Review - Toyota Yaris

While it might be one of the most well-known names in the segment, the Yaris has the difficult task of going up against the likes of the Suzuki Swift, Mazda 2, MG MG3 and the Volkswagen Polo in the world of small hatchbacks, which means it needs to excel to stay atop its competitors.

Just how good is the latest Toyota Yaris? Let’s find out.

Starting Price: $23,740

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Toyota Yaris (ASCENT SPORT) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Toyota Yaris car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Toyota Yaris lineup kicks off from $23,740 for the entry-level Yaris Ascent Sport, with prices rising to $27,130 for the Yaris SX. Stepping up to the SX Hybrid comes at a cost of $29,130, while the ZR and ZR Hybrid are priced at $30,200 and $32,200 respectively. 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

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What Features Does the Toyota Yaris Have?

Toyota’s entry-level Yaris Ascent Sport comes riding on a set of 15-inch steel wheels, and receives LED tail lights and daytime running lamps, cloth upholstery, air conditioning, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assistance and a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB+ which is paired with a six-speaker sound system.

Stepping up to the Yaris SX adds 15-inch alloy wheels, as well as LED headlights, keyless entry & start, climate control, a digital instrument cluster, leather steering wheel, satellite navigation and upgraded fabric upholstery.

Toyota’s range-topping Yaris ZR comes riding on 16-inch alloys, and receives a head-up display, sport seats, rear spoiler, as well as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts.

Range Features:

• 15-inch steel wheels 

• LED tail lights & daytime running lamps 

• Cloth upholstery 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Reversing Camera 

• Autonomous emergency braking 

• Lane keep assistance 

• 7.0-inch infotainment system with DAB+, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• Six speaker sound system 

• 15-inch alloys (Yaris SX) 

• LED headlights (Yaris SX) 

• Keyless entry & start (Yaris SX) 

• Leather steering wheel (Yaris SX) 

• Satellite navigation (Yaris SX) 

• 16-inch alloys (Yaris ZR) 

• Head-up display (Yaris ZR) 

• Sport seats (Yaris ZR) 

• Rear spoiler (Yaris ZR) 

• Blind-spot monitoring (Yaris ZR) 

• Rear cross-traffic alerts (Yaris ZR) 

Toyota Yaris Colours

The Toyota Yaris range is available in a range of colours, including Glacier White, Ebony, Crystal Pearl, Silver Pearl, Atomic Rush, Scarlet, Lunar Blue, Bronx Bronze, Cherry Blossom, Coral Rose, Eclectic Blue and Electric Green. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

The latest generation Toyota Yaris is a refreshingly simple take on the small car recipe, offering a back-to-basics approach that is surprisingly fun to drive. 

Underneath, there’s a refreshed platform that offers a heap more stability while driving, which makes the Yaris a perfect option for commuting around town while making weekend adventures a heap of fun. 

Power is supplied by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine producing 88kW of power and 145Nm of torque, while the SX and ZR can be optioned with a hybrid engine that pairs the three-cylinder with an electric motor producing 85kW with the added bonus of added torque. 

While there’s not a heap of power available, the little Yaris doesn’t weigh too much, which means it feels zippy around town and is particularly impressive when pushed through the corners thanks to the updated platform. 

Power is put to the front wheels via a CVT automatic transmission that behaves like one long seamless gear, making the process of picking up speed and driving around town exceptionally smooth and simple. 

The platform lends itself perfectly to commuting, with the short wheelbase offering agile handling around town while its small proportions mean it's simple to find and navigate your way through tight spots and into car parks. 

As a complete package, the Yaris meets its design brief with style and confidence, and remains one of the leading options within the small car segment thanks to Toyota’s build quality and reputation when it comes to reliability.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

While the little Yaris is no doubt limited by its small stature, Toyota has done an impressive job to ensure it remains a practical hatchback that is perfectly suited to a young couple that might be expecting an extra passenger or two in the back seats. 

Up front, there’s an impressive amount of headroom even for tall drivers, with the Yaris positioning the driver with a great view out of the windscreen that adds to the user-friendly nature of the cockpit. 

In terms of storage and practicality up front, there’s a cubby hole behind the gear lever for smartphones and loose items, a small storage area atop the dashboard, and a trio of cupholders. 

Move to the rear of the cabin and while tall adults might struggle to get enough legroom for longer journeys, there is still an impressive amount of headspace on offer in the rear of the Yaris. 

The rear seats are perfectly suited to shorter legs, so parents with children won’t have too much to worry about until they reach the 175cm mark. On that note, the Yaris features a pair of ISOFIX anchors on each of the outward seats, while there’s three top tether mounts to help accommodate forward and rear-facing child seats. 

In terms of cargo capacity, the Yaris has a boot rated at a compact 270L which is enough for a decent-sized supermarket run or a handful of school bags, however, the boot space is no doubt limited by its overall proportions. 

Is it Safe?

The Toyota Yaris has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, scoring 86% for adult protection, 87% for child protection, 78% for road user protection and 87% for its safety assist technologies. 

As standard, all Yaris models come fitted with autonomous emergency braking with junction assist, cyclist and pedestrian detection, as well as adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera, emergency steering assistance, lane keep assist and eight airbags in the cabin. 

Stepping up to the Yaris ZR variant adds rear cross-traffic alerts and blind-spot monitoring. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Fuel efficiency is one area that the Yaris platform absolutely excels, with the base model returning a combined fuel economy figure of 4.9L per 100km, while the hybrid range offers fuel economy of just 3.3L per 100km, making it an exceptional entry to the small car segment when it comes to frugal fuel consumption. 

Our Verdict: Is the Toyota Yaris Worth it?

Toyota has been fine-tuning the recipe for its all-conquering city car for years now, and the latest generation Yaris is by far the best yet. 

The updated platform has introduced some surprisingly fun handling, while the addition of hybrid engine options across the range makes the Yaris lineup even more attractive for buyers that are looking to cut down on their fuel bills. 

As a complete package, the latest generation Yaris is a near faultless creation for those in need for a compact, user-friendly and safe hatchback, which is why you should add it to your shortlist ASAP. 

On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited KM warranty 

2. 12-month/15,000km service intervals 

3. Five-star ANCAP safety rating 

4. 4.9L/100km fuel economy as standard; 3.3L/100km for hybrid range 

5. 270L of boot space 

Pros

• Fun and agile handling 

• Impressive fuel economy in both petrol and hybrid variants 

• Generous safety equipment list for base model Yaris 

Cons

• Limited legroom in second row 

• Prices are steadily creeping north 

• Noticeable road noise at highway speeds 

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Toyota Yaris Competition