See all New Car Reviews
What is it?
Toyota’s spin on the supermini, the Yaris has always been a bit quirky, and certainly not as prevalent as its bigger Auris and Avensis relations as a result. That’s not helped by the quality of its rivals, which includes the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Opel Corsa and many, many more, all of which make life difficult for Toyota’s supermini. It’s fighting back though, with good looks, an excellent range of small, efficient engines and even a hybrid.
What is it like?
That hybrid is an expensive anomaly, especially when you consider the already impressive economy on offer from the conventional engines in the line-up. There are 1.0- and 1.33-litre petrol engines, as well as a 1.4-litre D-4D diesel. Both the smaller petrol unit and that diesel have emissions of just 99g/km and A2 road tax banding. None are particularly exciting to drive, competent, certainly, but far from engaging. The cabin is nicely finished though, with a large central touch screen on Luna and Sol versions.
Carzone verdict: 3/5
The Yaris is a good supermini, that’s competing in a class where exceptional isn’t uncommon. Though if you buy right, you’ll not be disappointed; the 1.0-litre petrol model is fine about town, though the bigger 1.3 petrol with a six-speed manual gearbox is a better choice out of it. The diesel’s only really required if you plan big mileages. With solid build quality, some design flair and decent space, there’s a lot to recommend, only that’s true of everything else in the market, and they’re a bit more exciting, too.