Toyota Yaris Hybrid (2022) Review
Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert.
It is hard to believe that we are looking at the fourth generation of the Toyota Yaris, a car that has remained a firm favourite with Irish buyers over the years. I vividly recall seeing the first-generation Yaris back in 1999 and not long after it went on to become Toyota’s first model to win the prestigious European Car of the Year title. Fast forward a few years and the second-generation Yaris was the first B-segment model to gain a top five-star rating in Euro NCAP’s safety test, which was no mean feat for a car of this size. The third and incredibly popular outgoing model introduced hybrid electric power to the small car market for the first time and also became safer with the addition of Toyota Safety Sense advanced driver assistance systems. Since then the fourth generation Yaris has come along and it has been completely redesigned both inside and out and boy does it look good! The exterior styling somehow exaggerates its proportions giving it much more road presence. Inside Toyota have opted for the ‘less-is-more’ principle, which gives the cabin an open and spacious area for both driver and passenger. The materials used are pretty decent also with a modern felt trim finish for the door panels and soft-touch instrument panel to deliver a warmer cabin feel.
Features
So the big question is what new features does the Yaris come with and how does it differ from its predecessor? Well aside from the all new styling other high-tech features like the LED headlamps, an 8-inch Touchscreen display, Smart Entry and special cabin lighting around the driver’s cockpit really make it a modern car to be in. The dashboard itself has been made slimmer and is set lower, with a wider and higher centre console and even the steering wheel has been reduced in size to allow better visibility for the TFT screen. Like most new cars launched in the last twelve months the Yaris gets smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing drivers easy access to their favourite apps using the car’s central multimedia control screen. Throughout this little hatchback Toyota have placed sensory quality as a key focus point, in terms of the touch, operation and sound of the controls, colours, illumination, shapes, patterns, graphics and overall look. It’s a car that has moved with the times nicely and appeals to both young and old.
Power
This is where it gets interesting with the new Yaris because the three engine choices should have everyone covered regardless of what mileage you do. The most affordable or entry into the Yaris range will be the 1.0 petrol followed by the 1.5 petrol engine capable of returning 5.6L/Km (50mpg) with low CO2 emissions. Whilst the 1.0 litre represents a decent starting point for Yaris ownership our choice would be to go for the 1.5 Hybrid Dynamic Force. This responsive and more efficient engine package is the future in our opinion. Toyota’s renowned leadership in self-charging hybrid technology is built on more than 20 years’ experience and I think its fair to say they are leaders in Hybrid tech. This compact, lightweight and efficient engine produces 116 hp and completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 9.7 seconds. Overall its 20% more efficient than the outgoing model with the WLTP combined cycle fuel economy figure from 3.9l per 100km.
Safety
Toyota set out to make the Yaris one of the world’s safest compact cars on our roads. Now with the Toyota Safety Sense active systems as standard buyers get Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as Lane Trace Assist, Emergency Steering Assist and Intersection Turn Assistance. The Pre-Collision System has also been tweaked so that it can detect pedestrians and cyclists by day or night. The Intersection Turn Assistance will recognise collision risks with oncoming traffic and pedestrians when making a turn at a junction, and the Yaris becomes the first Toyota equipped with centre airbags. These help prevent driver and passenger colliding in a side impact. For such a small car it packs some excellent safety features.
Toyota Yaris Hybrid Prices
Prices kick off from €18,950, or €157 per month on PCP and there are various finance options also available. The Hybrid model we had on test is priced from €23,990 or from €166 per month.
Summary
The new Yaris is fantastic little car to spend time with. In the city you can feel the EV capabilities have been transformed making it possible to travel for longer periods in traffic on electricity alone! There is a lot to be said for this because essentially it allows you to enjoy many of the benefits of a battery electric vehicle, but at a lower price and with no concerns about when or where the battery can be recharged. Getting out of the city and onto some twisty back roads you can feel the engineering team had more than just the focus on delivering an efficient system, but also on making the car more enjoyable to drive. With a little tuning and calibration to suit all road types the centre of gravity has been reduced and it feels a little more engaging to drive. Of course it’s no Yaris GR which is the WRC inspired fire breathing turbocharged monster but as a daily commuter, we found the Yaris Hybrid very pleasurable. Since it’s launch Toyota have went on to claim yet another European Car of the Year title with the all new Yaris and its not hard to see why.
Toyota Yaris Hybrid Pros and Cons
Pros
Hybrid tech
Styling
Economy
Cons
No parking sensors
To see our full video review of the Toyota Yaris, please click here.
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