New Toyota Yaris Cross vs used Hyundai Tucson

The contenders

NEW Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid Design

List price £26,545
Target Price £25,010

The Yaris Cross is well equipped and competitively priced. It's also the most economical car we've ever tested

USED Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid Premium

Price new £35,060
Price used £25,000*

It's more practical than its smaller rival, but is a used Tucson a better all-rounder in hybrid SUV form?

*Price today is based on a 2022 model with average mileage and a full service history and is correct at the time of writing

In the past, some SUVs have attracted criticism for being 'gas-guzzling monsters', but that's not an accusation you can level at the Toyota Yaris Cross.

While it offers an elevated driving position, it's barely any longer or wider than a conventional small hatchback. Plus, its hybrid technology helps make it the most efficient car we've ever put through our Real MPG test.

Alternatively, if you like the idea of the Yaris Cross's parsimony but need a little more space, what about a Hyundai Tucson?

It's also available as a fuel-sipping hybrid. And although it costs around £10,000 more when new, one-year-old examples go for Yaris Cross money. So, let's see which car is the better buy

Driving

Performance, ride, handling, refinement

There's a plug-in hybrid version of the Tucson, but what we have here is the conventional hybrid, which has a smaller electric range, but is able to recharge its battery on the move instead of via a power cable.

It's quicker than you might think, with its 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor getting it from 0-60mph in 6.8sec (in our hands). That's almost sports SUV pace; the Ford Puma ST, for instance, isn't much pokier.   

The Yaris Cross, meanwhile, comes only as a conventional hybrid. And while it's not painfully slow, you'll definitely notice the difference when you put your foot down; we managed 0-60mph in 10.7sec. 

Often, the smaller the car, the more jittery the ride can feel, and that's the case here, albeit not by a huge margin. Both the Yaris Cross and Tucson are quite softly set up, so they're decently comfortable and compliant over bumps, but not as well tied down as some rivals. 

This follows through into their handling characteristics. We'd describe the pair as competent and satisfactory in the bends, but not the sharpest tools in the shed. Naturally, being smaller and lighter, the Yaris Cross is more agile. It also feels that bit more controlled, aided by less body lean. 

Being hybrids, these cars let their engines sit back and relax whenever possible, because they have near-silent electric power to pick up the slack. However, when their engines are in play the Yaris Cross is more vocal, particularly when you're accelerating.

As for wind and road noise, the Yaris Cross is relatively hushed for a small SUV, but the Tucson remains that bit quieter. 

Next: What are they like inside? >>

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