• Rugged mini-SUV made from robust materials
• Functional, user-friendly interior
• Good ride quality, supportive seats

How is the quality and layout?

The interior of the Toyota Yaris Cross looks and feels very much like that of its hatchback sibling. Which is actually a bit hard to come to terms with given the extra cash you’re forking out and the more style-conscious attitude of the typical SUV buyer.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Yaris Cross interior’s shape, functionality or quality, but there’s just an awful lot of black and dark grey plastic. Even the steering wheel lacks the soft, leathery feel of more upmarket cars in this class – and that’s where it’s priced. The likes of the Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur have much more interesting, plusher interiors

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That’s the only real problem, though. The Yaris Cross’s interior is functional, comfortable and all the controls are logically laid. There are plenty of proper buttons to control the air conditioning and other functions, which we like to see as they’re easier to use than touchscreen menus.

Infotainment and tech

The dashboard is dominated by a high-set central infotainment system touchscreen above the climate controls (with proper temperature control knobs – yes!). Toyota’s system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while sat-nav is standard with the 10-25-inch HD Smart Connect system found on high-spec models – the Icon model has a 9.0-inch ‘screen.

The menus are easy enough to navigate around, but the system is quite slow and the ‘screen can be a bit laggy. Rivals such as the Ford Puma and Renault Captur have snappier systems that look better, as well.

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We think the other technology found in the Yaris Cross is implemented well – such as the adaptive cruise control, which uses an intuitive stalk control for speed and a steering wheel button for following distance.

Comfort

• The seats are nice and supportive
• Hybrid power gives quiet ride
• Good driving position

Fundamentally the Yaris Cross is a small and not particularly sporty supermini that’s been lifted up, stretched and, if you go for a lower-spec car, rides on tyres that have loads of sidewall. That translates to a quiet and subdued ride. The hybrid engine is very hushed unless pushed hard, however there’s a bit too much wind and road noise for our liking.

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The seats are on the firm side, with good side support, so you don’t feel like you’re going to fall out in corners. The driving position is excellent, higher than a regular supermini but not as high as a larger SUV such as the Volkswagen T-Roc.