Toyota Yaris Hatchback | Video Review | CarsIreland.ie

Published on 24 March, 2017

The latest Toyota Yaris continues to provide everything that was great about the previous one

Overview

Overview

The humble Toyota Yaris was given a bold new makeover recently, taking on its baby sibling Aygo's X shaped front grill and adding a much needed injection of life to an old favourite. The new Yaris continues to provide everything that was great about the previous one – comfort, space and a pleasant, easy drive. It's also the only Supermini available with a choice of three powertrains since the Hybrid version was introduced in 2012 - all of which offer great fuel economy and solid performance.

Interior Gallery

The interior has been given a revamp – and the cabin not only looks better, but feels better too with a soft-touch dashboard and some nice new materials. The new layout also sees the speedometer move back behind the steering wheel from its traditional spot above the centre console, making way for a brand new touchscreen infotainment system on the higher spec models – bringing the Yaris bang up to date with its technology-rich peers.

Despite this youthful new image, everything that was good about the Yaris prevails – it's still surprisingly roomy inside – particularly in the back, which thanks to a flat floor and generous knee room makes it more capable of carrying three than most superminis. The boot is just about on par with main rivals like the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta at 286 litres and will extend to an impressive 768 litres with the rear seats down.

There is plenty of choice when it comes to trim, ranging from the slightly sparse but great value for money Terra to the range-topping Sol which comes with every modern gizmo you can imagine. Our pick of the bunch would be the mid-spec Luna, which gets the fantastic Touch2 Multimedia system complete with rear-view camera, cruise-control, Bluetooth and a multi-function leather steering wheel. Starting at €16,960 for the five-door, it offers a nice compromise while staying competitive in what has always been a very price-sensitive market.

Safety is something the Yaris has always been synonymous with and it remains one of the safest cars in the class with a full five star NCAP crash rating, and seven airbags as standard.

The Toyota Yaris is the only supermini available in three engine types with two petrols, a diesel, and since 2012, a semi-electric Hybrid version to choose from. With petrol still king on the small car market, the nippy 1.0l VVT-i in our test car has proven to be the most popular option so far, meeting the needs of most supermini customers with its impressive fuel economy of 4.3l/100km and low motor tax bill of just €180 a year.

Automatic drivers will have to go for the slightly larger 1.33l petrol, and the diesel comes in the form of a 1.4l D-4D. The latter may see sales slump though thanks to the increasingly popular Hybrid option. Using a combination of a 1.5l petrol engine and an electric motor – it offers many of the benefits of a diesel with an incredible fuel economy of 3.3l/100km and CO2 emissions of just 75g.

The Yaris has always been a favourite amongst learners, probably because it's so easy to drive. It's a great little road holder and all manoeuvres feel assured and predictable. The 69BHP in the 1.0l is more than adequate for the mainly city driving it is intended for, yet it can still hold its own on the motorway . The great sound insulation and exceptionally good driving position also make it surprisingly comfortable on longer journeys.

Reliability is the other major draw of the Yaris and its reputation for long-lasting, hassle-free motoring will make for good residual values come resale time.

A strong brand image, along with a good degree of choice when it comes to engines and trim level should ensure the Yaris holds on to its loyal market share over the coming years, and with this X-citing new design, maybe even pick up some new fans along the way.

Facts & Figures

Sinead McCann

Sinéad is our resident car tester who has the unenviable (-ok, slightly enviable) task of reviewing all the latest new cars to hit the market. You can follow her on Twitter @smcani and on Instagram @whatshedrives