What's the difference?
Long the domain of first-car buyers and suburbanites winding down on their driving years, the Toyota Yaris is now hybrid-only, and is a far cry from the $15,000-or-so cheap and cheerful staple it once was.
But with its fourth generation a few years into its lifespan, the Yaris is trying to be more than just a basic A-to-B runabout. In fact, the ZR we have on test is more expensive than an entry-grade Volkswagen Polo.
Does more than $30,000 of light hatch really feel worth it once you’re behind the wheel, or are you better off pocketing almost $10,000 to save on one of the thinning pack of rivals?
Toyota’s smallest SUV has picked up a few subtle styling and tech tweaks as part of a minor model year update.
It goes up against familiar names like the Nissan Juke and Kia Stonic in the light SUV segment, as well as hybrid rivals like the newer Suzuki Fronx and Chery Tiggo 4.
But does the Toyota still have enough appeal this late in its life cycle?
The Toyota Yaris is as much car as many people should really need, and it's a refreshing antidote to the largely unnecessary shift towards SUVs as the ‘default vehicle’.
In the case of the ZR grade, the pricing could understandably be a reason you might consider an SUV instead. There are plenty of options for a similar price.
The problem with an SUV though is it will likely be less efficient and, due to physics, less agile and fun to drive.
Given the price and the fact that a couple of features are missing, the ZR probably isn't the variant to go for, but the Yaris is an overall solid foundation for a very convincing hatchback.
The Toyota Yaris Cross Urban is a city-savvy SUV that’s easy to park, nimble in traffic, and relatively fun to drive. It’s cute as a button on the outside, but the cabin doesn’t quite match the price, and some of the tech feels a little behind the times compared to rivals. The hybrid powertrain definitely earns it points but is it worth the jump in price over its rivals? A hesitant yes, because who doesn't like efficiency? But it needs a cabin upgrade to stay truly competitive in our market.