The Toyota Yaris has been one of the most competent and popular small hatches in South Africa since its debut in 2005, but its round, feminine looks have alienated a good portion of masculine market share. Toyota hopes to fix that with this all-new model that trades in its cutesy curves for a new chiseled-jaw look that should appeal to both sexes.
It has also made a quantum leap in quality perception, and the all-new, third-generation Yaris hatch (we never got the first one in South Africa) is now probably the most mature choice in the hugely competitive B-segment. The new Yaris gets dapper chrome trim in places previously occupied by cartoonish plastic bits, and soft-touch materials are now splashed across a simplified and more conventionally styled dashboard.
Gone is the cheesy, centrally mounted instrument cluster, replaced by a more grown-up binnacle now positioned where it should be behind the steering wheel. The steering wheel itself is also more modern with optional satellite controls.
Interior space is also improved and, thanks to thinner seat backs and a slightly longer wheelbase, rear legroom is up by 35mm. The ceiling has been lowered by 5mm which creates a sleeker look on the outside, but the driver’s seat now has a greater up-and-down and fore-and-aft adjustment range to compensate.
A new Touch & Go multimedia system that features a full colour touchscreen now forms the cabin’s centerpiece and will go down a treat with tech-savvy younger buyers. In Europe the functionality includes easy to use navigation and Google search systems, but this may not be immediately available in South African models.
We should, however, get it with Bluetooth connectivity that can stream songs straight from your cellphone complete with track data and album artwork. There’s also a very handy handsfree phone facility that allows sending and receiving of SMSs via the 155mm display, but it’s still too early to say whether our Yaris models will also be equipped with this feature.
The new Yaris will be introduced in South Africa at next month’s Johannesburg International Motor Show - and go on sale directly afterwards - with two petrol engine choices. A one-litre, three-cylinder motor shared with the smaller Aygo hatch makes 51kW and 93Nm and forms an entry-level to the new Yaris range. This engine comes with a five-speed manual gearbox with attractive fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels quoted at 5.7 litres per 100km and 110g/km respectively.
The bigger engine is a 1.3-litre four-cylinder unit with 73kW and 125Nm, and here there’s a choice of six-speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions. This model gets the help of stop/start technology to help it achieve its claimed consumption figures of 5.2 and five litres per 100km respectively for the two transmission options. Each version falls just under SA’s 120g/km CO2 taxation level.
Unfortunately, due to concerns over fuel quality, we won’t have access to the 1.4-litre turbodiesel derivative.
In total there will be 13 Yaris hatch derivatives at the local launch next month, in three yet-to-be-named trim levels. Bottom models will get normal radio/CD players in place of the nifty Touch & Go system, along with inclusion or deletion of other items such as dual climate control, rear electric windows, panoramic sunroof and extra airbags (up to seven) depending on the model level. Pricing is indicated between R125 000 and R205 000 across the range.
In South Africa the previous generation Yaris sedan will continue to be sold parallel to the new hatch, but we suspect a third-generation sedan to show up within the next couple of years. I drove the 1.3-litre Yaris with CVT transmission at the Danish launch venue and came away very impressed.
There’s still no mistaking it for anything but the small, affordable city car it is, but in terms of maturity there’s virtually no comparison between this and the previous model.
I’d probably opt for a manual transmission, as the CVT (continuously variable) creates a very buzzy manner of acceleration, but I do appreciate the necessity of an automatic option in the range and doubt if most buyers attracted to this version will be as critical as I am.
Overseas the Yaris will be available with two suspension settings -soft and hard - but in South Africa we’ll only get the firmer and more sporty one. It rides comfortably, thanks mostly to high-profile 14” and 15” tyres, but it’s still fun to throw around in the bends if the need arises. I also noticed a nicely weighted electric power steering that gives good feedback at high speeds and twirls lightly in tight inner-city situations. - Star Motoring