Hi, looking to get a new car. Going for test drive for Yaris Cross
A. Any Yaris Cross owners? Which model you suggest as they have 6 options. Typically, you only have 1-2 to choose from nowadays.
B. What other cars to consider as alternative in that compact SUV range? Ideally under $35,000
I will tomorrow when I go for the test drive. So far just online.
CX-30
Also come with extra cost servicing and worse depreciation.
My VW has been cheaper to service than my previous 2 Jap cars (Toyota and Subaru), and it's the least depreciating car I have owned overall.
"German made with German precision"
Definitely not German made. There is German precision, engineered to fail within 10 years (if you are lucky).
Lol! German haters had come as usual. Haters gonna hate!
I own one and had a few. So not much of a hater.
Just pointing it out. VW in general is subpar and is one of the everyday kind of car like a Toyota (less reliable, I would say).
they just arent made for the aussie sun
german precision means you cant fit any tools to unbolt a nut behind the engine to change the alternator without dropping the whole engine.
When I have had the first gen BMW Mini Cooper S…. Replacing the clutch took more effort to remove the clutch than doing the actual swap. More than half a day to get the clutch out (either taking the engine out, or disassemble the entire front - bumper, impact beam and so on).
Also under engineered strut towers that can't handle the very stiff suspension.
Otherwise great car. Whether it's poor engineering, or they are so precisely engineered for a certain life span.
The good old first gen Q7 needed to unbolt seats just to replace an AUX battery (again, more effort to remove the battery than the actual replacement). Which the later ones are in the footwell.
Precise engineering, yes, dumb engineering, yes too.
Obviously two countries known for their engineering prowess, and I've had cars from both, however when it comes to cars, I once heard an opinion that the difference between the German engineers and the Japanese engineers is the German ones do precision too precise in that they assume very specific operating conditions and European climates and that all servicing will be done on time perfectly to optimise the machine to the acceptable failure parameters the company sets and the also optimise profits from servicing and parts… whereas Japanese engineers design it to never die knowing some people don't do all the servicing and harsher climates with heat and humidity and lower production costs on parts, so are better for everyday Aussies and total ownership costs.
Whereas if you are a Sunday driver that sticks to your temperate climate and perfect roads and premium fuels, and don't mind spending up on all your servicing and parts on time, then you can go German everyday models… (whereas if you want German performance models, you have to pay big $$$$$s for them to be engineered for such -. i.e. Don't go flogging a standard model, it will break, and break your bank).
"German ones do precision too precise in that they assume very specific operating conditions and European climates and that all servicing will be done on time perfectly to optimise the machine to the acceptable failure parameters the company sets and the also optimise profits from servicing and parts…"
Then they need to stop selling cars outside the locations where such specific conditions can be met. Otherwise it is clearly a product not suited for purpose (environment).
Otherwise such parameters and approach to engineering should be made CLEAR to the end consumer.
Precise engineering, yes, dumb engineering, also yes.
They’re not after a Eurotrash wagon. They want something reliable - you know, the kind of car that, with nothing more than scheduled servicing, will still be running perfectly 10 years after the warranty ends.
Not all Euros are bad. A Porsche Panamera is well tested and do last (not too bad compared to a Toyota Camry).
Ultimately, it is what the manufacturer choose to do from an engineering and QC aspect.
Comparing a toyoto to a Porche. Gees! good luck with your toyoto!
@SYLTB: What is wrong with comparing a Porsche to a Toyota from a reliability point of view?
I have both (well, not a Panamera, a Boxster - aka 718 instead, and a Lexus).
Comes down to how serious the manufacturer takes on the QC and proper engineering.
Equally, I was crossing shopping an Outlander to an EQB.
So what is your point?
Putting reliability aside, the Yamaha 2UR and 1LR are easily the best sounding engine for a production - 2UR is also very affordable. I guess Porsche does have a M80/01, but it's as rare as the 1LR. No?
"comparing a Porsche to a Toyota … I have both … a Boxster - aka 718 instead, and a Lexus"
Typical OzBargainer garage - "If you look after the pennies, the dollars look after themselves"
@MrFrugalSpend: Don't forget the eastern suburb penthouse with 8 spot underground parking bought through Black Diamonds Monika, paid cash upfront and held via a BVI company.
You probably think that I am a clown, but that sort of money in a melting pot like Sydney is nothing unusual.
School dropoff queues have no shortage macan taycan, cayenne and the like.
Not opening a bonnet for 20 year is complete BS. Might as well have not changed tyres for 20 years.
I did not open the bonnet of my German car for 20 years.
Rusted shut?
Neither of those are German made.
People tend to ignore facts and believe they want to believe.
Both are German made with German precision.
lol. yeah, this is why their resale value takes a nosedive after a few years.
get a jap
GR Yaris is the only option IMHO.
Thanks. How come you say that?
It has great safety features.
4WD for safety when wet.
@MS Paint: active safety.
Also helps with pedestrian safety too. Almost got run over by a Tesla walking in a laneway.
@Flutterby: the pilot was an A hole.
Drove close to me on a shared car/pedestrian lane, could have warned me he was right behind me.
Hyundai or Kia equivent.
If you are going to Toyota to test drive, check whatever is next door while you are there. (Assuming there is a bunch of dealers in a similar area like usually is)
Why are you buying a petrol car now? Hiw long are you going to keep it? Committing yourself to petrol costs ongoing whike there are quite a few EV options.
Ultimately, it doesn't really matter what you get. Just buy one YOU like the feel and drive of.
Yeah that was the plan. Toyota do now charge extra premium for their brand name.
What's the equivalent model in Kia and Hyundai?
Hyundai now seems to offer hybrid in all of them as well based on recent ads on tv
Would definitely suggest that it is better to look at a Toyota Hybrid. Fuel efficiency is fantastic, better torque than petrol variants, not to mention hopefully a higher resell value in 5-10 years.
My Toyota has a 5 year warranty on all except; 7 years on the engine; 10 years on the battery and EV drivetrain
You mean like Corolla Hybrid? That is also a possibility as well. Test driving that as well.
I would suggest any Toyota Hybrid, period. Definitely are miles ahead of the competition, however you do pay a hefty sum for a Toyota tax.
Yaris Cross is hybrid only
Toyota don't offer standard ICE variants in anything below a Prado these days
@spackbace: What is the lifespan of the hybrid battery in the Yaris Cross and what is the replacement cost?
@Hampton Wick: No idea, pretty rare to get hybrids come back for a replacement. Off the top of my head, I think around $2500-3000
@spackbace: OK, seems like the 48V mild hybrid doesn't have much advantage while destroying the boot space.
Toyota have really made some good decisions lately, the 48V mild hybrid in the Prado isn't one of them.
Toyota have really made some good decisions lately, the 48V mild hybrid in the Prado isn't one of them.
None of the 48V mild hybrid setups are a good decision. They're deliberately weak, almost pointless hybrid systems added for compliance reasons. In Australia, adding the hybrid system means they're eligible for a higher luxury car tax threshold, while quietly subverting the intent of that legislation.
Their corolla hybrid is not too bad in terms of price. On their website it says $36,000 driveaway
Others don't make hybrid in hatchback at all and start at $40,000 plus.
Yeah the Yaris Cross is hybrid as well.
@bin555: Get the corolla hybrid. I’ve had one for almost 3 months, excellent car to drive and the fuel economy is great.
Why don't you go try out some cars at car lots. See the ones you like the look of, then sit in those ones and see which of those you like to sit in. Then test drive some of them. Find the one you really like in your budget, research cheapest price you can find and see if the car lot can beat it.
Honda HRV ($4k over budget), but a decent car. Excellent hybrid system and the magic seats are second to none.
Partner has a Hyundai Venue which is similar size. not available in hybrid. It's not too bad, you might be able to get one a bit cheaper than the yaris cross, probably a little better packaged too.
Ride is comfy, steering is easy, interior is nice. Engine is fine for the type of car it is, transmission can be a bit finicky on the highway, cos the engine is small it has to drop a few gears to maintain pace sometimes. but its fine you can live with it. Fuel economy is OK, maybe a bit high for the class.
Kia equivalent is the Stonic which has a smaller engine and i think is overall inferior to the Hyundai for the $$.
Mazda CX3 is getting on a bit, but its a solid all rounder. Honda HRV is good but only 4 seater
Haval Jolion and MG ZS/ZST are the chinese options. Jolion available in a hybrid. I probably wouldnt take the risk.
If you're set on hybrid, just get the toyota dont bother with anything else. CX3 and venue would be the ones to test drive besides tho
There was a USA car safety survey posted on Ozbargain a few months ago, it had the Venue as the worst car for road deaths per km (miles) driven.
Same study found Tesla (as a brand) had the highest fatality rate https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a62919131/tesla-has-highes…
How you crash some of the safest cars out and die is beyond me, but clearly speaks to the driver behaviour more than anything
Thanks.
Yeah i would look into those. Basically we are replacing a Mazda 3. Hence, try to get different brand.
I think the Honda HRV, Kia Stonic and Hyunda Venue would be good alternative. Would try them out.
Mazda CX3 is getting on a bit
i think aus is one of the last places you can actually get it. Mazda pulled it from other markets.
It's literally just a Mazda 3 "raised up" a bit, and it shows. It's super small, and I wouldn't consider it an all rounder at all. The CX30 (based on Mazda 3) is better.
Its closer to a mazda 2. The cx5 is 3 sized
Never said anything about the CX5.
I'm pretty sure the CX5 is actually a different platform. The CX30 is the Mazda 3 that is SUV. The CX5 is a step up in terms of space etc, and not based on the 3.
@coffeeinmyveins: You did say the cx3 is a 3 raised up. Maybe the current cx5 is a bigger platform, but it was originally started out as a lifted 3.
As coffee said, CX3 is a Mazda 2 SUV and the CX5 is the Mazda 3 SUV.
Yaris Cross is a very good car. Engine is solid as, I've seen the breakdown of it. If you are ok with the simple layout and just want a car that works there is no need to think of anything else.
Different option. The new Chery Tiggo 4 only $23990 driveaway which is at least $10000 less than the Yaris. It has a lot of features for the price. Capped price servicing for the first 7 years/105000km is also cheap compared to some other brands.
https://cherymotor.com.au/models/tiggo-4
Yeah I was looking at that. You do see cherry around and they are attractive on price. Horner, they haven't breached the reputation bar as yet like byd. Most people and even one cherry owner told me to stay away from cherry
People say that based on Chery's previous attempt in Australia many years ago when Chinese cars weren't popular or competitive
Kia Kona? and felt quite nice
Or save money and get a Tiggo 4 / or even a MG ZS
Kia Kona
Never heard of it
true, no such car - wahahah brain fart from my end
Yep, agreed. You're better off with the MG ZS essence hybrid ($35k for top of the range) or Haval Jolion Ultra Hybrid ($38k for top of the range) if you're looking for a small car. I think the best bang for buck if you want a medium sized SUV would be the Haval H6 ultra hybrid ($41k top of the range) but that sounds like it's out of your price range. Either way, you'll get far better value than the Toyota which is has dated technology and isn't nearly as luxurious as the Haval ultra hybrids.
isn't nearly as luxurious as the Haval ultra hybrids.
LOL
Depending on your circumstances (being your salary and your ability to have your employer participate in a novated lease), you could probably get a $55k EV for the same after-tax cost as that Yaris, or a compact more affordable option like the Zeekr X or MG4 for less, and then the thing is basically free to run. And not choking your city and cooking the world…
choking your city and cooking the world
That describes what Musk is doing in DC perfectly
And not choking your city and cooking the world…
yeah because EVs are the bastion of renewable energies.
Go and look up the production of those vehicles, and the electricity they run off.
So many Tesla owners have a stick up their butt about how environmentally friendly they are, but they aren't.
yeah because EVs are the bastion of renewable energies.
They are, and it's not even close. There are no other energy systems on the market today which come close to BEVs in terms of minimizing overall environmental impact.
They're not perfect, and mass transit systems are still far better overall, but assuming private vehicles remain an essential tool for Australians, EVs is a major positive step change compared to conventional ICE vehicles.
Go and look up the production of those vehicles, and the electricity they run off.
I don't want this thread to get de-railed and go down the path of so many others on this forum, so I will keep this rather complicated subject as brief as possible and hit the main points:
It's absolutely true that EVs require more energy, more emissions and additional mining / extractive processes to build than an equivalent ICE vehicle. Some studies put the overall increase at 30-50% extra.
However, this early disadvantage is quickly offset by other factors once they hit the road. EVs have much higher energy efficiency, and much lower emissions, during their lifetime of operation. When combined, this makes them an undisputed net improvement over internal combustion when the entire lifecycle is considered.
This remains true even if the EV's energy source is entirely from fossil fuel generators - but in Australia where >40% of energy is sourced from renewables (and climbing each year), the net benefit is much higher.
High recyclability at end of life is an added bonus for later generations of EVs, which means far less mining of sensitive minerals like lithium, nickel etc. will required in the future.
The level of environmental damage and vast energy expenditure associated with oil extraction, transport and refinement are often left out of this equation, but they're an essential part of the supply chain that makes ICE viable and must not be ignored. When combined with the low efficiency of internal combustion engines (~25% on average) it's not even a close comparison.
JD Power dependability gives a good indication of the quality of vehicle manufacturers
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-vehi…
Confirms my experience with Toyota/Lexus, Porsche, Audi and the like.
Statistically, assume the data reflect correlation between between Toyota to Lexus, and VW to Audi.
If we lived in the US, sure…
Australia isn't the 51th state?
um, Canada and Greenland want a word
We are 53rd at best.
If you live in the mind of a Trump supporter, obviously.
JD Powah
Yeah, they lost me when they put Jeep higher on the list than Hyundai. This has to be some paid off bullshit when Mini finishes in the top 5… FFS.
Anyone can pay JD Power for an award, They are a market research company, that do no actual testing of the cars. It is a glorified participation award the car companies pay for.
skoda kamiq select at $32k with 7 years warranty
compact at only 4.2m long but surprisingly huge roomy space inside backseat (more spacious than other longer/bigger car)
anything but a Yaris!!!!
why
Don't think anything bears the Yaris Cross for trouble free motoring. Took Toyota some years to perfect a robust hybrid system.
Test drove the Yaris Cross. Looks like glx is the winner with all the camera features.
Only catch was the interior. One I drove was outdated. It was like a car from 10 years ago. It was like their 2023 or 2024 model.
All new cars … Cherry, Kia, etc make them really flash. Not sure why the Yaris was stuck in the past. Guy said newer 2025 is getting upgrade. I'll check out some videos on YouTube to see how it will look.
What is best time to buy the car for discounts? Mid year sales around July?
One I drove was outdated.
Ummm. Toyota are notorious for having decade old interiors and tech in latest releases. It's part of their business model for whatever reason, probably because it's proven and reliable albeit boring as shit.
Good to know.
I suspect it's also to avoid cutting too much into Lexus territory. Having said that, the newer cars like the Camry seems to have a better interior.
How did you find the engine vibration? I thought it was quite harsh. Also no centre console storage and since other features missing, I think either intermittent or rain sensing wipers (this was COVID era car so maybe those features are back). Personally I would wait for a full electric that suits your purpose.
Have you considered an EV? BYD Dolphin, GWM Ora and MG4 should be within budget. Have a test drive and see, it might fit your needs just fine if you're not commuting hundreds of km's per day. Very easy to maintain cars with little to go wrong.
I've been in a Yaris Cross and found it very cramped and uncomfortable.
Not EV at this stage. Preference is for Hybrid or Petrol.
I suppose given GXL is in $38,000 range, then worthwhile exploring Honda, Kia as well.
Basically, second thoughts now based on the interior unless their 2025 or 2026 models are catching up to be at par with any modern car of any brand.
I just got the BYD Dolphin premium and it has exceeded my expectations. I thought it might be problematic due to not being able to charge at home (I live in an apartment ) but it's been super easy .I just charge at my local shopping centre once a week ,when I'm getting my groceries .
Go for Corolla Hybrid instead of Yaris. We were in the same boat last year, and finally went with Corolla Hybrid and very satisfied with it. Excellent drive, comfort and mileage.
How about corolla cross?
I considered the corolla cross hybrid and ended up with the BYD Atto 3 instead. Very similar style of car except one is electric of course. FBT exemption is good
They have 4 - GX, GXL, Urban, GR-Sport
And you can choose 2WD or AWD Hybrid
Have you looked at the spec differences/cost to work out what suits you most?