Toyota Yaris review

The Toyota Yaris has always been a cleverly-designed, high quality car and the latest Yaris is smarter, more premium and more desirable than ever in its looks and design.

Ideal for the urban environment but easily capable of tackling the open road, the Yaris transports up to five people in space and comfort. Efficient motoring is provided by Toyota’s Optimal Drive engines, with a choice of two petrol and one diesel engine (manual or Multidrive S automatic transmission dependent on engine). Alternatively, explore the Toyota Yaris Hybrid to discover the benefits of Toyota’s hybrid technology.

Available in either three or five-door bodystyles and with four trim levels – Active, Icon, Design and Excel – there’s sure to be a smart-looking, well-equipped Yaris to suit your budget.

Driving

The Toyota Yaris is the perfect car for today’s fast-paced world, with nippy performance and agile handling. Dependent on model grade, the petrol engines on offer are the award-winning 69bhp 1.0 VVT-i petrol engine with its five-speed manual gearbox or the larger 99bhp 1.33 Dual VVT-i petrol engine fitted with either a six-speed manual or Multidrive S automatic transmission – both engines deliver quick responses combined with great fuel efficiency. The 1.0-litre engine boasts CO2 emissions of just 99g/km, meaning it is road tax exempt. The 1.4 D4-D diesel engine is offered on the Icon model and has been revised for even better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

Specially tuned suspension means the ride is more comfortable, and with the Yaris’ tight turning circle and improved power steering, you can go exactly where you need to with precision and confidence.

Comfort

Whether you choose the three-door (Active or Icon models only) or five-door version, every Toyota Yaris accommodates up to five passengers with comfort and convenience. Its aerodynamic design and better insulation keep external noise to a minimum, creating a more peaceful experience.

There’s plenty of space inside the Yaris, with an improved driving position behind the leather-trimmed steering wheel (all models except Active) and excellent rear leg and headroom. On three-door models, access to the rear seats is easy thanks to a lever placed on the shoulder of the tilt-and-slide front seats.

With the exception of the entry-level Active models, all models are equipped with air-conditioning, Toyota Touch 2 touchscreen multimedia system (a navigation system with Google Street View™ and Panoramio™ is available as a £650 option), Bluetooth connection, and a rear-view camera. Excel models add rain-sensing wipers, dusk-sensing headlights, cruise control and climate control.

Practicality

A deeper boot with better access makes the Yaris even more practical for the demands of everyday use, providing an extra six inches of boot space and raising boot capacity to 286 litres 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 carries the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating. All models are fitted with 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.

Toyota has also introduced a suite of active safety technologies called Safety Sense, which is optionally available on Yaris models. Safety Sense includes a laser-controlled Pre-Collision System that can activate warnings and even implement emergency braking systems. Safety Sense also monitors the road to alert the driver in case of lane departure and automatically switches the headlights to main beam whenever possible.

Running Costs*

Improvements to all the engines deliver better fuel economy and lower emissions, making the Yaris even kinder to your wallet. With a manual transmission, the 1.0 VVT-i petrol covers 65.7 miles per gallon of fuel on the combined test cycle, with the more powerful 1.33 Dual VVT-i petrol close behind on 57.6mpg (55.4mpg for the 16″ wheeled Excel model). The automatic-equipped 1.33 Dual VVT-i models achieve 57.6mpg (55.4mpg on Excel models). Opt for the 1.4 D4-D diesel Yaris Icon for the best economy at 72.4mpg on the combined cycle. Like the 1.0-litre petrol, the diesel Yaris is completely exempt from road tax.

Quality

The Toyota Yaris is built to the same exacting quality standards as all Toyota vehicles, and enjoys the same comprehensive warranty cover. This includes 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.

Prices*

The three-door Yaris with 1.0 VVT-i petrol engine and manual transmission is sold in Active and Icon grades, priced at £11,495 and £12,915 respectively, or an extra £600 to upgrade to the five-door model. The 1.33 Dual VVT-i petrol Yaris is offered in Icon and Design grades, costing £13,665 and £14,995 on the road with a six-speed manual. The 1.4 D4-D diesel engine with six-speed manual gearbox retails at £15,895 in Icon grade and £16,625 for the Design grade.

Available on Icon, Design and Excel models, optional extras include the Safety Sense active safety package at £400, Toyota Touch 2 with Go sat-nav at £650 and the Parking Pack that adds front and rear sensors for £425.

For further information about the Toyota Yaris, visit the designated section of the Toyota UK website. Fancy a test drive? Leave a comment below and we’ll be in touch shortly.

*Prices correct as of 14/03/16