TALLER, wider, longer, sounds like the start to 1970s sci-fi series The Six Million Dollar Man - but it is actually the description applied to Toyota's Yaris Cross.

The Japanese car maker has taken its bog-standard Yaris and given it a course of steroid injections to produce a compact SUV that's bristling with intent.

So when measured against the city car it is based on, the Yaris Cross is 95mm taller, 20mm wider and 240mm longer with the same wheelbase.

The exterior of five-door Dynamic model is impossible to ignore with sleek headlights and a bonnet sloping slightly over the twin grilles giving the front a shark-like appearance.

Classic black cladding for the wheelarches add the necessary SUV feel as do the black wheels, while the contrasting roof colour and sharp angles on the body work add a bit of pizzazz to proceedings.

A rock star vibe is added with privacy glass and smart LED lights at the back with sequential turn indicators.

Step inside and the cabin offers good levels of headroom although legroom is a little tight in the rear where there is space for two adults or three children. There are seat pockets for storage and cup holders in the doors but those in the back aren't bombarded with cubby hole options.

This improves up front as an armrest between driver and front seat passenger has space for a mobile phone underneath a pop-up lid, while cup holders and other cubby holes - plus a glove box - cater for assorted nik-naks.

The rear windows are quite small giving a slightly claustrophobic feeling and there are some hard plastics on display, but in fairness good quality materials are mostly used while the attention to fit and finish are exemplary.

The automatic dual-zone air conditioning ensures a pleasant atmosphere in the cabin while rotary dials separate from the natty nine-inch high-definition touchscreen, which is home to the sat nav and DAB radio, ensure the infotainment and temperature controls are helpfully kept apart. Wireless smartphone connectivity is ensured via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The driver gets a neat instrument binnacle that looks modern and offers all the info you need.

The split-level boot benefits from the increased dimensions of the Yaris Cross and offers a handy hiding place when you want to keep more valuable items out of the sight of those with criminal intent, while the rear seats fold over allowing load space to be increased from 397 litres to a maximum of 1,097 litres.

Keyless entry gives access to the push button ignition allowing the 1.5-litre three-pot engine to be fired up - aided and abetted by electric motors and a smooth-changing CVT gearbox.

Together they provide 114bhp that propels the Yaris Cross from a standing start to 62mph in a shade over 11 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 106mph, while at the same time delivering low carbon emissions.

Drive modes - Normal, Eco and Power - alter the responses of the vehicle and there is an EV-only mode.

Fuel economy for my week of mixed motoring in Normal mode came in around the mid-40s, but with Eco mode and a lighter right foot than I offered during my time with this hybrid, 50mpg and above should be on the cards.

The suspension copes with most of what passes for roads these days although things can get a little jiggly due to the increased ride height. The handling is reasonably sharp with body lean well controlled in corners.