Toyota Yaris Hybrid review

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid is the flagship model in the Yaris range, a small hybrid car delivering all the advantages of hybrid motoring without any compromise in practicality. Ideal for urban driving, it is able to complete many journeys on electric power alone.

Key to the Yaris Hybrid’s economy is Toyota’s latest Hybrid Synergy Drive powerplant and e-CVT automatic gearbox. Available in a choice of four trim levels – Active, Icon, Design and Excel – the five-door Yaris Hybrid supplements the petrol and diesel Yaris models and brings hybrid technology to even more drivers.

2016 Toyota Yaris Hybrid driving

Driving

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid is the perfect hybrid car for today’s fast-paced urban world, with nippy performance and agile handling. Its 98bhp full hybrid power system uses Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive 1.5-litre VVT-i petrol engine and powerful electric motor to drive the car through a smooth e-CVT continuously variable automatic transmission.

The benefit of this hybrid powertrain is that it enables the Yaris Hybrid to drive solely in electric EV mode (automatically selected up to speeds of 31mph) for up to 1.2 miles, with no fuel consumption or harmful emissions, and the battery charges under deceleration and braking.

Specially tuned suspension maintains a comfortable ride, and with the same tight 4.7-metre turning circle as on the normal Yaris, you can go exactly where you need to with precision and confidence.

Comfort

Every five-door Toyota Yaris Hybrid is designed to accommodate up to five passengers with comfort and convenience in mind. Its aerodynamic design combines with better insulation to keep external noise to a minimum, especially important when operating in near-silent EV mode, creating a more peaceful experience. Like other Yaris models, space inside the Yaris Hybrid is impressive, with an excellent driving position.

High equipment levels are the order of the day in the Yaris Hybrid: dual-zone climate control is standard across the range, and Excel Hybrid models are equipped with cruise control. Both grades come with the acclaimed Toyota Touch 2 touchscreen multimedia system, which includes a Bluetooth connection and rear-view camera. Navigation with Google Street View™ and Panoramio™ is available as a £650 option.

2016 Toyota Yaris Hybrid interior

Practicality

By cleverly packaging the extra hardware for the hybrid system, the Yaris Hybrid retains the same amount of luggage space as the normal Yaris, so it’s just as practical for everyday use. The boot provides 286 litres of space with the rear seats in place, or 768 litres when they are folded flat. In the cabin, cupholders are on hand to hold your latte, while both driver and passenger gloveboxes can stow other items safely.

Safety

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid has all the same safety features as the standard Yaris, which achieved the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating. That means there are seven airbags, whiplash-reducing seats and a number of technological safety assists including anti-lock brakes that optimise the braking on each wheel, braking assist that helps in the event of an emergency stop, and traction and stability control to maintain grip and prevent skidding.

Additionally, the new Toyota Safety Sense package of active safety technologies can be optionally fitted to Icon, Sport and Excel models. This laser-controlled system monitors the road ahead, providing warnings if the vehicle begins to leave its lane, or if it detects that a collision is imminent. It can even apply the brakes in an emergency to minimise the effect of a possible collision.

Running Costs*

Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive powerplant makes the Yaris Hybrid the most efficient car in its class, achieving up to 85.6mpg on the combined test cycle. Running costs are further reduced by its class-leading emissions levels of 75g/km (82g/km for models with 16″ wheels), which exempts all Yaris Hybrids from road tax. Electric-only EV mode running means that trips to the petrol station are even less frequent, which every driver will welcome!

2016 Toyota Yaris Hybrid economy

Quality

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid is built to the same exacting quality standards as the conventional Yaris, and enjoys the same comprehensive warranty cover: a five-year/100,000 mile mechanical warranty and, regardless of mileage, three years’ warranty against rust and paint defects and 12 years’ anti-corrosion protection. Further, its hybrid system is covered by an eight-year/100,000 mile for added peace of mind.

Prices*

Designed to be the most affordable full hybrid on sale, choosing a Yaris Hybrid is simple – just select which trim level fits the bill and take it from there. Pricing starts from £15,295 on the road for the Yaris Active Hybrid, rising to £16,495 for the Icon Hybrid. The Yaris Design Hybrid costs £16,995 and the range-topping Yaris Excel Hybrid retails at £17,795.

Optional extras like the Safety Sense package (£400), Touch 2 with Go navigation system (£650), and Parking Pack (£425) are available from Icon upwards.

For further information about the Toyota Yaris, visit the designated section of the Toyota UK website. And if you’d like to try the Yaris Hybrid for yourself, leave a comment below and we’ll be in touch shortly.

*Prices correct as of 14/03/16

89 comments

  1. The only thing to add to this review is be aware of what you read in the sales literature.
    We purchased the Yaris Hybrid Icon plus being told by the sales advisor and in the sales brochure, that automatic wipers and dusk sening lights were standard.
    Apparently, they don’t even comes as an optional extra!
    Although we like the car, we don’t feel we have purchased the car we were sold.
    Toyotas response – we can have our first service free of charge!

    Disappointing

      1. I also had this problem – but it wasn’t just the sales person who said the Hybrid Icon+ came with dusk/rain sensing equipment, it also states it in the official brochure! Unfortunately, I have not been offered any compensation for this inaccuracy.

      2. Sorry to hear this and for any inconvenience caused as a result.
        Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our sales brochures, although it appears on this occasion errors may have been made and for this we apologise.
        Our best advice would be to contact the Dealer from which you purchased your vehicle, they will be best suited to assist.
        If you require further assistance please do let us know.
        Hope this helps.

  2. I must admit that I intend obtaining a hybrid and the Toyota Yaris seems the beast to me. I drive Motability cars and they must be automatic and,generally, that means fuel economy isn’t very good. The Yaris hybrid knocks that idea into a hat. Is it really that good? I’ll find out.

    1. Hello John
      Thanks for your post.
      Good to hear you are considering a Yaris hybrid for your next car. We would certainly recommend a test drive at your local dealer so you can experience hybrid technology first hand. It is no different to driving a conventional automatic car plus you have the ability to travel solely on electric power when at lower speed or in traffic for example, meaning no petrol is used and zero tailpipe emissions.
      This post will help explain more about Hybrid Synergy Drive. https://mag.toyota.co.uk/how-does-toyota-hybrid-synergy-drive-work
      Let us know how you get on after your test drive.

  3. Bought my 3rd Yaris a hybrid 17/3/14 with navigation system. I find it giving me a double voice at times really late with dome instructions not as good as other navigation systems I have used is anyone else experiencing this or have it got a faulty system. The garage have been unable to fault it unless they find out with me got the day paid lots if money for the system very disappointed taken thud edge off the car 🙁

    1. Hello, I also have the delayed announcement problem occasionally, and ‘turn’ and ‘bear’ are often used incorrectly. It also tells me that I’m over the speed limit when doing 45 in a 70 zone, and told me a 30 zone was 60. I think it gets a bit confused sometimes! On the whole, it is pretty good, but perhaps not as good as I’d hoped, or made out to be.

  4. Your mpg figures are miles out in reality it achieves just over half of what you have stated. I own a 2014 trend model & drive it like it was made of candy floss & the best it has returned is 43.8 mpg. If you look at other forums, the figures are more or less the same. It’s not an economical car at all.

    1. Hi Alan, I have also found the mpg figures to be inflated more than others manufacturers/models, but am surprised you have not achieved something in the 50s at least. I get about 54 for a 10 mile commute (mix of dual carriageway and urban), but surprised myself by a 71mpg recently, achieved on a bendy, more rural drive of about 20 miles. I was able to coast a lot though.

      1. Hi Alan,
        As the reply above says, many things influence mpg and mine has improved now it’s warmer. I stuck it in ECO mode as soon as I got it, and have left it like that. I try and ease off the accelerator whenever possible too. It’s pretty hilly where I live so that might make a difference.

    2. Hi Alan,
      Sorry to hear you have concerns with your Yaris’s MPG figures. 
      There are many factors that can influence fuel consumption, including temperature, weight, load, speed, driving style, vehicle and road conditions. Fuel economy for hybrids is best in town driving and stop-start conditions when the car can run on the batteries and the hybrid regeneration system can be used as much as possible.
      You may find that your fuel consumption and MPG improve with time, as you get used to the car. Here are our own hybrid driving tips which you may find useful for maximising your MPG: http://po.st/0oKj0q.
      Hope this helps.

      1. Kerry/Anon,
        I appreciate your info & advice & I have tried all the recommended driving style advice & most of my driving is in the city. I had the car in eco mode which the figure of 43.8 mpg was achieved & after looking at other forums, a large number of yaris hybrid owners say use it without the eco mode as they get better mpg returns. The bottom line is, you shouldn’t need to molly cuddle a car to get it to do its job economically. I think the whole hybrid thing is really a PR exercise as the petrol engine is doing twice the work of the same engine on its own in a normal car. The petrol engine has to kick in to recharge the traction battery so no saving there & because of all the extra weight of the electric motor & batteries it uses more fuel again. I’m willing to bet that if the car only had the petrol engine, it would achieve much higher mpg.

      2. I seem to get plenty of charge from decelerating/steady braking, so the petrol engine only very rarely has to kick in to charge the traction battery. Hope you can sort something so that your mpg improves. How many miles are on the clock, and do you live somewhere very flat? I will try my usual commute with the eco mode off tomorrow and let you know if there’s any difference.

      3. Hi again Alan, I got very little difference with ECO off for my commute. The mpg was very slightly better with ECO on, but not really discernible.

    3. i test drived an Yaris Hybrid 2015 (the demo car), about 80 x 2 km = 160km and got an average 0.4-0.5l/mil more to the 0.4l/mil. My max speed was 100km/h but most of the road avarage was in 80km/h.

      So i had like an average of 0.43l/mil, thats about 71mpg, or say 70mpg

      Off course, if i would have driven 120km/h or 110km/h then my mpg would have been… maybe…. 48-58mpg or so.

  5. I just got my yaris hybrid and I’m disappointed there is no sat nav it’s the reason I picked it but I was told on day of delivery that my sat nav on my fone would do a better job so it’s my last one

    1. Hello Bernie
      Thanks for your post.
      Satellite Navigation is an option which could be specified at the time of ordering. We would certainly recommend speaking to your Toyota dealer if you ordered this feature in your car. Did you buy your vehicle in the UK market?

      1. Yes. But it costs £650. Every alternative add-on you can think of, is more economical!

  6. I bought a yaris hybrid trend model in march so far done 4000 miles and the avg mpg is 63.5. It is as others have said persistence and control in driving economically together. We mainly do 20 mile commutes not topping 75mph.

  7. Hi Gaurav
    Thanks for your post.
    It is worth bearing in mind that fuel economy does improve slightly with mileage and the official figures which we have to quote on our marketing materials are from a standardised EU test. It is acknowledged that this test is not representative of real world driving conditions but it does allow customers to have a level playing field about fuel economy when they are looking to purchase their next car.
    Thanks again for your post about your consumption.

  8. I am looking for a Toyota Yaris hybrid and have been offered a nearly-new Trend. What is the difference between the Trend and the newer Excel?

    1. Hi Ron
      Thanks for your post and for your interest in the new Yaris.
      As you may be aware both the Excel and the Trend denoted the top end of these vehicles so the specification will be high on both. The main point you ought to be aware of is if you are choosing a 2014 model year Yaris over the 2013, then the new Excel benefits from significant interior and exterior design improvements, plus much better driving dynamics and much lower NVH (noise vibration and harshness). We would recommend a test drive to see for yourself. If however you look purely at specification, for Excel over Trend, it’s mainly a different alloy wheel design, removal of the c-pillar decal plus the addition of LED Daytime Running Lights. The full specification for the Excel can be found here. http://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/yaris-specs-prices
      Hope this helps but let us know if you have any other questions.

  9. I switched the eco mode off after visiting the dealers to complain about the poor mpg. The salesman recommended this and it has helped a bit. We downsized to one car, trading a Honda Civic Diesel which averaged 60mpg and a 1 litre older Yaris which managed 52mpg. I drive the Hybrid very gently bearing in mind I used to achieve 60 with the Honda and 65 on a decent run and I get 54mpg with the Hybrid, my partner is very light footed and she gets the same. We rather naively expected to get a return in the mid sixties. We are not impressed with the economy, however we both like the look of the car both inside and outside, it is the Excel model and my partner does enjoy driving it, she is a nervous driver and it has given her more confidence. Personally I wish we had bought the diesel model and specced it up as they don’t do it in the Excel trim. Possibly an expensive mistake if the economy doesn’t improve as the mileage builds.

  10. I have had my trend model for about a year now! I drive it normally never using the ev mode I just let the car switch between engine and hybrid mode it’s self and my calculated mpg is 56.8 mpg over the year and my best single trip was 72 mpg calculated on a 250 mile journey.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

To be the first to hear about all of our latest news, offers and events, check the box below, we’ll send these communications by email, phone, SMS or post. Be assured that Toyota will only share your personal information with companies that are an integral part of fulfilling the services we deliver. If you would like to find out more about how we process your data please visit our privacy policy for details.

I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time.