Given that the Yaris Cross’ rides 25mm higher than the Yaris supermini it shares its platform and powertrain with, it's not surprising to find its driving position is raised up, which many drivers like. Elsewhere, though, the Toyota's cabin feels more functional than flashy, combining decent materials with a straightforward layout and switchgear.

Inside, the Yaris Cross does feel slightly more premium than its supermini stablemate, with a generally smart and functional cabin that's well put together. In the centre of the dashboard there's an infotainment touchscreen, with a set of dials for the climate control below. You also get physical dials and a small display screen set behind the steering wheel for vital information. The instruments are certainly clear, but the whole setup also looks dated.

The Icon is the entry-level model. This gets 16-inch alloy wheels and an eight-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a reversing camera. But the mid-range Design trim is expected to make up half of Yaris Cross sales in the UK. This has 17-inch alloy wheels, LED head and tail-lights and ambient lighting. 

Excel builds on that with 18-inch grey alloys, a powered tailgate with kick sensor, a larger nine-inch infotainment screen, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, plus parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Added in autumn 2022, the GR Sport adds a more athletic package to the Yaris Cross. There are exclusive wheels, grilles and paint colours (including a vibrant Scorched Orange shade), plus suede upholstery with red stitching. A handful of GR badges also feature, although there’s little shared between this car and the Toyota GR Supra sports car.

The above models are front-drive only, but all-wheel drive is available as an option on the following higher-spec versions. The Dynamic features styling similar to that of the Toyota RAV4, thanks to different front and rear bumpers, a rear protection plate and two-tone paint.  The top-of-the-range Premiere Edition, meanwhile, come with black leather seats, an eight-speaker JBL sound system and a 10-inch colour head-up display.

Some optional extras are available, too. The JBL sound system and panoramic sunroof can be added to the Excel and Dynamic, while Excel cars are also available with the City Pack, while Dynamic and Premiere Edition cars can be equipped with the Advanced Safety and City & Advanced Safety packs. There are also styling packages available, including the Adventure Pack, SUV Pack and Sports Pack.

The City Pack includes sat nav, a 360-degree panoramic-view system and semi-automated parking, while the Advanced Safety Pack includes rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring. However, it's worth noting that if you select the City or City & Advanced Safety packs, the Yaris Cross, you get the smaller eight-inch infotainment. 

While the infotainment system in Toyotas has been flawed in the past, the setup in the Yaris Cross is a significant improvement over what's come before. Entry-level cars feature an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, while higher-spec versions come with a larger nine-inch unit.

Welcome one and all, I’m Ellis the news reporter on Auto Express, the brand’s former online reviews editor and contributor to DrivingElectric. I’m proud to say I cut my teeth reporting and reviewing all things EV as the content editor on DrivingElectric. I joined the team while completing my master’s degree in automotive journalism at Coventry University and since then I’ve driven just about every electric car and hybrid I could get my hands on.