Toyota Yaris

The cabin of the Toyota Yaris hatchback is pleasing. The driver’s console gets a blue lighting theme with an analogue setup for the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge. The seats get fabric upholstery as standard. The driver’s seat has sliding, reclining, and vertical position adjustment as well.

As for the comfort inside the cabin, the lower 1.3E trims get manual air-conditioning, while the 1.5S trims get an automatic AC system. The gear knob gets a leather cover to add to the premium feel. However, the base model gets the Urethane counterpart. And lastly, the sun visors get mirrors for both the driver and front passenger.

The current Toyota Yaris is sleek and modern in all the ways. The front section has a pair of upswept headlamps while the air intakes are set on the lower bumper. The rear profile is flanked by combination taillights and a roof spoiler. The headlamps get a halogen setup as standard, and the fog lamps are also offered in the kit.

The hatchback rides on 15-inch wheels with 185mm tyres at all corners. The sharp lines on the side profile and the blacked-out window skirting look extremely attractive on all the colour tones.

When it comes to performance, the Toyota Yaris is just about perfect. The overall kerb weight of the hatchback is under 1,100 kilograms, which makes it just about perfect for its engine output. Plus, the 15-inch wheels are of a decent size to ensure high-speed stability.

The manual transmission option is best for the purist and people who have a lower budget. However, the CVT takes the pricing a bit higher than some of its competitors. But yes, the automatic shifts are slick and does not lag even in normal city traffic condition. The MacPherson front and Torsion beam rear are apt to absorb most of the bumps.

The Toyota Yaris is offered in two engine options. The base model makes do with a Dual-VVT-i 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder engine that is tuned to produce a maximum power of 99 PS at 6,000 rpm while churning out a peak torque of 123 Nm at 4,400 rpm.

On the other hand, the bigger 1.5-litre engine can produce 107 PS of maximum power at 6,000 rpm, along with 140 Nm at 4,200 rpm. The base model gets optional CVT along with a 5-speed manual gearbox, while the top model is offered with the CVT only. Electronic fuel injection is a standard fitment.

The Toyota Yaris has a decent setup for the braking department. A combination of ventilated front disc and rear drum is given as a standard fitment. However, the top-of-the-line model gets disc brakes for all the wheels. ABS is given as a standard feature across the lineup, along with the addition of electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist.

When it comes to cabin safety, there is just no comparison for the Toyota Yaris. The hatchback gets airbags for the driver, driver’s knees, side, curtain, etc., as standard. Child protection lock and ISOFIX are offered in all the variants too. Wireless door lock is also a standard feature.

The Toyota Yaris has its prime competitor in the form of the Honda Jazz, which belongs to the same price bracket. However, the Yaris looks the fresher of the two and is more likely to be purchased for its modern styling. The starting price of the hatchback lies around PHP 900,000, which makes it apt for most buyers.