By: Jesse Adams
Johannesburg - Toyota’s radically facelifted and mechanically revised Yaris is now on sale in South Africa.
You won’t have any trouble spotting this updated version on the street, as its wild looking new face is hardly reminiscent of the outgoing version’s comparatively staid design. The new cross-shaped front bumper section, which looks like a fu-manchu moustache, might polarise opinions but it’s also a clear giveaway of a new Yaris that its maker says is improved in every way.
1000 NEW PARTS
Besides the new front end, the new Yaris gets 1000 newly engineered parts inside and out which are said to give it a higher quality feel. The dashboard features a restyled instrument cluster, and its upper panel is now made from a soft-touch PVC material. Better seat fabrics, upmarket satin chrome trim finishes, a redesigned centre console, and a bigger touchscreen infotainment system are also included.
As with the previous model, there are three engine choices offered, but it’s the smallest 1-litre three-cylinder which has undergone the most significant efficiency and refinement treatments. Power, at 51kW and 95Nm, is only slightly improved, but reworked internals have slashed claimed average fuel consumption from 5.1 to 4.3 litres/100km. The modifications have also cut noise and vibration levels, says Toyota South Africa.
The more powerful, and likely more popular, 1.3 engine is unchanged in terms of power and consumption (73kW/125Nm, and 5.6l/100km) but some fettling has also resulted in smoother performance. The range-topping Hybrid model also only gets slight adjustments, with CO2 emissions down from 88g/km to 82, and claimed consumption down from 3.8l/100km to 3.6.
FINE-TUNED BENEATH
Toyota’s directed much attention to the new Yaris’ chassis and suspension, and steering response, ride quality and noise levels are all improved.
Handling is also better with a completely revised and stiffer rear torsion-beam suspension, and softer front springs.
The entire range comes with daytime running lights (LED in the Hybrid), electric windows, Bluetooth connectivity via touch-screen radio, 15” alloys, remote central locking, air conditioning, ABS with EBD brakes, and dual front and side airbags.
The Yaris 1.3 Multidrive S (CVT automatic) gets extra leather on steering wheels and gear levers, and the Hybrid is further specced with better climate control, knee airbags, traction and stability control, leather/cloth upholstery and a reverse camera.
All Toyotas come with three-year/100 000km warranties, but the Hybrid gets an additional eight-year/195 000km battery warranty. Service plans are three-years/45 000km for normal models, and four-years/60 000km for the Hybrid. -Star Motoring
PRICING:
Yaris 1.0 - R167 900
Yaris 1.3 - R194 300
Yaris 1.3 CVT - R206 500
Yaris Hybrid - R276 900