Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid 2024 Review — The Post-Reopen Compact SUV to Beat
The 2024 Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid Z is the most-shopped compact SUV in the post-Feb-2025 import wave. TNGA platform, latest 1.5L hybrid, e-Four AWD option, 25–30 km/L. Lands LKR 17–20M for the volume Z grade.
thumb_up Pros
- check_circle 25–30 km/L real-world economy — class-best
- check_circle TNGA-B platform; sharper than Vezel, smoother than CX-3
- check_circle e-Four AWD option for hill country with no fuel-economy penalty
- check_circle Toyota Safety Sense standard from base grade
- check_circle Largest 2024+ compact-SUV inventory pool in active SL imports
thumb_down Cons
- cancel Smaller boot than Vezel (390L vs 437L)
- cancel Three-cylinder engine note is more noticeable on highway than Vezel four-cylinder
- cancel Z grade Hybrid 2WD FOB is JPY 3.0–3.2M — pricier than equivalent 2020 Vezel
- cancel Rear seat width is tight for three adults
Rating
9/10
Sri Lanka reopened private vehicle imports on 1 February 2025. In the twelve months that followed, the 2024 Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid Z became the highest-volume new compact SUV moving through Japanese auctions to Colombo. Roughly 50 examples have landed in our active inventory pool — the largest 2024+ compact SUV cohort in the country, ahead of the equivalent-year Vezel and CX-3.
This review covers the 2024 Yaris Cross Hybrid Z (2WD) — the most-shopped grade for Sri Lanka, with the e-Four AWD option flagged where it matters.
What you get
- 1.5L M15A-FXE three-cylinder + electric motor (latest THS-II hybrid system)
- eCVT transmission
- 5 doors, 5 seats, 390L boot
- Toyota Safety Sense (Pre-Collision, Lane Trace Assist, Adaptive Cruise) standard
- Combined output 116 hp (FF) or 130 hp (e-Four AWD)
- e-Four AWD adds an electric motor on the rear axle — no driveshaft, minimal fuel-economy penalty
The 2024 model year refresh tightened the front-end design, added a new 10.5-inch infotainment option on Z grade, and improved noise insulation versus the 2022 launch year. Mechanically the drivetrain is unchanged.
How it drives
The TNGA-B platform is the differentiator. Compared to a 2020 Honda Vezel hybrid:
- Fuel economy — 25–30 km/L mixed driving, 1–3 km/L ahead of the equivalent Vezel
- Steering — sharper, more direct; closer to a Mazda CX-3 in feel
- Ride — slightly tighter than Vezel, slightly more compliant than CX-3
- Driving position — a hair lower than Vezel; less SUV-like, more crossover
- Refinement — three-cylinder thrum is audible at full throttle but disappears in cruise
Hill-country buyers should specify the e-Four AWD variant. The rear electric motor provides traction on wet Kandy roads without the mechanical 4WD’s fuel-economy penalty. Real-world economy drops only ~1 km/L versus the FF.
Real-world fuel cost
At LKR 388/L petrol (April 2026):
| Annual km | Annual fuel cost (28 km/L) |
|---|---|
| 12,000 km | LKR 166,000 |
| 18,000 km | LKR 250,000 |
| 25,000 km | LKR 346,000 |
For a Colombo professional doing 18,000 km/year, the Yaris Cross saves roughly LKR 100,000/year versus an equivalent Vezel — and roughly LKR 720,000/year versus a 1.3L Vitz at the same mileage.
Sri Lanka tax math (2024 Yaris Cross Hybrid Z, JPY 3.1M FOB)
| Line | Amount (LKR) |
|---|---|
| FOB (JPY → LKR) | 6,200,000 |
| CIF (incl. freight + insurance) | 6,500,000 |
| CID (20%) | 1,300,000 |
| Customs surcharge (50% of duty) | 650,000 |
| Excise (1,500cc × LKR 1,500/cc) | 2,250,000 |
| Luxury tax (CIF below threshold) | 0 |
| VAT base | ~10,700,000 |
| VAT (18%) | 1,926,000 |
| Clearing + transport + dealer | ~1,200,000 |
| Indicative landed selling price | LKR 17–20M |
For the full breakdown methodology, see The Real Landed Price of a Japanese Import.
60% LTV cap reality: an LKR 18M landed Yaris Cross requires LKR 7.2M cash up front before lease structure begins. A 28-year-old IT professional on LKR 280k/month will need to bring family savings or diaspora support for that ratio. See Buying a car under the 60% LTV cap.
Auction-sheet notes
- Target grade: 4.5 or higher — the model is new, grade 4.5 examples are abundant in Japan.
- Watch for: nothing model-specific. Inspect for stone chips on the front bumper (Japan highway tolls = high motorway use).
- Hybrid battery: latest THS-II generation. No reliability concerns on a 2024 example; expected to match Aqua/Prius longevity (300k+ km on original battery is realistic).
- Z grade gives you: 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, panoramic view monitor, leather steering, eight-speaker audio, rear-passenger AC vents.
- Avoid: 1.5G petrol-only base grade unless landed cost is a hard constraint — the hybrid premium pays back inside 4 years for typical SL mileage.
Who should buy this
| Pick the Yaris Cross 2024 if… | Pick something else if… |
|---|---|
| You want the newest tech on the SL compact-SUV shortlist | Boot capacity is your top priority (Vezel wins) |
| You drive 15,000+ km/year | Cash outlay matters more than cushion (older Vezel is cheaper) |
| You’re in Kandy / Nuwara Eliya / Galle hills (e-Four) | Three-row family seating is a need (Sienta / Voxy) |
| You’ll own the car 5+ years | You only drive Colombo and need a smaller car (Wagon R / Aqua) |
Verdict
9/10. The 2024 Yaris Cross Hybrid Z is the right answer for the buyer who wants the newest available compact SUV on the SL import shortlist, doesn’t need the Vezel’s larger boot, and drives enough kilometres for the fuel economy to matter. The e-Four AWD variant is the standout pick for hill-country buyers — there is genuinely no equivalent in the price band.
The honest trade-off versus the equivalent-year Vezel is boot space and rear-seat width. Everything else, the Yaris Cross either matches or beats.
Send us your spec and we’ll come back with current Japan auction Yaris Cross 2024 examples filtered to your CIF target.
Read also
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