Toyota Yaris 2011 review

The Yaris is one of the favoured children in the Toyota family. The baby Toyota's looks, price and practicality gave it the light-car class lead from 2003 to 2008. Then the cut-price Hyundai Getz topped the charts for the next two years, by 196 and 95 vehicles respectively. This year has literally been a disaster for the Japanese company - but the third-gen Yaris is giving it hope for a more productive start to 2012.

VALUE

The Getz reminded Toyota how price-sensitive the light-car class is. That's why the entry level three-door base model holds the same $14,990 price it had in 2005. The five-door YR is tipped to be the top seller and it starts at $15,690. Switching from the five-speed manual to the four-speed auto costs $1600 and cruise control is the only option at $650. The YR has a 1.3-litre engine, cruise control, a trip meter/fuel calculator display and voice control audio system with Bluetooth and USB/iPod connectivity.

The YRS adds a 1.5-litre engine, 15-inch wheels and a touch-screen audio and will sell as a three or five-door model for $16,890 and $17,390 respectively. A sportier looking ZR is $18,990 in three door manual form and the range-topping YRX will be sold as a five-door auto from $21,390.

That stacks up competitively against the Volkswagen Polo ($16,690-$22,350), five-door Mazda2 ($15,790-$20,495) and Ford Fiesta ($16,990-$20,990). The downside is the engines and transmissions carry over from the previous model.

DESIGN

It won't admit the last model was seen as a "chick's car" but Toyota concedes the majority of Yaris customers are women.  That was costing it half the market and the new car in general - and bodykitted ZR in particular - have been muscled up to be more attractive to both sexes.

Toyota executive director Matthew Callachor says "it is designed to have greater appeal to men without alienating women" and product planner Greg Gardner confirms women "are prepared to buy what is perceived as a man's car where men are not necessarily prepared to buy what is seen as a woman's car."

The new audio units have simplified the cabin layout especially on the touch-screen models, though we're not sure about the Frisbee-sized hazard lights button. The instruments are clear and now back in front of the driver where they belong and the 100mm growth in size brings a bigger boot and 35mm of extra knee room for back seat passengers.

TECHNOLOGY

Noise suppression is worth talking about in the Yaris. The engineers have added insulation in the centre console, bonnet and floor it's a more comfortable cabin for it, even under hard acceleration. The top-spec YRX and ZR models pick up a touchscreen audio and satnav system with Suna traffic alerts. The drivetrains have been tickled to improve fuel efficiency by up to .4 litres/100km and they still run on regular unleaded. The 1.3-litre engine is good for 67kW/121Nm and the manual gearbox uses an official 5.7 lit res/100km, while the 1.5-litre engine produces 80kW/141Nm and 5.8 litre/100kms. Toyota defends keeping the four-speed auto on the basis that fuel use in both engines is just 6.3 litres/100km.

SAFETY

Toyota has lifted the light-car game with seven airbags and stability control standard fit. The Yaris hasn't been crash-tested yet but the outgoing model was a five-star car and the new one is bigger and stronger.

Deceleration comes from 255mm front discs and 200mm drums on the back, all kept in line by ABS brakes with brake assist and emergency brake force distribution. The bonnet has also been redesigned to be less damaging to stray pedestrians.

DRIVING

Being handed the keys to a pink car doesn't do much to improve the macho perception of the Yaris. You don't notice the colour from behind the wheel (and there's nine others to choose from) but you do notice the electric steering is light but more direct and the Yaris refuses to bottom out on hits that should have the torsion beam rear end bouncing.

Both have been tuned with local input and front spring rates are up by 18 per cent and the rears stiffened by 26 per cent compared to the Japanese-spec defaults.

It looks good on the road and is a fun car to scoot through the city in. It can't be hustled like a Polo and doesn't handle like a Mazda2 ... but it's not a hot hatch and, dressed-up ZR aside, doesn't pretend to be.

This vehicle is aimed at mainstream buyers looking for a safe, solid car with style and space. It will spend most of its time commuting to and from work with the occasional weekend away — and it fulfils that design brief as well as any car on the market.

VERDICT

The light-car leader is back in the game, but the game's getting tougher. The Yaris is taking on 31 other models in a segment worth about 140,000 cars next year. With the Getz gone, its chances are good, given the sharp prices, smart features list and the Toyota reputation for reliability.