OMODA E5 EX vs Yaris Cross GX Hybrid NZ: comfort kit or a smaller city SUV?

OMODA's New Zealand page currently lists the E5 EX from NZ$44,990, excluding on-road costs. Its cheaper BX headline is a different grade. Toyota's exact GX Hybrid page supplies a NZ$39,690 Toyota Driveaway Price in its current colour listings; Toyota says that price basis includes on-road and registration costs.

Those figures have different inclusions. Get an itemised E5 drive-away quote and the selected Toyota colour and accessories in writing instead of presenting their subtraction as a final saving. An active national listing also does not guarantee local stock, a particular build year or a delivery date.

For Toyota, this comparison uses the GX Hybrid variant code MXJGB-SI2. For E5, the national page still links a September 2025, MY2025 specification sheet. Ask the dealer to identify the supplied E5's build and confirm which sheet applies. Do not assume that an advertisement for a newly registered car proves every MY2025 feature or figure is unchanged.

The published body dimensions give a clear difference: E5 is 4,424 mm long and 1,830 mm wide; Yaris Cross is 4,180 mm long and 1,765 mm wide. Subtracting those figures gives a 244 mm shorter and 65 mm narrower Toyota body. That can be worth investigating when your usual parking space is tight.

These are geometric differences. They do not prove a smaller turning circle, easier visibility or a measured parking advantage. Mirror width, the space needed to open the doors, the position of a garage pillar and the driver's sightlines need checking at the actual space. Do not treat the quoted body width as the complete clearance required.

Toyota's exact GX specification lists a three-person 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat. The E5 MY2025 sheet lists a 60/40 split. If you regularly carry a long object with rear passengers, try the relevant folded section, the load restraint arrangement and the remaining passenger space in each car. The split alone does not certify that your particular load can be carried safely.

The luggage figures also need their boundaries. OMODA publishes 300 litres measured to the cargo cover using VDA, with no EX front storage compartment because of the heat pump. Toyota lists 390 litres with the rear seats up, but the read GX specification does not establish the same measurement method and cover boundary. This comparison does not turn those figures into a measured 90-litre advantage.

Bring your buggy, shopping boxes or usual weekend luggage. Check the aperture, height under the cover and the position of the spare wheel. The E5 EX sheet describes powered front seats and synthetic leather, whereas the Toyota GX component specifies manual front-seat adjustment and fabric. Sit in both rather than reading the adjustment count as an ergonomic verdict.

The EX's comfort case is specific. Its linked MY2025 sheet gives it heated front and outer rear seats, a heated steering wheel and a heat pump. These are EX details to confirm on the supplied vehicle. The lower BX column is different and should not be used to describe the EX seats.

For the selected Toyota, the original GX specification lists single-zone automatic climate control, a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, front and rear parking sensors and a parking support brake. It also lists a power back door with kick opening and opening-position memory. Do not assume that E5's powered tailgate is an exclusive advantage simply because it appears prominently in the OMODA advertisement.

The E5 EX's 360-degree camera and Toyota's described parking systems are equipment references, rather than a test of image quality or obstacle detection. Check the camera views, controls and visibility yourself; assistance systems do not replace observation or the driver's control.

E5's current New Zealand listing and linked sheet give a 58.9 kWh battery and a 430 km WLTP range reference. That is a laboratory comparison figure, not a guarantee for your motorway, weather or load. The linked sheet specifies Type 2 AC and CCS2 DC connections at the front grille. It also says a trickle charger is not included with purchase, so confirm the charging equipment and installation you actually need.

Yaris Cross GX Hybrid is a non-plug-in petrol hybrid. It uses petrol rather than an external charging connection. The exact GX specification gives 3.7 L/100 km on a 3P-WLTP conversion basis, with a warning that controlled or converted results differ from real driving. The broad Toyota range page separately advertises 3.6 L/100 km. Keep that discrepancy visible instead of silently replacing the selected GX figure with the more favourable number.

There is a similar need for care with E5's technical year. The current HTML lists 150 kW and 340 Nm; the linked MY2025 sheet says 155 kW and 288 Nm. Its charging reference is 30 minutes from 30% to 80% using a 130 kW charger, while the page headline says 28 minutes over the same interval. Neither is a 10% to 80% result or evidence of sustained charging power. Confirm the supplied car and charging conditions; this comparison does not name an output or charging-speed winner.

OMODA's current New Zealand warranty overview advertises seven years with unlimited kilometres for the vehicle, with some usage types limited to seven years or 150,000 km. It separately advertises eight years with unlimited kilometres for the high-voltage battery, subject to terms. The Australian warranty link printed in the older specification sheet is not a substitute for the New Zealand contract.

Toyota's GX page describes up to five years of warranty and other Service Advantage benefits, with scheduled servicing, terms and kilometre limits applying. Ask the store for the requirements and the actual servicing schedule. Comparing seven with five without those conditions would overstate what either owner has been promised.

Build an ownership budget using your actual charging access or petrol use, insurance, servicing, tyres and applicable road charges. Neither a laboratory energy figure nor a weekly payment teaser is a complete cost estimate. For finance, request the deposit, term, fees, interest rate, final payment and total amount payable before choosing.