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What to check: Toyota Yaris Cross

Ranked across all years of the Toyota Yaris Cross, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

DampersRuns high on this modelLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 6.9% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 2.1%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 9.9% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 10.3%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 3.5% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 7.0%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 3-5 · class average 1.1%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Turn the wheel on full lock at walking pace and listen for creaks or knocks from the front.A clonk or creak points to worn suspension top mounts, bushes or anti-roll bar links, the most commonly reported issue on this model.

Drive over a few speed bumps and rough patches at low speed on the test drive.A squeak or knock from the front matches the suspension noise owners report from around 20-40k miles onward.

Ask when the 12V battery was last replaced, or check its date sticker if you can see it.A battery more than 3-4 years old on a hybrid is a common cause of a no-start, and it isn't covered once the warranty has run out.

If a tow bar is fitted, lift the boot floor and check the spare wheel well for damp, staining or a musty smell.Water can get in through the tow bar wiring grommet after heavy rain if it wasn't sealed properly on fitting.

Test drive on a rough road you know, not just a smooth dealer route, especially on cars with 17-18in wheels.The ride is firm from new on larger wheel trims; if it feels harsh on the test drive it won't settle in with age.

Read the full MOT history for repeated suspension advisories, not just the pass/fail line.Suspension is this model's standout MOT fault category, so the same advisory coming back year after year is worth a proper inspection, not a shrug.

Ask for service history and whether any parts were replaced under goodwill outside a formal recall.A dealer quietly swapping a 12V battery or suspension part for free is a sign the fault is known internally even without an official recall.

Full Toyota Yaris Cross reliability report