2021 Toyota Yaris Cross: hybrid small SUV priced from under $30k in Australia

Toyota has released the details of its new Yaris Cross that will officially go on sale in Australia on November 2 with a starting price of $26,990 before on road costs.

The new badge is Toyota’s first foray into the city-sized ‘light SUV‘ segment, and will be available with three different drivetrains: a 2WD petrol version, along with both 2WD and AWD hybrid iterations – making the Yaris Cross the first light SUV hybrid on sale in Australia.

Powering the 2WD petrol model is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine putting out 88kW/145Nm through a CVT gearbox, while the 2WD hybrid adds two electric motors to that engine, giving the partially electrified Yaris Cross a combined output of 85kW while only chewing through a claimed 3.8L/100km – while we expect the petrol version to be rated around 5.6L/100km, though this is not confirmed. Torque for the hybrid is not stated but it is stronger than the petrol-only version.

Yaris Cross hybrid AWD models add a third motor at the rear, providing all-corner grip by way of the aft electric motor producing torque rather than by the traditional method that employs a transaxle from the combustion engine. Like the RAV4 Hybrid eFour AWD model,  the set up will remain front-biased most of the time, but the Yaris Cross Hybrid will be able to send around 60 percent of its power to the rear when needed. 

On top of the choice of engines, Toyota will offer the Yaris Cross in three grades: a base GX followed by the GXL and the range topping Urban – with all variants allowing buyers to pick whatever drivetrain they like.

The price-leading GX in 2WD guise will be available from $26,990 (before on road costs) with prices increasing by $3,000 for each of the higher models. The hybrid versions cost $2,000 more for front-wheel-drive, or $5,000 more for all-wheel-drive.

This means the mid-spec GXL will be available for either $29,990 for the 2WD petrol, $31,990 for the front-wheel-drive hybrid, and $34,990 for the AWD hybrid. The range will top out of the full-fat Urban that will cost $37,990 (before on roads) with the AWD hybrid set up. A full list of Australian prices for the 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross is set out below this article.

Buyers looking to make their Yaris Cross a bit more special can look to the premium paint and two-tone paint options that will set you back an extra $500 and $450 respectively.

Toyota Australia’s Vice President Sean Handley said the price of the Yaris Cross was designed to be competitive to appeal to young and active city-based buyers in the growing segment.

“It’s no secret that the SUV market continues to grow, and Toyota has answered that customer demand with its first entry into the light SUV market with the all-new Yaris Cross,” Mr Hanley said.

Safety is a major selling point of the Yaris Cross, with all models offering AEB that detects cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and even junctions in daylight, reducing the likelihood of being t-boned while turning across oncoming traffic.

Blind spot monitoring and a reversing camera will also come standard, and in the event of a crash the Yaris Cross will send the location of the car to one of Toyota’s 24/7 emergency call centres to assist.

A system known as emergency steering assist will also come standard on the Yaris Cross. The tech is primarily a stability system that also smooths out jerky steering movements in a sudden swerve while allowing the car to still navigate the obstacle accurately using an array of sensors.

The Yaris Cross has also been fitted as standard with features such as wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, LED headlights, and the GX and GXL models will be fitted with 16-inch alloy rims with no steel wheels in sight

Those opting for the top of the range Urban will gain heated front seats, a power tailgating with a kick sensor and larger 18-inch alloy wheels.

Toyota is offering a five year warranty with capped price servicing setting buyers backs $205 at each service. An additional two years of warranty will be offered on the engine while Toyota will cover the battery pack in the hybrids for 10 years as long as you get an annual ‘health check’ with Toyota after five years.

When the Yaris Cross officially goes on sale next Monday, it will be slightly more expensive than its Yaris hatchback sibling: that car that starts at $22,130 in Ascent Sport petrol guise.

But if you are after a hybrid, the Yaris Cross will actually be the cheaper option when compared with the Yaris hatch. The Yaris Cross GX in 2WD hybrid specification costs $28,990 (before on roads) while the cheapest Yaris hybrid starts at $29,020 before ORCs.

The Yaris Cross will sit underneath the C-HR in the Toyota SUV lineup. The larger C-HR sits in the small SUV segment and starts from $30,290, though the 2WD-only C-HR hybrid is considerably more expensive, costing $37,190 before on roads. A follow-up in the form of a Corolla Cross SUV has been revealed, and is expected to arrive in Australia in 2021 or 2022.

2021 Toyota Yaris Cross prices

All prices are before on-road costs.

• GX petrol: $26,990
• GX hybrid 2WD: $28,990
• GX hybrid AWD: $31,990
• GXL petrol: $29,990
• GXL hybrid 2WD: $31,990
• GXL hybrid AWD: $34,990
• Urban petrol: $32,990
• Urban hybrid 2WD: $34,990
• Urban hybrid AWD: $37,990