Toyota Corolla Cross vs RAV4 vs Yaris Cross vs C-HR: which hybrid SUV is best?

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Toyota has an increasingly large range of small to medium SUVs now available – all with fuel-sipping, cost-saving hybrid engines. 

Choosing the best Toyota SUV for you can be tricky, particularly with Toyota’s four smallest crossover models being similar in many ways. 

Here at Chasing Cars, we have broken down each model and provided all the information you need if you are considering one of these models. 

With the popularity of the SUV market, Toyota has pumped up both their Corolla and Yaris models into the small SUV segment, while mainstays like the RAV4 and C-HR have been in the market for some time. 

So far in 2022, Toyota has sold 6101 C-HRs, 5932 Yaris Cross and 27,148 RAV4s, while the Corolla Cross is a brand-new model – however, it’s expected to be a very strong seller, blending a near-RAV4 size with the trusted Corolla badge. 

Let’s dive into a breakdown of each model.

Pricing is before on-road costs*

Toyota Yaris Cross: the smallest and least expensive

Lowest price: $26,990 (about $30,568 driveaway in NSW)

Highest price: $38,440 (about $42,260 driveaway in NSW)

Dimensions (LxWxH): 4180mm x 1765mm x 1590mm

Variants: GX, GXL, Urban

Can you get a hybrid? Yes, for $2000 extra

Standard kit: LED headlights, 7.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker sound system, 4.2-inch instrument display

Safety: eight airbags, lane trace assist, auto high beam, AEB, road sign assist, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control

Key rivals: Volkswagen T-Roc, Mazda CX-3, Ford Puma, Hyundai Venue 

Here’s what Chasing Cars has said about the Yaris Cross in the past: “It’s a frugal hybrid, has keen handling and a comfy ride, yet is set back by a somewhat steep entry cost”. 

Chasing Cars production manager Tom Place also ran a Toyota Yaris Cross for four months as a long-term review car in 2021. Here’s what Place thought of the Yaris Cross when handing it back:

“The keen handling and torquey drivetrain make this a car you want to drive for the fun of it, yet it won’t punish you at the petrol pump for doing so.

“There is a real sense of ease that comes from driving the Yaris Cross. Its good visibility and 360-degree camera inspire confidence in the driver and make it very easy to recommend to those who have just picked up their licence,” Place reported.

Toyota Corolla Cross: new and nearly RAV4-sized

Lowest price: $33,000 (about $36,815 driveaway in NSW)

Highest price: $49,050 (about $53,636 driveaway in NSW)

Dimensions (LxWxH): 4460mm x 1825mm x 1620mm 

Variants: GX, GXL, Atmos

Can you get a hybrid? Yes, for $2500 extra

Standard kit: 7.0-inch instrument cluster (12-inch available in higher grades), USB-C, voice assistant, six-speaker sound system, 8.0-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay 

Safety: Eight airbags, Toyota Safety sense including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane change assist, forward AEB, emergency steering assist and automatic high beam. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and reverse camera also standard

Key rivals: Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, Nissan Qashqai and Honda HR-V

Here’s what Chasing Cars deputy editor Curt Dupriez thought of the Corolla Cross when the small SUV was released in Australia earlier this month: 

“Toyota’s new small SUV really does hit the mark. It’s exactly what you might want if C-HR is too funky, Corolla is too small (and un-SUV-like) and you can’t stomach the wait for mister popularity in RAV4. 

“And yet you really want those friendly and familiar oh-what-feeling traits of the newcomer’s stablemates in what’s a convincing amalgamation,” Dupriez said. 

Toyota C-HR: the sportiest Toyota SUV 

Lowest price: $30,915 (about $34,670 driveaway in NSW)

Highest price: $38,115 (about $41,621 driveaway in NSW)

Dimensions (LxWxH): 4390mm x 1795mm x 1565mm

Variants: GXL, Koba, GR Sport 

Can you get a hybrid? Yes, for $6750 extra

Standard kit: 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, electronic park brake, fabric seats (base only), 4.2-inch instrument display, smart entry, dual-zone climate control, 8.0-inch central touchscreen, six speakers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality 

Safety: seven airbags, Toyota safety sense including lane-trace assist, auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, front AEB, forward collision warning, front and rear parking sensors, 

Key rivals: Kia Seltos, Nissan Juke, Subaru XV, Volkswagen T-Cross, Skoda Karoq 

Here’s what Chasing Cars has said about the C-HR in the past. 

Staff journalist John Law reviewed the C-HR in 2020, saying that “the C-HR continues to fly high dynamically, and is easily one of the most pleasant vehicles in the segment to drive. 

“If you rarely travel with more than two passengers and are looking for a funky, fun compatriot that stands up well to everything from urban assault to country roads, we recommend the C-HR,” Law continued. 

Toyota RAV4: Australia’s most popular midsize SUV

Lowest price: $34,400 (about $38,425 driveaway in NSW)

Highest price: $52,700 (about $54,841 driveaway in NSW)

Dimensions (LxWxH): 4600mm x 1855mm x 1685mm

Variants: GX, GXL, Edge, XSE, Cruiser 

Can you get a hybrid? Yes, for $2500 extra

Standard kit: 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and headlights, premium steering wheel, remote entry and start, 4.2-inch or 7.0-inch information display, 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six- or nine-speaker sound system

Safety: Seven airbags, Toyota safety sense including lane departure warning, lane-trace assist, forward AEB, auto high beam and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, reverse camera, and trailer sway control are also standard 

Key rivals: Hyundai Tucson, Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Volvo XC60

In 2020, Chasing Cars editor Tom Baker ran a RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid AWD for six months as a long-term review car and heaped praise on its balanced nature.

“The Toyota RAV4 hybrid is an excellent midsize SUV,” Baker said. “It blends true real-world frugality with usable performance, well-sorted ride and handling, and a large and practical interior.”

Similarities and differences between the SUVs

Toyota has added its Toyota safety sense equipment to all of the models listed here and it includes lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning across all four models. 

Autonomous emergency braking is also standard across each of the Toyota models.

Another similarity is that each of these models are available with some form of hybrid powertrain. However, the core engine is different between models. 

The Toyota Yaris Cross comes fitted with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine that makes 88kW/145Nm, however a hybrid version of this engine is also available. 

In the new Corolla Cross, there is the choice of either a 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 126kW/202Nm or a hybrid 2.0-litre version that makes 146kW/190Nm. 

The C-HR is available with either a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine making 85kW/185Nm or a hybrid 1.8-litre four-cylinder with 90kW combined. 

Lastly, the top-selling Toyota RAV4 is available with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, a 2.5-litre hybrid or a 2.5-litre petrol. 
The 2.0-litre petrol makes 127kW/203Nm, while the hybrid version produces 160kW in 2WD guise or 163kW in all-wheel drive format. The 2.5-litre petrol unit makes 152kW/243Nm.