Toyota Yaris Cross GR review: sporty SUV a head-turner

The brand has a well-earned reputation for quality and reliability but a range of new models adds some spice to the line-up.

The GR Sport is a new variant in the Yaris Cross range. It slots beneath the top-of-the-range Urban model, with the emphasis on sporty visual cues.

This model has friends in high places

The Yaris GR Sport is the latest incarnation of a new generation of sexier Toyotas, developed under the leadership of Akio Toyoda, great grandson of Toyota’s founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. Akio has added some much needed spark to Toyota’s passenger car line-up in recent years, throwing his weight behind the fantastic 86 sports car and the reborn Supra. More recently he gave the green light to a pair of superb hot hatches based on the Yaris and Corolla. Toyoda, who earlier this month stepped down from his role as Toyota chief executive, is a self-confessed motorsport tragic who has competed regularly at Germany’s famed Nurburgring racetrack. GR stands for Gazoo Racing, the name of Toyoda’s race team.

The GR Sport has some aggressive styling cues. Picture: Supplied.

It looks pretty mean for a baby SUV

The designers have done a pretty good job of giving the Yaris Cross some attitude and street cred, from the black mesh grill and spoiler to the sporty 18-inch machined alloys with red brake callipers emblazoned with the GR logo. The same mesh theme is continued on the rear bumper, while the rear diffuser has racing-inspired vertical fins. Black side mirrors add some more panache, while our test car had a premium, two-tone red and black paint job that costs an extra $1350.

A two-tone paint job costs extra. Picture: Supplied.

The cabin’s had a tweak as well

Inside, the GR Yaris Cross has a host of sporty design cues to differentiate it from garden variety models. There are racy alloy pedals and heavily bolstered bucket seats wrapped in imitation leather and suede, with GR logos embossed in the head rests. Gun metal grey highlights on the steering wheel, shift knob and doors lift the cabin ambience, while Toyota has also added suede-like inserts into the doors. Look a little closer, though, and you can see elements of cost-cutting – the elbow rests on the doors have no padding and the plastics below eye level are hard and shiny. It may be the brand’s cheapest SUV but when you’re paying more than $40,000 drive-away, it’s a bit rich.

The cabin has been given a lift with racy styling elements. Picture: Supplied.

There are goodies to justify the price tag

The GR Sport is based on the GXL 2WD Hybrid model, which is reasonably well equipped. Tech highlights are built-in satnav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, LED headlights, a seven-inch touch screen and a digital driver display. Safety gear includes auto emergency braking, blind-spot alert, active cruise control and speed-sign recognition. There’s also lane-keep assist, although it’s a fairly basic set-up that tends to intervene late and switch off relatively quickly. Owners are given a 12-month subscription to Toyota Connected Services, which will notify emergency services if a crash is detected.

A range of active safety tech reduces your chances of having a crash. Picture: Supplied.

It’s not just a styling exercise

There’s no extra power under the bonnet, but the Yaris Cross isn’t solely about looking the part. The suspension has been stiffened, there are grippier tyres and the ride height has been lowered to reduce body roll and improve cornering. Braces have been added under the floor to improve chassis stiffness. It’s no sports car, but the steering is nicely weighted and communicative and the car feels nimble through the corners. The 1.5-litre hybrid does the job well enough, although it becomes vocal when asked to overtake or climb steeper hills. Official fuel consumption is impressive at 3.8L/100km. We averaged 4.5L/100km without trying on a mix of urban and freeway driving.