Toyota Yaris hatchback (2011 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

With the economic crisis seeing more people downsizing to superminis, Toyota has tried to pitch the car’s appearance at a more youthful, more male audience. The New Yaris is 100mm longer and 20mm lower than the previous model with reduced overhangs over the front and rear wheels giving it a more squat and purposeful stance than its predecessor. The nose has been reworked with new upper and lower grilles and horizontal headlights.

Our rating: 3

2. Interior

A more driver-focussed approach sees the instruments moved behind the steering wheel from the central console, which is now finished with a sculpted, padded section. It helps make the cabin seem more spacious, while larger quarter-light windows allow more light in.

Our rating: 3

3. Practicality

There is 286 litres of bootspace, a little less than the Ford Fiesta and a little more than the Volkswagen Polo. With seats folded flat this space can be expanded to 768 litres. Slimmer seats give Toyota a claim for class-leading rear legroom, and although the car is lower, headroom remains the same. There is a good amount of interior storage with six drink-holders, including a one-litre bottle-holder. Toyota claims a class-leading turning circle of 4.7 metres, making it agile in town. The Yaris is available in three and five door form.

Our rating: 3

4. Ride and handling

We have yet to drive the New Yaris on UK  roads, but from our  experience behind the wheel in Copenhagen, the Yaris offers a comfortable ride. Revised suspension helps to protect the occupants from potholes and uneven surfaces and  Toyota has also revised the steering to make it more responsive.

Our rating: 3

5. Performance

There is a choice of two petrol engines and one diesel engine. The 68bhp 1.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine is strictly for urban drivers with its 15.3 seconds 0-62mph time and top speed of 96mph. Although even then the lack of oomph can be frustrating. If you are going to venture out of town on a regular basis it would be worth upgrading to the range’s expected big-seller, the 98bhp 1.33-litre VVT-i which offers a top speed of 109mph and 11.7 seconds 0-62mph sprint. Greater pulling power and a little more acceleration is offered in the shape of the 89bhp 1.4-litre D-4D engine with its 10.8 second 0-62mph time. But even so, those seeking performance will need to look elsewhere. The smaller of the two petrol engines is fitted with a five speed gearbox as standard while a six-speed transmission is standard on the 1.33-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel. The 1.33-litre petrol engine can also be specified with the automatic Multidrive S continuously variable transmission (CVT), Manual gear changes can be made through the paddle shifts on the steering wheel or through the gear shift lever. The CVT gearbox has its critics and is worth testing before you buy to see if it suits your style. It will also take a just over a half a second off the 0-62mph time. A hybrid will follow next year.

Our rating: 2

6. Running costs:

Though buyers will have to cover an initial premium the diesel engine offers the most economical day-to-day motoring, returning an average 72.4mpg and emitting 104g/km CO2 Take a look at how many miles you intend to cover and see if it warrants the up-front cost. The 1.0-litre petrol engine returns an average 58.9mpg and emits 111g/km while the 1.33-litre engine returns 52.3mpg and emits 123g/km. The New Yaris comes with a five-year/100,000 mile warranty. The hybrid, slated for 2012, will bring tax-free motoring to the line-up.

Our rating: 3

7. Reliability

The outgoing Toyota Yaris finished fifth in the fiercely-contested supermini section of the 2011 JD Power Survey and also performs strongly in the Warrantly Direct Reliability Index.

Our rating: 3

8. Safety

The previous Yaris achieved a five-star rating following Euro NCAP testing and Toyota expects the new model to achieve the same. Seven airbags are fitted as standard, as are anti-lock brakes, Elecronic Brakeforce Distribution, Brake Assist and Vehicle Stability Control with Traction Control.

Our rating: 3

9. Equipment

The Trim levels start with T2 move on to the big-selling TR and top out with the SR and T Spirit. All but T2 get Toyota Touch audio system with touch-screen controls, Bluetooth, USB port and rear view camera. Upgrading to Toyota Touch and Go system brings sat-nav, advanced Bluetooth functions and information services.  You’ll also need to specify T2 or above to qualify for alloys as standard. TR also brings air-con, leather steering wheel and gear knob trim and colour-coded door mirrors. SR adds 16-inch alloy wheels, rear roof spoiler, front fog lamps and part-leather upholstery. T Spirit grade includes panoramic glass roof and dual-zone climate control.

Our rating: 4

10. Why buy?

The Yaris is a spacious, reliable car well-suited to urban driving. It also offers substantial kit to tempt buyers to downsize from bigger cars.

Our rating: 3