New Yaris supermini starts at £19,910 31 | 07 | 2020
TOYOTA HAS CONFIRMED its new Yaris Hybrid will cost from £19,910 in the UK. Available to order now, first deliveries of the fourth generation of the Japanese brand’s supermini are scheduled for September. All new Yaris models will come with Toyota’s five-year, 100,000-mile warranty. (Related: Toyota reveals Yaris Cross)
It’s also the first model to be built on the TNGA GA-B platform, a downsized version of the same chassis components which have already proved successful on the Corolla and RAV-4.
The new Yaris, which is set to challenge the Ford Fiesta, also bucks something of a current trend: it’s actually shorter than its predecessor, now measuring 3940mm long. It’s also 40mm lower in height, wider by 50mm, and there’s an extra 57mm in the track, which helps add to the car’s overall low, wide and powerful stance. (Related: Toyota gives Hilux a 2020 facelift)
The GA-B chassis offers scope for shorter overhangs — 10mm has been taken from the front, and 50mm from the rear — so the new car’s wheelbase is actually 50mm longer than the outgoing car’s. The result is also a tight 5.2-metre turning circle, ideal for negotiating cramped urban streets and tight parking spaces.
The new Yaris is also predicted to deliver a significantly improved ride, particularly on the UK’s many pock-marked urban roads. This, Toyota says, has been achieved by a number of technical improvements, including a bodyshell which is considerably more rigid than that of its predecessor, plus a stiffer torsion beam than before and the car’s front MacPherson struts being more in line with the springs, thus reducing friction. Phew! Right … let’s continue. (Related: Seven-seat Toyota Highlander heads for UK)
Across the new Yaris range, there’s only one powerplant: a 114bhp 1.5-litre, three-cylinder hybrid powertrain with total system power of 85kW, plus a lithium-ion battery. Toyota says this will allow the car to run for up to 80% of its time around town on electricity alone.
As for performance: it’ll cover 0-62mph in 9.7secs, and carry on to a max of 109mph. And when it comes to economy, the new Yaris Hybrid returns 65.7mpg to 68.9mpg under the tougher, more realistic WLTP efficiency tests. And depending on its model spec, expect CO2 emissions of between 92g/km and 98g/km. (Related: Toyota GR Yaris starts at £29,995)
Buyers in the UK will be able to choose from four trim levels. The entry-level Icon (£19,910) includes a seven-inch infotainment system with with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auto headlights and wipers, a reversing camera, electrically adjustable side mirrors, electric front windows, air conditioning, and 16in alloys.
Next up is the Design (£20,970), which adds an eight-inch infotainment display, electric rear windows, rear privacy glass, the option of a panoramic roof, LED headlights and tail-lights, and a different design of 16in alloys. (Related: New Toyota GR Supra unveiled)
Dynamic (£21,920) builds on the Design spec with front sports seats with part-synthetic leather upholstery, a JBL eight-speaker audio system, keyless entry and push-button start, dual-zone air-con, and 17in alloys. Also available on this trim is the optional City Pack (£750). This adds front and rear parking sensors with auto braking, auto-folding side mirrors, and blind-spot monitoring.
The range-topping Excel (£22,220) adds rear parking sensors with auto-braking to prevent parking impacts, blind-spot monitoring and auto-folding side mirror. This version can be ordered with the optional Tech Pack (£825). This includes a 10-inch full-colour head-up display, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and the eight-speaker JBL sound system.
As seems to be the case with so many new models nowadays, Toyota will also have a Launch Edition of the Yaris Hybrid. Priced at £24,005, it includes a two-tone paint finish in Tokyo Fusion Red and Eclipse Black Pearlescent, blue ambient lighting in the cabin, plus the 10-inch colour head-up display and auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Next year the range will be further supplemented by the Yaris Cross, a taller and wider compact SUV. Based on the new Yaris Hybrid, it promises to offer the option of an all-wheel drive version. It’s likely to go head-to-head with the likes of the VW T-Cross, Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.
Related: Lexus reveals revised LC range
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Jim McGill