Toyota’s all-new Yaris has arrived in Australia, with new technologies and safety features.

The fourth-generation Yaris is built on the new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform and along with the new platform comes new 1.5-litre three-cylinder powertrains that Toyota says develop more power than their four-cylinder predecessors, while offering better fuel economy and cutting emissions.

Included in these is Toyota’s latest hybrid system that achieves the best fuel economy of any Toyota ever offered in Australia – 3.3 litres/100km and just 76 grams/km of CO2.

The Ascent Sport, SX and ZR equipment level models remain, but advances in active and passive systems are, Toyota says, designed to create the world’s safest compact car.

The new Yaris is shorter and lower than its predecessor with a longer wheelbase and on the inside, there is a safety-inspired “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” concept resulting in intuitive placement of controls and a smaller-diameter steering wheel with fingertip switches.

There’s a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch multi-information display in the instrument cluster, and ZR variants have a 10-inch colour head-up display.

Three new powertrains

New Yaris is powered by a 1.5-litre inline three-cylinder Dynamic Force engine with the choice of a six-speed intelligent manual gearbox on Ascent Sport or Direct Shift CVT. SX and ZR grades can also be specified with Toyota’s latest hybrid system.

The new direct-injection 1.5-litre petrol engine’s 88kW and 145Nm represent gains of 10 per cent and 2.7 per cent over the previous 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine outputs, courtesy of a lighter block and crankshaft, reduced frictional losses and high-speed combustion technology.

At the same time, new Yaris uses less fuel – just 5.4 litres/100km for the manual and 4.9 litres/100km for the CVT. Toyota says the latter is an improvement of more than 23 per cent over the equivalent outgoing model.

Toyota’s fourth-generation hybrid system’s petrol engine adopts port injection with 10-hole injectors, variable valve timing and the world’s fastest combustion speed. An electric motor instead of oil pressure controls intake variable valve timing, resulting in a wider adjustment angle.

Operating on the Atkinson Cycle, its 67kW/120Nm outputs are supplemented by a 59kW/141Nm electric motor-generator and a compact lithium-ion battery. Combined maximum power output is 85kW.

Yaris hybrid can be operated in a fuel-saving eco mode or power mode. It can also run on electric power alone. The hybrid transaxle adopts a compact dual-axis structure with the power-control unit installed directly above it.

The Yaris chassis has been engineered to improve dynamic qualities, reduce body roll and improve braking stability and stopping distances.

The revised front MacPherson struts and rear torsion-beam layout includes reduced friction, softer springs and an increase in rear roll stiffness. The new platform also underpins an increase in body rigidity.

Safety features include front-centre airbags, sensors that can detect vehicles or pedestrians at intersections when making turns, and a secondary collision brake.

Other advanced safety technologies include a pre-collision safety system with autonomous emergency braking, active cruise control, automatic high beam, and technologies to assist with cornering, staying in the intended lane and detecting speed signs. A reversing camera and a full suite of brake assist and traction-control systems including active cornering assist are also standard.

ZR variants gain front and rear parking sensors and a parking support brake system that can warn the driver of objects around the vehicle and even apply the brakes if necessary. Other standard equipment on Ascent Sport include Apple Carplay and Android Auto; LED daytime running lamps, tail and stop lamps; and auto retractable door mirrors.

Additional equipment on the SX includes satellite navigation; speed-limit display and warnings; keyless smart entry; smart-start ignition button; 15-inch alloy wheels; LED headlamps, indicators and rear combination lamps; and privacy glass.

Top-of-the-line ZR gains 16-inch alloys; rear spoiler; head-up display; sports front seats; blind-spot monitor; intelligent clearance sonar; parking support brake system; and paddle shifter on the petrol variant.

YARIS PRICES
Ascent Sport manual: $22,130
Ascent Sport CVT: $23,630
SX CVT: $27,020
ZR CVT: $30,100
SX Hybrid CVT: $29,020
ZR Hybrid CVT: $32,100.

Source: Motor Trader E-magazine (September 2020)

16 September 2020