What is it?
The average Toyota Yaris buyer is aged 60 and probably female. Toyota wants to change that with this third-generation Yaris, so the trick is to snare the youth without alienating the old. An optional 'Touch and Go' multimedia system plays right into the brave new world of social media and permanent connectedness.
Whether your grandmother will embrace this is touch-and-go in itself, but having Google Local Search in your sat-nav and being able to text via the touchscreen's iPad-like Qwerty keyboard could be useful. All you need is a suitable mobile phone to connect Touch and Go to the airwaves.
This package, a £500 upgrade of the touch-screen Toyota Touch Bluetooth system (plus reversing camera) found on all new Yarises except the base model, and to be included as standard for a short time after launch, is the key bit of cleverness in an otherwise unremarkable new car. The next tech-fest arrives next summer with the Yaris Hybrid, which will cost a hefty £2500 more than the standard 1.33-litre car on which it is based but will reward you with a likely 85g/km CO2 score.
What’s it like?
The quality and fit of its body panels is exemplary but the cost accountants have sliced away at the interior, which is full of large, hard, cheap plastic mouldings whose shiny, waxy finish does the unusual non-leathergrain surface treatment no favours.
Any object stashed in the various dashboard ledges will be on the floor in seconds. There's decent space in here, though, thanks to slimmer seatbacks and tailgate, and this Yaris has shed 20kg relative to the last one.
Engines are a 1.0-litre three-cylinder with 68bhp, the 98bhp 1.3 with six-speed manual or CVT transmission (a £1K option which will be standard in the Hybrid), and a 1.4-litre turbodiesel with a six-speed shift and 89bhp. Much as before, then; the main driving difference between this Yaris and the last one is that it rides more quietly over bumps, feels more solid and steers with greater delicacy.
The electric power steering is free of the rubberiness and stodge that spoils some EPAS systems, and is the gateway to a keen, agile demeanour. A slightly sporting SR version with a 10mm ride-height drop should enhance this. Other models are T2, TR and T-Spirit, the last of these five-door only.
The most engaging version is also the slowest, but the 1.0's smooth, deep, three-cylinder hum, its crisp throttle and gearchange and its light nose make it fun to drive.
Should I buy one?
The 1.33 is livelier and has a particularly quiet idle, but the gearchange is clunkier and the throttle response mushy. It will be the biggest seller, and the engine is well matched to the optional CVT. And the diesel? Punchy but gruff, £1500 dearer than the 1.33 and a car which Toyota GB wants to marginalise. With the Hybrid imminent, you can see why.
John Simister
Toyota Yaris TR 1.33 5-door manual
Price: £13,260; Top speed: 109mph; 0-62mph: 11.7sec; Economy: 52.3mpg (combined); CO2: 123g/km; Kerb weight: 1045kg; Engine: 4 cyls, 1329cc, petrol; Power: 98bhp at 6000rpm; Torque: 93lb ft at 3600rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd manual
Join the debate
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
Us greybeards like long warranties as our pockets aint deep .
Toyota's come with 5 year warramties now don't they? Not as long as 7 years obviously but I would assume that in order to maintain that warranty an annual check at a Kia dealer would be required. I mention it because I have a friend (no really i do) who works at a Kia dealership and one thing he mentioned was that servicing costs are very expensive, £350 for a minor service for example. That could be important when comparing warranties with likely repair costs.
I'm obviously in a minority because I quite like it, except the interior which looks quite poor. I've always liked the Yaris because it's a small car that is actually small but doesn't feel it from inside the car. It also had useful features such as the sliding rear seats.
If I lived in a city and wanted as small a car as possible but with the ability to actually carry people and their stuff on a longer trip it would be near the top of my list.
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
... but the cost accountants have sliced away at the interior...
So it's actually worst than before? It was already pretty awful.
I'm not expecting to see many of these around, they seem to have lost the plot after the 1st gen.
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
Toyota's come with 5 year warramties now don't they? Not as long as 7 years obviously but I would assume that in order to maintain that warranty an annual check at a Kia dealer would be required. I mention it because I have a friend (no really i do) who works at a Kia dealership and one thing he mentioned was that servicing costs are very expensive, £350 for a minor service for example.
1: If you need an annual check at Kia then you'll need an annual check at Toyota, no?
2: Anyone who pays £350 for a minor service on a Rio is off their trolley. Family member has a Cee'd - was quoted £170 for it's 2nd service, the major one (the first cost £99). Thought this too high so took it to a local garage who serviced it for £120.
3: For the warranty to be valid you only need an annual bodywork inspection, you can have your car serviced at any garage as long as they use the correct parts and the service is carried out to manufacturers specifications.
4: Like any warranty, read the small print. You'll see Toyota's 5yr warranty only has the paintwork covered for 3yrs. Kia's 7yr warranty has the paintwork guaranteed for 5yr.
5: And although it's very unlikely to apply to cars in this class, Toyota's warranty is unlimited miles for first year only, Kia's is first 3 years unlimited miles.
And object to the text suggesting the stereotypical Yaris owner is 60 year old women drivers... I know several people who own Yaris's and none of them are over 40. (lot's of young people drive Yasis's as well). For what it is, I reckon the current Yaris is a pretty decent car, however the new model... A great idea that - you can receive text messages. I bet you can do this while the engine is turning and I bet this car will have a full 5* NCAp rating. As for rear view camera! Anyone who needs to use a rear view camera in a small hatch like the Yaris should consider giving up driving for good.
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
I hope insurance companies load the premium right up for people who buy one. A car you can send a text with - what's it going to be called? Crash-tronic?
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
Touch and Go? isn't that what Toyota also call their braking system
No that's 'touching cloth'
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
And object to the text suggesting the stereotypical Yaris owner is 60 year old women drivers... I know several people who own Yaris's and none of them are over 40.
I think that was from Toyota's own marketing figures, not made up by the author.
Toyota have a huge problem finding customers to walk through their showroom doors who aren't about to retire, and the lack of a Celica replacement, halo car, or anything of interest to the younger generations whatsoever other than maybe the iQ really hasnt helped.
It's seen alongside Honda as a brand for old people, let's hope they can change that.
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
1: If you need an annual check at Kia then you'll need an annual check at Toyota, no?
2: Anyone who pays £350 for a minor service on a Rio is off their trolley. Family member has a Cee'd - was quoted £170 for it's 2nd service, the major one (the first cost £99). Thought this too high so took it to a local garage who serviced it for £120.
Prices will vary from dealer to dealer but based on Toyota's and Kia's service menu prices the Kia Rio (old shape) will cost £575 more to service over 7 years compared to a (now old shape) Yaris. I would have expected Kia which is still essentially a budget brand would have been cheaper.
4: Like any warranty, read the small print. You'll see Toyota's 5yr warranty only has the paintwork covered for 3yrs. Kia's 7yr warranty has the paintwork guaranteed for 5yr.
As for the 7 year warranty, try claiming for a new steering rack at 6 years/80k miles and see how far you get. That'll be fair wear and tear sir, sorry. The same thing will no doubt apply sooner if it has never been serviced within the dealer network.
So how much is that 7 year warranty worth, assuming they'll honour it at all?
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
The Koreans are going to tear this to pieces.
If the Yaris had a Hyundai badge on it you would be showering with complements. Korean car apologists flood the internet with praises everytime hyundai/kia release another bland 1.0 litre k9-wenga.
TOYOTA is huge company with a long history and worldwide presence employing 10,000 people in the UK alone. Hyundai/kia are too busy paying off car websites to praise their generic 1.4 diesel clones.
Hyndai/kia sell unimaginative 1.something litre white goods to people to don't care about motoring but want cheap new car, NO more no less.
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
...
Yeah, i'm not quoting you, although you are funny. I'd like to know more about how Toyota ( or TOYOTA, like you say ) sells really interesting cars that are not white good-like at all.
Re: Toyota Yaris 1.33 TR
TOYOTA is huge company with a long history and worldwide presence employing 10,000 people in the UK alone.
Your point being? Toyota's size and history only serve to make the new Yaris all the more disappointing and the developments of Hyundai and Kia all the more impressive.
Hyndai/kia sell unimaginative 1.something litre white goods to people to don't care about motoring but want cheap new car, NO more no less
Based on their current offerings. Toyota don't do much different. The only glimmer is the new FT-86, but it's taking its' time coming.
