Toyota Yaris – Is it priced right?

Toyota cars have always been well-known for their dependable reliability, quality fit-and-finish, and impressive resale value. However, they also tend to be quite expensive in a market such as Malaysia. Speaking of which, the all-new 2019 Toyota Yaris just went on sale in Malaysia. The mission of this report is to figure if it’s worth its asking price which, for the record, kicks off at RM 70,888. And with that, let’s get started.

Styling

If it isn’t clear already, the Toyota Yaris is the hatchback version of the Vios compact sedan. It’s no wonder that the front end styling looks so similar, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because it does look quite decent. Almost everything is the same as it’s on the Vios, which means similar headlights, grille, and bonnet design. The front bumper is almost a carbon copy, except the Yaris features a mesh pattern for the air dam instead of the horizontal slats. Things are no different along the side as well, where both cars feature the same design of 16-inch alloy wheels, wing mirrors with turn indicators, chrome door handles, heck, even the doors are identical. However, where the Vios continues to grow further, the C-pillar is where the hatchback Yaris ends.

Closer to the C-pillar of the Yaris, the roof starts to dip while there’s a gentle kick upwards for the beltline. The C-pillar’s glossy black finish also gives the roof a ‘floating’ effect. The rear of the new Yaris is where you’ll find its large wraparound taillights with a thick glossy black bar connecting the two units. There’s also a peculiar roof-mounted rear spoiler and a curvy bumper with bulging side extensions. Just as with the Vios, the top-spec Yaris also wears sport skirting all around. The 2019 Toyota Yaris features fair enough styling, but it isn’t particularly interesting or attractive. It is what it is. If you prefer a more mature and understated design, the Volkswagen Polo is your best bet. There’s also the Kia Rio if you like something that approaches contemporary in its design.

Interior features and safety

Stepping inside the cabin of the 2019 Toyota Yaris will be like déjà vu for those that have been in a Vios. If you were able to distinguish the two from the outside, that’s no longer the case once you enter the cabin of the Yaris. This means that you are greeted with the same dashboard, centre stack, instrument cluster, steering wheel, and seats in the new Yaris. It’s all very familiar, practical, and user-friendly, but not even remotely is it interesting or beautiful. But then again, with these two, that isn’t really the point, anyway. What’s more important are factors like build quality, ergonomics, seat comfort, and good all-round visibility – all factors which the Toyota Yaris aces without breaking a sweat.

 

As for standard features, the 2019 Yaris specs sheet is ditto like the Vios that it’s based on. You get automatic climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, front footwell lighting, drive mode selector, a 6.8-inch touch-infotainment head unit with smartphone mirroring, and six speakers. The Yaris also gets a front-facing digital video recorder, seven airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert. Once again, there are other alternatives such as the VW Polo, Kia Rio, or even the Mazda 2. They are cheaper than the Toyota and also offer better interior styling and slightly posher materials. However, the Yaris claims more safety features.

Drivetrain and performance

The 2019 Toyota Yaris shares its 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-popper with the Vios sedan. This means you get the same 105 hp and 140 Nm of torque – sent to the front wheels using the same 7-step CVT gearbox. The Yaris can manage a top speed of 175 kmph, while the 0-100 kmph run takes 11 seconds. It’s also quite a frugal car, returning over 19 kmpl. None of the cars in this segment are brisk, though the new Yaris is a tad quicker than the Honda Jazz or Kia Rio.

Is it worth it?

The 2019 Toyota Yaris is priced at RM 70,888, RM 76,888, and RM 83,888 for the J, E, and G trim, respectively. To put it into perspective, the Vios sedan is only a couple of thousand ringgit dearer and it’s a larger car. To complicate matters more, the Kia Rio, Mazda 2, and Volkswagen Polo all have better quality interiors and look better as well. More importantly, they’re cheaper than the Yaris. However, Toyota does offer more in terms of safety.