Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross: Which Version to Buy and Why

The Toyota Yaris Cross catalogue data covers one generation with two phases: the original SUV 5-doors produced from August 2020 through May 2023, followed by a restyling from June 2023 onward. The original phase contains eight versions, while the restyling contains four.

The Toyota Yaris Cross catalogue data covers one generation with two phases: the original SUV 5-doors produced from August 2020 through May 2023, followed by a restyling from June 2023 onward. The original phase contains eight versions, while the restyling contains four. Choosing between them mainly means deciding between Gasoline and Hybrid power, FWD and AWD, and Manual, Variable, or eCVT-labelled transmission options. The data does not include prices, trunk space, engine-oil capacity, reliability results, or market-specific equipment, so those factors cannot be used to rank the versions.

Toyota Yaris Cross generations: what changed?

The first-generation Toyota Yaris Cross arrived in August 2020 as an SUV 5-doors. Its eight listed versions all use a 1,490 cc front, transverse Inline engine with 3 cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, no boost, and distributed injection (multi-point). Outputs range from 91 hp to 130 hp. Buyers can choose FWD or AWD, while the transmission choices are a 6-speed Manual or Variable unit. Every original version has 170 mm of ground clearance.

The restyled first generation began in June 2023 and remains without a recorded end date. It is still an SUV 5-doors, but its four-version range differs substantially. The engines have 4 Inline cylinders rather than 3, remain front and transverse, retain 4 valves per cylinder and distributed injection (multi-point), and continue without boost. The Gasoline 1.5 MT and 1.5 CVT displace 1,496 cc and produce 106 hp; the Hybrid 1.5 eCVT versions displace 1,490 cc and produce either 116 hp or 130 hp. All four restyled versions are FWD.

Toyota Yaris Cross engine specs and version comparison

Repeated version names are distinguished below by output and production phase.

On calculated specific output, the original 130 hp 1.5 CVT Hybrid and the restyled 130 hp 1.5 eCVT are joint leaders at approximately 87.2 hp per litre. The 125 hp Gasoline 1.5 MT and 1.5 CVT deliver approximately 83.9 hp per litre, while the original 120 hp AWD 1.5 CVT produces approximately 80.5 hp per litre. The 116 hp Hybrid versions provide approximately 77.9 hp per litre. At the lower end, the original 91 hp Hybrid 1.5 CVT versions make approximately 61.1 hp per litre, and the restyled 106 hp Gasoline versions produce approximately 70.9 hp per litre.

The restyled Gasoline engine therefore gives up 19 hp and 7 Nm to the original 125 hp Gasoline FWD alternatives. Against the original 120 hp Gasoline AWD version, it gives up 14 hp and 7 Nm. The restyled Hybrid versions add 1 Nm relative to the original 120 Nm Hybrid specifications, while retaining the available 116 hp and 130 hp output levels.

Toyota Yaris Cross performance and fuel economy

Among versions with complete performance figures, the original 130 hp 1.5 CVT Hybrid is quickest to 100 km/h at 10.7 seconds. It is 0.2 seconds quicker than the original 125 hp 1.5 MT, 0.5 seconds quicker than both 116 hp FWD Hybrid specifications with measured acceleration, and 1.1 seconds quicker than the 91 hp Hybrid versions and the 116 hp AWD Hybrid.

The original 125 hp 1.5 MT and 1.5 CVT share the highest measured top speed of 180 km/h, which is 10 km/h above the measured Hybrid maximum. The Manual reaches 100 km/h 0.8 seconds sooner than the 125 hp Variable version, although its combined consumption is 1.1 L/100 km higher.

For economy, the original 130 hp and 116 hp FWD 1.5 CVT Hybrid versions share the lowest measured combined figure at 3.3 L/100 km. That is 1.8 L/100 km below the original 125 hp Gasoline 1.5 CVT, 2.2 L/100 km below the 120 hp Gasoline AWD 1.5 CVT, and 2.9 L/100 km below the 125 hp Gasoline 1.5 MT. Their listed 77 g/km CO₂ figure is also the lowest in the data.

AWD carries an economy difference within comparable Hybrid outputs. The original 116 hp AWD 1.5 CVT Hybrid uses 3.6 L/100 km combined, versus 3.3 L/100 km for the 116 hp FWD version: a difference of 0.3 L/100 km. For the 91 hp 1.5 CVT Hybrid, AWD records 3.8 L/100 km and FWD 3.6 L/100 km, a difference of 0.2 L/100 km.

Toyota Yaris Cross dimensions, weight, clearance and wheels

Exterior length, width, height, wheelbase, and trunk space are not measured in the supplied catalogue data. Available size-related figures are therefore limited to weight, ground clearance, tank capacity, and wheel specifications.

The original 130 hp 1.5 CVT Hybrid has the strongest calculated weight-to-power result at approximately 8.6 kg/hp. The original 125 hp 1.5 MT follows at approximately 8.9 kg/hp, while the 125 hp 1.5 CVT records approximately 9.0 kg/hp. The original 91 hp Hybrid versions have the least favourable calculated result at approximately 13.7 kg/hp.

For the original 116 hp Hybrid, choosing AWD adds 130 kg of kerb weight over FWD and raises weight per horsepower from approximately 9.7 to 10.8 kg/hp. Both retain 170 mm of clearance and a 36 L tank. The restyled 116 hp 1.5 eCVT weighs 1,190 kg—70 kg more than the original 116 hp FWD Hybrid but 60 kg less than the original 116 hp AWD Hybrid—and its clearance falls by 10 mm to 160 mm.

Which Toyota Yaris Cross version should you buy?

For the best measured blend of acceleration, economy, emissions, and weight per horsepower, choose the original 1.5 CVT Hybrid with 130 hp and FWD. It combines the quickest measured 0–100 km/h time of 10.7 seconds with 3.3 L/100 km combined consumption, 77 g/km CO₂, and the range’s best calculated 8.6 kg/hp. Its 170 km/h top speed is 10 km/h below the measured Gasoline maximum, but its numbers make it the strongest all-round specification in this dataset.

For AWD with the better measured economy, choose the original 1.5 CVT Hybrid with 116 hp. Its 3.6 L/100 km combined consumption is 1.9 L/100 km lower than the 120 hp Gasoline AWD 1.5 CVT. It also has measured acceleration of 11.8 seconds and a 170 km/h top speed, whereas those two performance figures are not measured for the Gasoline AWD version. The trade-offs are 4 hp less, 25 Nm less, a 6 L smaller tank, and 130 kg more kerb weight.

For Gasoline power and measured performance, the original 1.5 MT with 125 hp is the sharper choice. It reaches 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds, which is 0.8 seconds ahead of the same-output 1.5 CVT, and both reach 180 km/h. The Variable version counters with a lower measured combined consumption of 5.1 L/100 km versus 6.2 L/100 km for the Manual.

For a restyled model with the fullest measured specification, choose the 116 hp 1.5 eCVT. It is the only restyled version with measured acceleration, top speed, combined consumption, CO₂, kerb weight, gross weight, clearance, and tank capacity: 11.2 seconds, 170 km/h, 5.0 L/100 km, 114 g/km, 1,190 kg, 1,690 kg, 160 mm, and 36 L respectively. The restyled 130 hp 1.5 eCVT supplies 14 hp more and the same 121 Nm, but its performance, economy, weight, clearance, tank, and wheel figures are not measured.

Price differences—and therefore what any extra money buys—cannot be calculated because no Toyota Yaris Cross prices are provided. The defensible shortlist is instead numerical: the original 130 hp 1.5 CVT Hybrid for the strongest overall measured results, the original 116 hp 1.5 CVT Hybrid for economical AWD, the original 125 hp 1.5 MT for the quickest measured Gasoline acceleration, or the restyled 116 hp 1.5 eCVT when the later phase is the priority.