Toyota Yaris: The New One Has Grown Up

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

Toyota has given the Yaris small car a significant model revision. At the same time, it has increased in length by ten centimeters.

Probably no Japanese car brand is as closely associated with quality as Toyota. Even allegedly jammed gas pedals, slipping floor mats and various product recalls have not been able to shake this in the recent past. Nonetheless, the world's largest automaker used the red pencil so badly when it came to small and micro cars, which is now reflected in the cheap appearance of the material in the cockpit.

This also applies to the current Toyota Yaris. However, this does not detract from the success of the likeable small car, which has been produced in Valenciennes, France for ten years. It sold over 20,000 times in Germany last year. Every fourth Toyota that is newly registered with us is a Yaris.

Yaris is now 3.89 meters long

A quota that the successor (3rd generation) should easily surpass. Its appearance ensures that. The new Yaris has grown by ten centimeters to 3.89 meters compared to its predecessor, looks much more mature and solid, but at the same time more pleasing. The Yaris makes an even bigger jump in the interior. Gone is the dreary and dark plastic landscape with the display screen in the middle of the dashboard. Chief designer Dezi Nagya has finally found his way back to clear round instruments behind the steering wheel and has thus created a tidy cockpit, the operation of which is self-explanatory.

In relation to the vehicle class, the plastic surfaces also give no cause for criticism, even if the masking tape-like structure is not everyone's taste. But it sits comfortably, the steering wheel is now much steeper than before and can also be adjusted in height and depth. In the Yaris, you don't have to retract your head or legs either. The gained wheelbase of five centimeters allows even tall people an unrestricted stay. At the back it has a trunk of approx. 286 liters, which can be expanded to almost four times the capacity via the rear seat backrests that can be folded down in parts. A double loading floor additionally increases the variability.

Two petrol and one diesel

At the market launch at the end of September, the Yaris will have a choice of two petrol and one diesel. The entry-level engine is the well-known 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine with 51 kW / 69 PS, the standard consumption of which the factory specifies as 4.8 l / 100 km. According to Toyota, however, the majority of Yaris customers will use the 1.3-liter four-cylinder petrol engine, which achieves significantly better performance with 73 kW / 99 PS and does not consume significantly more at 5.5 liters. If you want, you can get this engine with an automatic start-stop system, which makes little economic sense. A maximum of 0.3 liters of consumption savings in the city are offset by a disproportionate surcharge of 550 euros.

The money for the new "Touch & Go" navigation system, which Toyota is offering for the same amount and which is so far unique in this class, is better invested. The touchscreen integrated in the dashboard not only controls the Bluetooth hands-free system or the music you have brought with you from the iPhone, but Google also provides information about the nearest available parking garages, the cheapest gas stations or the weather along the route. The only requirement is an internet-enabled cell phone.

In terms of price, the new Yaris, which is available as a three- or five-door model, starts at 11,675 euros. The basic version, however, is only likely to be a temptation and not very popular, as it contains neither air conditioning nor radio. Only the "Cool" version from 13,280 euros offers cool air and music. Toyota sees the five-door 1.3-liter Yaris "Life" as a volume model, which, in addition to a leather steering wheel and various chrome elements, also has a multimedia system with a touchscreen and a reversing camera as standard equipment. Its price: 15,850 euros. (mid)