Toyota's Yaris Cross has gained a gravel-travel look in the name of adventure…

The Yaris Cross is another example of how well Toyota evaluates the market.

As the traditional hatchback business fades, being overtaken by demand for crossovers, Toyota has simply evolved the Yaris platform into a crossover.

Within Toyota’s product hierarchy, the Yaris Cross sits below CH-R, and has definite appeal for those customers with a desire for a small crossover with Toyota’s proven reliability.

Like the CH-R, Yaris Cross has surprisingly daring styling and exterior design for a Toyota. Nearly a year after its original reveal, the Yaris Cross is now available with an Adventure treatment.

Although this new Yaris Cross trim level does not increase the vehicle’s 170mm of ground clearance or equip it with more off-road appropriate tyres, Toyota has added some small exterior detailing changes.

A rear bumper scuff plate is added and at the front silver trim surrounding the lower bumper section can be seen. Toyota has also included what appears to be a faux diffuser framing the lower front bumper, although it's sure to be purely cosmetic, instead of aerodynamically functional.

The Yaris Cross Adventure is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol-hybrid engine, producing 87kW. A clutch-pack sends that power to the rear wheels, as needed, making the Yaris Cross all-wheel drive when required. It might not be capable of exploring rugged terrain, but high-speed gravel driving and some mild sand tracks should be well within its capability.

A black roof and wing mirrors are also part of the Adventure configuration, with both its roof rails and alloy wheels finished in a dark grey colour.

Inside the Yaris Cross Adventure, you will find a darkened headliner, black dashboard accents and even some gold coloured detailing in the door panels and fascia panel.

Available in right-hand drive markets such as Australia, the Yaris Cross, especially in Adventure trim, would make for a great junior RAV4, in South Africa. With the local market not being a destination for the current Yaris platform (unless you want the rare GR), that appears unlikely to happen.

Buy a Toyota Yaris on Cars.co.za

Related Content

UK tuner beefs up Toyota GR Yaris

Toyota GR Yaris for SA in mid 2021