool...

Running costs

This is a Yaris Cross high spot in some respects. Economy can be seriously impressive, with 65mpg (or even 70mpg) easy to achieve, and many owners averaging 60mpg overall. Insurance groups are also reasonably low, at 11-15, with most pegged at 12 or 13.

All Yaris Crosses cost less than £40,000 new, so there’s no road-tax supplement to pay, which means the bill is £195 per year. Maintenance costs shouldn’t be too punishing, either, the service schedule is set at every 12 months or 10,000 miles, alternating between Intermediate (which is essentially just an oil and filter change) and Full. These cost £265 and £365 respectively, on top of which you’ll need to add £96 every other year for fresh brake fluid. A chain-driven engine means there’s no cambelt to change.

Recalls

Toyota has a good record when it comes to issuing recalls, and sure enough the Yaris Cross has been the subject of just two of them so far; both also affected the fourth-generation Yaris hatch.

The first campaign was issued in August 2023 and it affected just a handful of Yaris Cross models built in June 2023, which left the factory with their wheel nuts not tightened sufficiently. All that was required was to check the nuts and tighten them if necessary.

A second recall came in October 2023, but this time there were more than 27,000 cars affected, built from the start of production up to July 2023. These had faulty eCall software, which had to be upgraded to a newer version via an over-the-air update. Dealers would fix both problems for free.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

The Yaris and Yaris Cross are both in the 2025 Driver Power survey, in 35th and 41st place respectively. The Yaris Cross didn’t manage any first places, although it did come second for drivetrain smoothness and fuel economy, but only 31st for servicing costs and 27th for other running costs. Owners also like the quality, brakes, handling and comfortable ride, but not the built-in sat-nav, rear-seat legroom, heating and ventilation, or shortage of cubbyhole space.