Toyota Launches New Yaris: Great Car at the Wrong Price

Toyota Launches New Yaris: Is it Too Expensive?

Toyota’s smallest hatch, the Yaris, is in the same segment as Madza2, KIA Rio, and Honda Jazz.

New Yaris is 5mm shorter than the outgoing model. It is also 5mm lower, but has a longer wheelbase. Rear seats are lowered slightly, which Toyota says adds to a greater feeling of space.

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Here are a few important facts first:

1: there are no models under $20,000
2: 3 trim levels – Ascent Sport, SX and ZR
3: SX and ZR have hybrid options, and are CVT-only
4: Manual and CVT in Ascent Sport
5: New platform and 3-cylinder engines
6: Economy as low as 2.8L/100k
Engines: 1.5 3cyl 88kw/145 or 85kw 1.5 3cyl HYBRID

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ABOVE: 2021 Toyota Yaris

Pricing:

Ascent Sport manual $22,130
Ascent Sport CVT $23,630
SX CVT $27,020
ZR CVT $30,100
SX Hybrid CVT $29,020
ZR Hybrid CVT $32,100

Options:

Premium paint: $500
Two-tone paint: $450

The engines:

The new 3cyl engines replace the previous 1.5L 4-cylinder units and have improved fuel consumption of 5.4L/100k for the manual and 4.8L/100k for the CVT. The new hybrid figures are as low as 2.8L/100k for urban driving.

The hatch is front wheel drive, with 4 doors.

About the price:

This all seems like good news, but the absence of a base model “Ascent” means that pricing starts at $22,130 and tops out at $32,100, which is around $36,000 with on-roads. That is the same as Corolla.

Toyota has quietly dropped the slow-selling Prius C, since there is now a hybrid Yaris.

The Safety:

Toyota’s boss, Sean Hanley, says Yaris safety is segment leading. The AEB also works at intersections. It will see pedestrians and cyclists, and at city speeds, should brake in time to avoid minor incidents. Other features include: active cruise control³, automatic high beam, and technologies to assist with cornering³, staying in the intended lane³ and detecting speed signs. A reversing camera and a full suite of brake assist and traction-control systems including active cornering assist are also standard.

ZR variants gain front and rear parking sensors³ and a parking support brake system³ that can warn the driver of objects around the vehicle and even apply the brakes if necessary.

Equipment:

All models have Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, , LED daytime running lamps, tail and stop lamps; auto retractable door mirrors with LED turn signal lamps; and power windows.

Additional standard equipment on mid-range SX includes satellite navigation with pinch-and-zoom capability; speed-limit display and warnings; automatic air-conditioning; keyless smart entry; smart-start ignition button; soft-touch instrument panel; 15-inch alloy wheels; LED headlamps, indicators and rear combination lamps; and privacy glass.

ZR adds 16-inch alloys; rear spoiler; head-up display; sports front seats; blind-spot monitor; intelligent clearance sonar; parking support brake system; and paddle shifters on the petrol variant.

Is Yaris Worth the Money?

In the era of Covid, we were not able to drive Yaris today but will bring a full review shortly.

In such a tight market segment, it is brave of Toyota to abandon the under-20k price segment. They have no plans to bring the smaller Aygo, but plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles are not out of the question.

There is a 5-year warranty, which can be extended to 7 years too.

Yaris is so close in price to Corolla models, how can it possibly compete? Corolla is a much larger car, and although Yaris is brand new, Corolla is also equipped. Toyota doesn’t often make a misstep, but Yaris appears to be priced in direct competition to Corolla. There is a piddling $2,000 difference when comparing grade for grade.

Yaris looks good on paper, but can it touch Australia’s current top selling car, the Corolla? My prediction? Yaris, based on price alone, is not worth the money. and that Toyota will eventually drop the model completely.