We review the Toyota Yaris from price to economy and all its features
IF you want to find a car that mirrors Toyota’s race to the top of mainstream motoring, it must be the Yaris.
When launched in 1999, its radical design was almost out of step with Toyota’s conservative approach.
But it was an instant hit, not only with European customers that were its target, but right across the world.
It has since clocked up 4.5million sales – and having just tested the latest version, I quickly realised why it has been so successful.
It’s not the outstanding supermini – I prefer the Fiesta and Golf for styling – but it is a tremendous package.
And, of course, it comes with Toyota’s great reputation for reliability – they never seem to break down and that’s the peace of mind buyers want.
You have to look hard to see the visual changes on the outside.
The entry level T2 gets only body- coloured bumpers but the best-selling TR gets 15in alloys, integrated front fog lamps, matt silver door handles and darkened headlamps.
On the inside, which was already one of the better supermini cabins, there is new cloth on the seats and door inserts, an analogue instrument display and perforated leather steering wheel.
I like the trendy way the interior door handle stretches from top to bottom, while the centre console has an upmarket feel and is well laid-out with easy to use big control switches.
The drive is a nice blend with light responsive steering, a precise six-speed gearbox and a ride that feels from the class above.
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Performance is adequate and refined even at high-speed cruising, while fuel economy is 55.4 mpg – very good for a petrol engine. C02 is 120g/km, lower than equivalent rivals. Insurance is 7E.
There’s plenty of leg and headroom for driver and passengers front and back, plus a handy boot of 272litres that goes up to 363litres with seats down.
The Yaris drives and looks like a more grown-up car than a supermini, which together with its image explains why so many Brits buy it.
Prices start at £10,256 for the 1litre petrol, the 1.3litre TR opens at £11,983 and the 1.4 diesel goes up to £14,129. But you can get £2,000 off all these prices if you are eligible to buy under the new Swappage Scheme.
What to look out for when buying a used Toyota Yaris
The Yaris may be reliable but things can still go wrong. Cars with the 1.4-litre diesel engine can suffer from failure of the dual-mass flywheel. Meanwhile, it’s not unusual for gears to crunch on Yarises with a manual gearbox; it’s because the clutch doesn’t always fully disengage.
Oil leaks from the front of the 1.3-litre petrol engine are also common, and come from the timing chain cover which doesn’t always seal properly.
Flooded footwells are the result of the cabin air intakes getting clogged up with debris, while coolant all over the underside of the bonnet is because the water pump is on its way out.
There have been more recalls than you might expect. Two were because of the possibility of a fire starting (for different reasons), two were because of potential airbag issues while one centred on some interior trim flying off and injuring passengers in the event of a collision.
The sixth recall was the infamous incident over accelerator pedals failing to return properly; since then, the Yaris Mk2 has also been recalled for issues with its steering column, seat rail mechanism, power steering, brake fluid leaks and incorrect airbag deployment.