The Toyota Yaris, a member of the subcompact car class, continues Toyota’s reputation for leading other car manufacturers at the entry level.
The Yaris is available in most parts of the world in both three- and five-door hatchback versions, but Americans will receive the additional benefit of being able to buy a Yaris in four-door configuration with a trunk in the rear.
The new configuration boasts an updated grill at the front, bumper with distinct engine vent and fog lamp cutouts. The headlamp cluster is new, which suits the lower stance, as they now point front and centre rather than the previous models, which pointed downwards.
Despite the rear doors, the side profile of the new four-door Yaris is still very “hatchy” with rear doors having a similar design as the five-door version. The rear lamps are beautifully shaped, with the upper edges following the shoulder line of the car towards the front-end. The rear is finished elegantly with an aerodynamic tailgate lip.
The interior is very similar to the Yaris hatchbacks, with a few minor exceptions. Namely the centre console stack is wider, with the dials in a triangular layout rather than on top of each other. The audio system head unit is now integrated within the consol panel and the air vents are black instead of the “plastic aluminum”.
The dash itself sports new gauges with silver faces, and now includes the addition of a tachometer as well as a speedometer.
As with most sub compacts, the Yaris is bound with compartments in almost every nook and cranny but not to the extent of the hatch version. The rear seat folds down to allow access to the trunk and more luggage space. It is only a single-fold seat, not split-fold; so if you need to carry that extra bit of luggage, don’t expect to carry passengers in the rear.
Under the bonnet, the Yaris power plant is a 106-horsepower 16-valve, dual overhead cam, 1.5 liter four cylinder. Five-speed manual is the standard option gearbox, but a four-speed automatic is optional.
In terms of resale and value, the Yaris ranks high. The Yaris is expected to be reliable and maintenance costs low.
