Presentation and test drive of the Toyota Yaris 2017: goodbye diesel, welcome hybrids

These days Toyota is presenting its updated Toyota Yaris 2017 in the Netherlands. The compact from the Japanese brand debuts a new look and a new petrol engine. These may seem like minor changes, but there is a set of improvements in this Yaris 2017 that keep it up to date, while still maintaining the honour of being the cheapest hybrid on the market. Precisely, the new Toyota Yaris 2017 drops the diesel engine and will only be available with a petrol engine (69 or 111 CV) or a hybrid system (100 CV), with the hybrid being the most recommended option if your daily life is urban.

The Yaris is the fifth best-selling vehicle in the B-segment, a really good result, but to maintain it the Japanese firm needed to update the current generation launched on the market in 2011. Small changes and improvements that can be noticed behind the wheel, although the arrival of the new 1.5 VVT-iE petrol engine with 111 CV deserves special mention.

Exterior changes and improved interior quality

The first change that catches the eye is the front: new headlights that also include the brand’s new light signature, and it also debuts a design language called “catamaran”. On the side profile, the sills at the bottom of the doors stand out, and at the rear the tailgate has changed, the rear lights feature LED technology, and the bumper has been redesigned.

Another important change is the introduction of new exterior colours, four of them in a two-tone combination (black roof). Inside, the tones are also played with, allowing the central part of the dashboard to be chosen in a colour matching the exterior.

The changes to the interior are minor but provide a greater sense of quality. It features a new soft-touch trim panel on the central console and new colour TFT instrumentation. Finally, the multimedia system (Toyota Touch 2) is updated with a series of online functions (standard with three years of free connectivity).

New petrol engine, noise reduction and more safety

Not only has the design changed in the new Yaris; it has also received small changes that improve the car’s handling and comfort, as well as debuting the new 1.5 petrol engine with 111 CV. The Toyota engineers have worked hard on noise, managing to reduce engine and aerodynamic noise entering the cabin by 5.5 dB, in addition to incorporating new components to achieve this.

The area where they are making a strong commitment is safety, since all Toyota Yaris 2017 models will come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense system, which includes: automatic emergency braking in case of collision, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning and high beam assist. All of this is combined with 7 standard airbags (including a knee airbag).

Behind the wheel of the Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVT-iE with 111 CV

The Yaris’s biggest novelty is the engine. It is a completely new powerplant, loaded with technology and even capable of meeting the Euro 6c emissions standard. This engine has a high compression ratio and the variable valve timing system has been improved, so the engine can switch from the Otto cycle to the Atkinson cycle, making it as efficient as possible. Its performance highlights include 136 Nm of torque or its 111 CV, reducing fuel consumption by 10% compared with the 1.33 engine.

In practice it is a very smooth engine, extremely quiet both under load and at idle, with linear power delivery and excellent response at low revs. We tested it on country roads and motorways, standing out for its pulling power up to beyond 4,500 rpm, which helps us be agile when merging or overtaking, but its low-rev response is also really good. Cruising at 50 km/h we can take it down to 1,500 rpm without the engine asking us to change gear.

First impressions of the Toyota Yaris Hybrid and Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i 69 CV

During the presentation we also got behind the wheel of the Toyota Yaris Hybrid and the petrol Yaris with a three-cylinder engine and 69 CV. Neither is new, but there are slight changes that improve their behaviour. Starting with the hybrid, the propulsion system remains the same: a 1.5 combustion engine and an electric motor which together deliver 100 CV. However, we did notice better interior soundproofing, even on the motorway. Fuel consumption over a test of almost 100 km was 4.5 litres per 100 km, with the car running more than 50% of the time, and almost a third of the route, with the combustion engine switched off.

The last version we were able to try was the Yaris 2017 with the three-cylinder 1.0 VVT-i petrol engine and 69 CV. It is not exactly a smooth engine (like all three-cylinders), but it is suitable for purely urban use. However, unlike the 1.5, you have to drive it “spiritedly” for those 69 CV to be noticed. Its strengths are the starting price and that it is an economical powerplant, as we confirmed in the test with an average consumption of 5.8 litres per 100 km (measured on a 40 km route through flat areas).

Equipment and prices

The new Toyota Yaris will be available from 9,550 euros for the City trim with the 69 CV petrol engine, or from 14,850 euros for the Toyota Yaris Hybrid in Active trim. The City trim already includes 15-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, front fog lights, rain sensor, 7 airbags, Toyota Safety Sense, stability control, among other features. Next is the Active trim, which adds a colour TFT display (among others), and the Feel trim, which is the most balanced in terms of equipment and price, as it includes two-tone 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, darkened rear glass, among other items. At the top of the range is the Advance trim, which adds mixed fabric/leather upholstery, keyless entry and start, panoramic roof, among other elements.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackToyota Yaris9 versions · from 24,550 €