2021 Toyota Yaris: Pros, cons & should you buy one?

First introduced in 2006, the Toyota Yaris is one of the popular B-segment hatchbacks in Malaysia. The car received significant upgrades last December that not only lifted the exterior and interior styling but also made the features list longer and the safety shield stronger. It comes in three different trims - base J, mid-spec E, and top-spec G, powered by the same mill. The price starts at RM 70,940 (on-the-road excluding insurance and including SST exemption) and goes all the way up to RM 84,808.

What are the things in which the new Toyota Yaris excels, and what are the areas where it needs improvement? Let’s find out in today’s pros and cons guide.

Toyota Yaris Pros

Impressive interior kit: The all-black interior of the hatchback is designed thoughtfully and has reasonably good features on offer. All the buttons are laid out practically, and the material finishings are also good. The dashboard incorporates a 4.2-inch colored multi-information display and a new 7-inch touchscreen display, which supports Android Auto & Apple CarPlay connectivity. 

Also part of the kit is a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad, a smart entry system, automatic air-conditioning, a 6-speaker audio system, and an electrochromic rearview mirror. Not to forget the Vehicle telematics system, which tracks the car’s movements using technologies like GPS and GSM. 

Also, the rear seats of the car can be folded in a 60;40 ratio, which offers more versatile space for keeping extra or longer items.

Strong safety net: The Toyota Yaris is chock full of safety features, including seven airbags (across all the variants) and advanced safety and driver-assist kit called “Toyota Safety Sense.” The latter comprises a pre-collision system and a lane departure alert working at speeds of up to 50 kmph. 

Other safety bits include a blindspot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, 3D Panoramic view monitor, front & rear parking sensor, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, hill start assist, and emergency stop signal.

Fuel-efficient engine: All the trims of the Toyota Yaris are powered by the same 1.5-litre dual VVT-i 2NR-FE mill that generates a maximum power output of 107 PS at 6000 rpm and a torque of 140 Nm at 4200 pm. It is mated to a CVT with a seven-speed sport sequential shift magic mode. The mechanical setup also has two drive modes - eco and sport, available for maximizing fuel economy and sporty drive, respectively. It can return an amazing fuel economy of 19 kmpl. 

Impressive handling: The hatchback is known for its steering and handling potential. While the acceleration is weak, the car’s spot-on responses impress the auto enthusiasts. Once the car is up and running, it offers robust feedback to the driver along with a sporty ride.

Toyota Yaris Cons

Sluggish acceleration: Meant for daily driving, the Toyota Yaris does not provide a lively acceleration. It takes 11 seconds to run from zero to 100 kmph. Thus, there is no real sense of excitement behind the wheel.

Lack of cabin space: Although the cabin is nicely adorned with lots of features, the space disappoints you. Things get more complicated if the driver is tall as the cockpit is specifically cramped in terms of space. Also, the car does not have reasonably sized utility spaces, for instance, tiny door pockets.

Stiff ride: The ride quality of the hatch is not very promising. And the reason is the carmaker’s focus on sportiness. You can feel a bit of road harshness inside the cabin. However, it is not very annoying, you need to take a test drive to see if you are okay with the road feel being transferred to the cabin.

Should you buy one?

The Toyota Yaris is a compact family hatchback loaded with advanced modern connectivity and driver-assistance features. Its fuel economy is superb as well. But if you are tall and looking for better speed acceleration numbers, the car is not meant for you.

Also read: Thailand gets a sportier 2021 Toyota Yaris X-Urban