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Old 21st June 2018, 10:40   #1
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Toyota Yaris : Official Review

The Toyota Yaris has been launched in India at a price of between Rs. 8.75 - 14.07 lakhs (ex-showroom, all-India).

What you'll like:

• A well-built sedan; feels sturdier than the City and Ciaz
• Good quality cabin with built-to-last materials & excellent NVH insulation
• Mature ride comfort with sorted road manners
• Smooth CVT automatic is available in all trim levels
• Features such as the auto headlamps + wipers, electric driver's seat, front parking sensors, rear sunshade etc.
• 5-star safety rating & kit! 7 airbags, all-disc brakes, ESP, HSA, TPMS, 3-point seatbelts for all & more
• Toyota's excellent after-sales quality, fuss-free ownership experiences, low service costs & up to 7 years of extended warranty coverage

What you won't:

• Simply overpriced, especially the higher variants. Toyota has gotten it wrong
• Rear seat's width is enough for 2 adults only, while rear headroom is limited too. Passengers will complain
• Engine feels adequate, but isn't exciting at all. CVT gets sluggish with an enthusiastic driving style
• Many will find the over-styled face to be a turnoff
• No turbo-diesel option for the torque lovers
• Missing auto-dimming IRVM, reach-adjustable steering, dead pedal, auto-folding ORVMs, sunroof & 195 mm tyres
• Top variant's audio head-unit has several flaws. Misses Android Auto & Apple CarPlay as well

This review has been jointly compiled with Vid6639. Thanks to him for the expert observations!

Last edited by GTO : 21st June 2018 at 10:58.
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Old 21st June 2018, 10:40   #2
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Review Index:
Exterior

Interior - Front

Interior - Rear

In-Car Entertainment

Driving the 1.5L Petrol

Ride & Handling

Other Points

Smaller yet Significant Things

Last edited by GTO : 21st June 2018 at 11:09.
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Old 21st June 2018, 10:40   #3
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Exterior



The C2 sedan segment has three strong players - the Honda City, Maruti Ciaz and Hyundai Verna. While other manufacturers have offerings in the segment, none have been able to make a long-term impact like these established players.

Toyota has largely relied on its MUV & SUV (Innova and Fortuner) for its business in India. Its other mass market offerings - the Etios and Liva - have been poor sellers. The Etios also got a lot of its sales from the taxi segment. While the company does sell the Corolla & Camry, their segments were never about volumes.

Now, Toyota wants to expand its personal customer base & crack the C2 segment...a segment where the product must look contemporary, offer decent performance, have good interior + boot space and be loaded with features. At the same time, it must have brand & design allure too. In an attempt to gain a foothold in this competitive and lucrative segment, Toyota has launched the Yaris - a car sold in ASEAN markets.

When it comes to pricing, Toyota hasn't gotten it right IMHO. To challenge the market leaders, the Yaris needed to be priced lower or at par with its rivals. I had expected it to come at the Hyundai Verna level. However, Toyota has not done so. Variant for variant, the Yaris is more expensive than the City with the difference reaching as much as Rs. 1,70,000! This, despite the City offering a more powerful engine, having more cabin space and being an established player in the segment.

While the Yaris is well-equipped with a number of first-in-segment features, it is available only with a petrol engine. In fact, it is the only car in the segment with no diesel option! On the plus side, each of the four variants that the car is available in gets the optional CVT automatic. This is a good step as our poll showed that automatics are definitely gaining in popularity in India & among BHPians. The same has reflected in the sales of the CVT variant of the Yaris. A media report indicates that the automatic accounts for 66% of all the bookings so far! Toyota will also hope that its legendary reputation for making reliable cars, an outstanding service network and warranty that is extendable up to 7 years will ensure the Yaris' success.

Toyota Yaris : Official Review-yaris.png

The Yaris, which is in its third generation, is known as the Yaris ATIV and Vios in other countries. It is built on the Toyota B platform. This is the first time that Toyota is using this platform in India. Measuring 4,425 mm in length, it is among the shorter cars in the segment; its wheelbase of 2,550 mm (same as the Etios) is also the shortest of all its rivals. That said, with a width of 1,730 mm and a height of 1,495 mm, it is the widest and tallest car in the segment. Weighing between 1,090 kg and 1,135 kg, the Yaris is heavier than the City and Ciaz and almost at par with the Verna and Rapid.

As you would expect at this price point, the paint quality and build are excellent, while the panel gaps are even all over. The doors aren't light and feel solid - they shut really nicely (BHPians will find it very satisfying). The bonnet is also on the heavier side, and the boot lid feels sturdy. While there is a little flex in the metal of the doors and front fenders when pushed with a thumb, there is none on any other body panel. Toyota has not cut any costs at least as far as the build & quality are concerned.

Coming to safety, the Yaris hits a sixer in its debut match. The Toyota gets safety features such as 7 airbags (some Mercedes' still come with 6 airbags), ABS with EBD & brake assist and ISOFIX child seat anchors as standard. While the top VX variant gets ESP and a tyre pressure monitoring system, all trim levels except the base variant get the "impact sensing auto door unlocking" feature. It must be noted that the Yaris has been awarded a 5-star rating by the ASEAN NCAP (read more). We remain pleased with Toyota India's commitment to safety. Even its cheaper cars got 4 stars in the NCAP (related thread).

The futuristic front is probably the most exciting part of the exterior, although it's also the most polarising (those who like it clean will be put off by the overdone styling - I don't like it). It is dominated by a large, black lower grille with several horizontal slats. Thank God the use of chrome is restricted to the badge, the two slim strips on the upper grille and inserts in the headlamps:


The rear end is rather plain compared to the front. While there are some cuts and creases on the boot, there is nothing that will make the car stand out in a crowd. Like the front, the use of chrome is restricted to the badges - we like it that way:


Clean & simple styling on the side as well. The 15" wheels do look a little small for all that sheet metal on top:


The best angle to view the Yaris from. The strong creases on the bonnet and sweptback headlamps along with the large black grille give the car an aggressive look. In person, it does seem narrower than the likes of the City though:


On the other hand, the Yaris looks bland when viewed from the rear three-quarters:


Funky headlamp clusters get chrome inserts, projectors with halogen bulbs for the low beam and regular halogen headlamps for the high beam. Toyota should have provided LED headlamps considering the fact that the City and Vento get them. Heck, even some hatchbacks (read Maruti Ignis) get them. LED parking lamps and turn-indicators are integrated into the headlamp clusters:


Toyota lettering engraved on the side of the headlamp. A cool touch:


With all the lights in action. From left to right - LED parking lamp with turn indicator below, halogen high beam headlamp and halogen projector low beam. No cornering lamps provided. When you lock the car with the button on the keyfob or the request sensor (on the door handle), the indicators blink once. When you unlock, they blink twice. There is a follow-me-home function as well where the headlamps stay on for a while after the car is switched off:


LED DRLs, which are available only on the top-end VX variant, are not integrated in the headlamp clusters. Instead, they are located below the headlamps, high on the bumper. In my opinion, they look like aftermarket fittings:


DRLs are bright & prominent, even under bright sunlight. They go off when the parking lights are started or the headlamps come on:


A look at the lower variant without the LED DRLs:


We feel the front is just too busy! Radiator grille has vertical slats and is divided in two parts. There are two chrome inserts at the top and a chrome "T" in the middle:


Check out the smart honeycomb mesh detailing behind the badge:


See how the contrasting red portion at the bottom gives the appearance of a skid plate:


The radiator and condenser are way inside the bumper. No worries of damage from minor impact:


Tow-hook cap is cleverly masked by the large grille. It does not get any arrow or dimple indicating where it should be pulled or pushed to remove though:


V and VX variants get front parking sensors! It's amazing how high-end car features filter down to the mass market. Till 4 - 5 years ago, only cars costing Rs. 50 lakh and above got front parking sensors. In another 5 years, maybe C2 segment sedans will get front parking cameras?


Round foglamps are regular halogen units. They get unusually tall housings! Illumination provided is sufficient:


Plastic underbody protection at the front does not stretch back a long way. Ground clearance is 152 mm laden, 175 mm unladen:


Bonnet has four prominent creases with aggressive dips on both sides. Notice how the headlamps bulge out from both sides:


The Yaris is equipped with automatic rain-sensing wipers! Sensor located on the top-center of the windshield:


Wiper spindles are partially concealed under the bonnet...


...as are the washers:


Both windshield washers squirt out effective sprays (rather than jets) of water. The big wipers have a good sweep and the wiper + washer are whisper silent in their operation. They are more silent than even Audis, BMWs & Mercedes':


Front overhang is a bit on the longer side. Exercise caution while tackling rough terrain:


Shut lines and panel gaps are tight and uniform all over, even around the bonnet:


Dual-tone ORVMs with integrated blinkers are electrically adjustable and foldable. They are not auto-folding though. Notice the fin on its mounting panel. Toyota says it's there for aerodynamic reasons (two similar fins are there on the tail-lamp as well). Click here to see an explanatory image:


Notice how the blinker bulges out from the side of the ORVM housing. That's a regular bulb, not LED:


Chrome door handles on the VX variant. Only driver's door gets this request sensor and keyhole. Simply walk up to the car with the key on your person and touch the request sensor to lock / unlock:


V and lower variants get body coloured door handles:


15-inch alloy wheels shod with 185/60 section Goodyear tyres appear a size too small for the car and do not fill the wheel arches. Tyre size is the same as the Etios. We don't have a problem with the 15" rim size as much as we do with the 185 mm width which is too thin IMHO. It must be noted that in Singapore, the Yaris is available with an option of 16-inch wheels and 195/50 section tyres:


V and VX variants get disc brakes at the rear as well. The only other car in the segment to offer disc brakes at the rear is the slow-selling Linea T-Jet:


Small aero flaps just ahead of the front wheels…


…and the rear ones:


Roof design is round in appearance. The window line rises towards the rear and the roofline tapers. Glass area lets in a sufficient amount of daylight. Toyota has equipped the Yaris with 'acoustic & vibration control glass' to reduce exterior sounds and vibrations from the engine compartment:


Black plastic on the C-pillar acts as a finishing piece of the rear window:


Couple of character lines running along the side:


Overall boot integration is very clean; not like a boot is added on as an after-thought:


Even the top-end VX variant does not get a sunroof - a big miss considering Honda and Hyundai have been offering it in their products for a while now. Look closely and you'll see that the roof has subtle bumps on it. We assume these are for structural rigidity:


Sharkfin antenna sits at the very end of the roof section:


Bumper does not protrude out much, which means that the body is prone to dents and damage in the event of a rear-end collision:


Boot lid gets a prominent lip at the top:


Two-piece tail-lamp clusters with LED parking and stop lamps. Reversing lamps and turn-indicators are halogen units:


As mentioned earlier, the tail-lamps get two aero fins each:


With all the lights in action at night:


On applying the brakes, 4 LEDs just above the line guides light up:


Large "T" badge sits at the top of the boot lid. This is the first C2 sedan from the Big T in India:


Reversing camera is on the left side. This, along with the four parking sensors on the bumper, makes parking easy as pie:


Electromagnetic boot release is located right below the "T" badge. Even if the car is unlocked, you have to have the keyfob on your person to open the boot from outside (an excellent move to prevent theft of valuables that might be in the boot). Other ways to open it include a release lever inside the car or long-pressing the boot release button on the keyfob:


Rear bumper stretches up all the way to the tail-lamps! It houses 4 parking sensors and two foglamps. There is a strong crease running between them. Exhaust pipe peeps out from the right side. It should have been better concealed. From the rear, these 185 tyres appear skinny for this class of car (195 mm would have been much preferred):


Rear foglamps are halogen units. Reflectors are attached to them as well:


Ubiquitous McPherson suspension setup at the front and...


...a torsion beam suspension at the rear:


Towing point is located on the left:


Alongside one of the strongest players in the segment. The front of the Yaris looks much busier than that of the City. The Honda looks handsome & familiar while the Yaris looks all futuristic:


We prefer the City's styling, whether it's the front or the rear:


Side by side...

Last edited by Aditya : 9th July 2018 at 07:52.
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Old 21st June 2018, 10:40   #4
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Interior - Front



The front doors open and shut in a triple-stage action. They are not light like those seen in the City & Ciaz. There is a nice, almost European car-like "thud" when you shut the doors; it's very premium & similar to the Altis. The doors open wide enough and the running board is not fat either. The floor and roof of the car are at a comfortable height. So, occupants will find it quite easy to get into the car. On the inside, there is sufficient legroom and headroom at the front. It does feel narrower than some competitors though.

The front & rear windshields are large and the side windows are reasonably sized as well. This ensures good all-round visibility, and also a healthy amount of light entering the cabin. Along with the beige used inside, this brings an airy look & feel.

The dashboard is nothing like the one seen on the old Etios. It is a lot more modern in design, while being functional at the same time. It has a beige & black theme with silver inserts. Piano black has been used on the center fascia around the infotainment system, air-con vents and climate control panel. The upper part of the dashboard has a stitched pattern, but it's not a real stitch - just a fake design element on the plastic itself. The lower part of the dashboard is beige and so are the carpets, making them prone to getting soiled. However, the floor mats are black. This will partially help matters.

Like most cars in the segment, the plastics on the dashboard are all hard, but it must be noted that now, the Honda City does come with some soft touch plastics on the dashboard. That said, the quality of the plastics here is at par with the best in the segment. Every part is well-finished with no rough edges anywhere. The seats get a mix of genuine + synthetic leather upholstery and there is some leather applied on the doorpads as well. In terms of ergonomics, the cabin is laid out logically and all controls are exactly where you would expect them to be (typical of all Toyota cars). Reaching them is also easy. What is disappointing is that some features you take for granted in a car from this segment are missing (e.g. auto-dimming IRVM).

The feel, quality and finish of the buttons and switches are good and like most Toyotas, they will easily last the lifetime of the car.

Black & beige dash is laid out logically. The entire cabin is practical and user-friendly. Ergonomics are spot on as well. The look is clean yet contemporary:


Quality of materials used is at par with the segment best, even if it's missing the City's soft-touch plastics. The interiors are well put together:


Large windshield offers a good view of the road ahead. The Yaris is equipped with a "high solar energy absorbing" front windshield that is claimed to absorb infrared rays and reduce the amount of heat in the car:


A-pillars are not excessively thick and don't cause terrible blind spots:


Leather-wrapped steering with thumb contours is similar to the Corolla Altis' in design. It is chunky and nice to hold, with a good amount of grip on offer. Has a silver insert on the lower spokes and buttons to operate the MID + infotainment system. Hornpad is light to press and when you honk, you'll hear that familiar Toyota horn:


Steering-mounted buttons are well-sized (including the fonts). While the buttons to operate the infotainment system and telephone are on the left spoke, those for the MID are on the right. 'Mute' has been provided on the steering wheel, although it's a major fail in terms of usability. Having any long-press button on a steering isn't cool and Toyota should've known better (imagine long-pressing while also turning). You have to long press it to mute & unmute. When you mute, the track is paused. If you short press the same button, the audio system will go to a different mode (radio / USB / Bluetooth etc.).

The buttons to operate the MID are on the RHS. 4-way scrolling and back button make things easy. On the bottom right is the button to switch between the trip meters and odometer:


Cruise control is provided on the V and VX variants. I personally don't think it's of any use in India, yet I'm aware that some BHPians are fans of the feature. To them, the AT + cruise control combination might be tempting:


Switch to turn the cruise control system on and off is located on the edge of the stalk. The system works only above 42 km/h:


Zooming in to show you the stitching pattern of the steering:


Fake stitches present on the hornpad too. With this, Toyota has attempted to give the pad a leather-wrapped look. Personally, I am not a fan of this "stitch-on-plastic":


VX CVT variant comes with lovely silver paddle-shifters - one on the left is for shifting down and vice versa. They are a joy to use:


Sturdy paddle shifters are perfectly contoured for your fingers to fit in:


Steering can be adjusted for height only, not reach - even in the top spec! This is a major omission as a reach-adjustable steering greatly contributes to the 'perfect' driving position. What's more, even some hatchbacks are equipped with this feature. GTO & Vid6639 - both of whom have a laidback driving position - felt that the steering was too far away:


V and lower variants do not get any leather on the steering wheel:


A closer look at the material of the lower variants:


Instrument cluster is an 'optitron' meter, which means LED lights have been used for backlighting. It consists of a small tachometer on the left, a large speedometer in the center and a dummy dial on the right. All dials are chrome-lined. A 4.2-inch coloured MID with a high resolution display sits in the lower right corner of the instrument cluster. Numbers and needles are backlit in white. The readability of this instrument cluster is good, unless under direct sunlight where there is a lot of glare (pic added in the last post). Redline starts at 6,200 rpm and an Eco indicator has been provided:


Two stalks stick out of the instrument cluster to adjust the clock of the car. Weird to have separate stalks just for the time adjustment!!! They look ugly too. Look closely to see the traction control lights just above the stalks:


An animation depicting how the Yaris is displayed on the MID at startup. BHPians would've also noticed the needles doing a clean sweep in the background:
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Large and easy to read MID shows a digital fuel gauge, digital speedometer, outside temperature, two trip meters, distance to empty, time and a driving summary that includes average fuel consumption, average speed and total driving time. In the CVT variants, it also displays the gear position. A temperature gauge is missing, however:


MID also shows your current & historical fuel consumption (including over the past 30 minutes). You can even see the average fuel efficiency for the last 1 year! Apart from that, it comes with a savings calculator in rupees like the Innova. Additionally, it will display your three best driving performances with respect to fuel consumption:



Settings that can be altered include the unit of measure, brightness of the instrument cluster and turning on or off the Eco meter, pop-up guidance and trip summary. Nothing vehicle specific (e.g. auto-locking doors or the lights) can be adjusted:


The MID also displays the specific door that is open. Neat touch - It shows you the motion of the door being opened (albeit with a little lag). There is no indicator for the bonnet or boot though:
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Thick stalks give positive feedback and are great to use. Foglamp switch is integrated on the light stalk itself. Auto headlamps and auto rain-sensing wipers work like a charm. However, a lane change indicator is not present. That is a big miss in today's times. See the second 'auto' setting on the left? That's to adjust the sensitivity of the intermittent wiper sensor - this is a very premium feature:


Chrome-ringed engine start button is backlit in a cool blue:


Large & blank plastic piece covers up the place where the ignition key slot of the lower variants will be. Looks ugly:


Air-con vents are symmetrical. They have a thick silver border which looks superb. Nope, their air flow volume cannot be adjusted:


Buttons to turn off the traction control (never do this in India) and enable / disable the parking sensor and headlight leveller sit below the engine start button. If you disable the parking sensors, the camera still works (rightly so):


Storage compartment below is a good place to dump miscellaneous stuff:


Sturdy & well-positioned flip-up lever for the bonnet release:


Boot and fuel flap release levers are placed in a neat console on the floor. Notice how the floor mat is cut to ensure that it doesn’t foul with them:


Like the dashboard, the doorpads get a beige + black colour theme. The beige portion is huge and stretches from high up on the doorpad right to the bottom. It is sure to get soiled if the user's hands are not clean. Lower down, the driver's shoes will soil it further while he is getting out of the car:


Top-end VX variant gets chrome door handles. They feel built to last. Only the driver can pull on this door handle once to unlock & open his door. Passengers have to first pull the unlock switch. It's these little usability touches that impress us!


Lesser variants get silver door handles (we actually prefer this over the chrome!):


Power window console has a shiny black finish. Only the driver's window gets auto up & down and an illuminated button. Notice the recessed area on the driver’s button only. The door unlock button is not illuminated and thus, difficult to find at night. You do get electrically-foldable mirrors, but they don't auto-fold when you lock / unlock the car. I'm shocked that Toyota could miss a feature as important & simple to activate!!


While the plastics are all hard, the area above the armrest is soft and gets a leather insert. Even the armrest is padded and covered in leather:


Lesser variants get fabric instead:


Doorpad gets pockets that can hold a 1-liter bottle, and other small items. Notice the dedicated curvature to hold a bottle. Area next to the bottle holder is slim though:


Door sills aren't too wide, which means lesser effort to move your feet in & out of the car. No scuff plates provided:


Front seats are draped in leather (a mix of genuine and synthetic) upholstery and are wide enough to suit even larger drivers. They offer fantastic support with excellent bolstering. The headrests are soft & comfortable:


A quick look at the fabric upholstered seats of the V variant:


Driver's seat is 8-way electrically adjustable - a first in class feature. However, lumbar adjustment is missing. The adjustment controls feel sturdy and durable:


Fore & aft travel range is enough to accommodate tall & short drivers alike. However, super tall drivers will find the steering to be too far away (no telescopic adjustment):


Height adjustment range is healthy as well. Short or tall, no one will complain:


The mixed genuine + synthetic leather upholstery is well stitched and the quality of material is good. Main area is perforated:


Zooming in on the fabric upholstery pattern of the lower variants:


Manual adjustment levers for the V variant:


Strangely, the passenger seat is lower than the driver's seat even when you set the driver's seat at its lowest setting:


Fore & aft adjustment is via this sturdy metal lever:


Center armrest has a soft surface draped in leather. Sadly, it is not adjustable and placed too far behind to be useful for anyone. An ergonomic disaster. Want to see how useless it is? Thanks to BHPian Latheesh for sharing this pic:


V variant gets a fabric-draped center armrest which is equally useless:


Front seatbelts are height-adjustable:


Both front seats get carpet-flaps on the inner sides to hide the ugly bits below:


Footwell is wide and pedals are well spaced out. However, no dead pedal is provided:


A look at the automatic's footwell. Shockingly, even here there's no dead pedal:


ORVMs are sufficiently wide & tall, providing a good view of the things behind:


IRVM is wide enough to cover the entire rear windshield. Large front and rear headrests restrict visibility though. Reflections from the parcel shelf further hamper visibility. Even more frustrating is the lack of an auto-dimming mirror - another glaring omission:


Rearward visibility is restricted by the sloping roofline, thick C-pillars & large headrests. But well, this is how it is in most modern sedans:


Center fascia has silver inserts on the sides. Piano black finish around the ICE, air-con vents and climate control system too. Don't miss the subtle chrome border around the piano black area:


Like the hornpad, there is a fake stitching effect on the dashboard too (on both sides of the center fascia):


7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system sits right on top of the center fascia. It comes with a remote control and features Bluetooth, USB and i-Pod connectivity with navigation, and further supports CD / MP3 playback, SD Card, HDMI, WiFi, MirrorLink and Miracast. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay - the most important ones today - have been left out!! ICE functions have been covered in a dedicated post later in the review:


Rectangular air vents sit below the infotainment system. Air flow direction controllers get chrome tips. Air volume cannot be adjusted or turned off:


Climate control system gets chrome inserts on its buttons - the line of 7 at the bottom looks cool. Like most Toyota air-cons, this one performs well even on hot days. The temperature is adjusted by the buttons on the right, while fan speed is adjusted via the buttons on the left. The blower has 7 levels of adjustment. In levels 1 and 2, it is silent. At levels 3 and 4, it gets audible. At levels 5 and 6, it is loud, while on level 7, it creates a racket. The lowest temperature that the system goes to is 18 degrees centigrade before hitting LO, while the highest is 32 degrees before hitting HI; increments are in 0.5 degree levels. Rear passengers can start their air-con independently from the back:


Lower portion of the center fascia gets this unique design pattern. The object on top houses the ambient light LED:


Two cupholders are provided at the base of the center fascia:


Bird's eye view of the center console. While the VX variant gets a chrome handbrake release button...


...the V and lower variants get a plain black unit:


Slim storage area next to the handbrake to park your smartphone:


12V charging socket is located right behind the smartphone's slot:


Center armrest has a deep storage compartment underneath. It has a soft lining on the floor:


The dual-tone colour theme, thick silver panels and strong swoops & cuts keep things interesting on the passenger’s side:


Glovebox is medium-sized and well-finished. Its lid has a damped opening action:


Comes with a smaller compartment to store the remote control of the infotainment system. This compartment limits the width & utility of the main area on the left:


Has a cooling vent, but doesn't get illumination:


Sunvisors are economy-grade in design, but don’t feel flimsy. Driver-side unit gets a flap to hold tickets as well as a vanity mirror with a sliding cover on the other side:


Passenger-side sunvisor gets a vanity mirror with a cover as well, but no light for the wife's makeup:


Roof bezel consists of individual map lights, sunglass holder and Bluetooth mic. You cannot start all the cabin lights (front + rear) from here. After locking the car, all cabin lights go out with a theatre-dimming effect:


Sunglass holder gets a soft black lining. However, it is only on the side visible here, but not on the bottom area. Partial lining could mean some scratches on your shades. Should have had full lining inside:


Unlike most other cars, the Yaris gets a spring-loaded grab handle for the driver as well!


Total of 7 airbags (including one for the driver’s knee ):


Where the driver's knee airbag is located. While I applaud Toyota for this, I have a feeling the decision has something to do with the Euro NCAP performing random tests on Indian cars. Thus, I'll give credit to both of them (Toyota & the Euro NCAP):


Airbags on the side of the seat...


...and pillars:


Things are neat and tidy even in places where most people won’t ever bother to look. There are no loose wires or cables dangling anywhere:

Last edited by GTO : 24th June 2018 at 17:01.
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Old 21st June 2018, 10:40   #5
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Interior - Rear

The rear doors of the Toyota Yaris open and close in a two stage action. The door does not open as wide as some of the other cars in the segment, but ingress and egress are easy. Tall occupants should take care when getting in, else their head will scrape the door sill:


There is enough space between the seat and B-pillar to move your feet in & out:


The door sill's width is like any other sedan's. Considering this car's premium pricing, we feel that Toyota should have equipped it with scuff plates:


Like the front doorpads, the ones at the rear have a black & beige theme. The rear speakers are housed in them, while the armrest has a soft leather surface:


A look at the V variant’s armrest draped in fabric. Fabric is high quality:


Door pockets can hold a 1-liter bottle and some knick-knacks. Area behind the bottle holder is on the narrower side:


Leather upholstered rear seat has sufficient cushioning. While most people will find the seat height fine, taller folk might find it placed low. Overall, it is comfortable and provides enough under-thigh support. All variants are equipped with 60:40 split folding seats. The Yaris is the only car in the C2 sedan segment to offer this feature :


All three occupants get headrests and three-point seatbelts (5th occupant getting a 3-point seatbelt is a very premium safety feature). The middle portion of the seat is raised and 3 adults will find the space rather tight (width is lesser than a City, for instance). The seat is best suited to carry 2 adults and a child:


Only the middle headrest is actually adjustable. All 3 are removable though:


A peek at the fabric upholstered seat of the V variant:


Seatbelts get plastic holders to keep & guide the straps properly:


Seatbelt buckles are housed in dedicated cutouts in the rear seat:


Legroom is sufficient for most users. That said, it's certainly not as spacious as the Ciaz & City which remain the segment-best:


A look at the maximum and minimum legroom available:


With the driver's seat in my position (5'10"), I have ~2 - 3 inches of knee room to spare. However, with the front seat in full back position, my knees almost touch the seatback. Notice that the seatbacks are not scooped out like they are in some other cars:


There is adequate space under the front seats to tuck your feet in. The surface at the base of the front seats is soft, so it will not hurt your legs:


The seatback angle is reclined just enough to keep passengers comfortable. Headroom is tight though. At 5'10", I had just about an inch of clearance. Anyone taller is likely to complain. I won't rule out tall passengers brushing / hitting their head against the roof on bad roads. I found the neck restraint to be comfortable:


Beige roof liner has multiple bulges to accommodate the cabin lamps and rear air-con vents:


Strangely, it also bulges where the middle seat occupant's head would be. This, along with the raised seatbase and the protruding center armrest, makes things pretty sad for any unfortunate adult in the middle:


A center armrest with cupholders has been provided. It is wide and has satisfactory cushioning:


ISOFIX child seat anchors have been provided on both sides. This is a standard feature in all variants of the Yaris. Without a doubt, Toyota is among the most responsible manufacturers when it comes to safety:


Anchor points with plastic covers on both sides of the parcel shelf:


Parcel shelf has a soft lining, which gives it a premium feel. It is short in width and won't hold much (all the better as anything placed here obstructs driver visibility):


Rear windows roll down all the way. They run long and are sufficiently tall in height. Unusually large quarter glasses help in increasing the flow of sunlight inside:


Deep & wide seatback pockets on both sides. Rear seat occupants can dump miscellaneous items in them:


Front seats of V and lower variants do not get seatback pockets:


VX variant gets a rear sunshade which is manually operated. Pull it up using this handle:


Sunshade latches onto the roof with the help of two plastic hooks. With sunfilm banned, it proves to be an effective way to protect yourself from the harsh sun:


Spring-loaded grab handles. Both rear units get useful coat / bag hooks:


In the G, V and VX variants, Toyota has a made for India roof mounted air-con! You can adjust the blower speed using the buttons and it shows the speed on an LCD display. The blower has five levels of adjustment. While it is quiet on levels 1 & 2, it gets audible on levels 3 & 4 and loud on level 5. The vents are unique - they are very slim, yet throw a good amount of air into the rear passengers' faces. This arrangement is definitely more effective than the lower console-mounted vents usually seen, but yes, the downside is a lot of air coming straight on your face. See the lines on the bottom of the unit (black-coloured area)? We suspect this console sucks in air from the front and throws it out with greater force at the back. Also has ambient blue lighting like the Innova. The ambient light works only when the blower is running. It has 5 levels of adjustment (including off):


Notice how much the center console intrudes into the 5th passenger's legroom. Considering its driver armrest is also useless, this is the most pointless part of the car. This one was probably designed by a newbie engineer. BHPian cmani0000 commented this is more of a leg rest for rear passengers than an armrest for the driver . Then, BHPian Gopalnt is worried about what will happen to the middle passenger (or rather, his family jewels) if the driver suddenly slams on the brakes!


Two 120W power outlets have been provided for the smartphones of rear passengers. They have plastic covers:


As is the case with most Toyotas, the floor has no real hump in the middle. However, the center console restricts the foot space for the center passenger, who will prefer to place his feet on either side of it:


Individual map lights for the rear passengers. Apart from their on and off positions, they come on when any of the doors is opened (this feature cannot be turned off):


Markings for the curtain airbags on the C-pillars:


Underside of the boot lid is fully clad - no cheap cost cutting here:


The boot gets end to end carpeting. The mouth is sufficiently large and the loading lip is not as high as some other cars. The boot can be opened by using the electromagnetic boot release (only if you have the keyfob on your person), using the boot release lever located inside the car or long-pressing the boot release button on the key fob:


At 476 liters, the boot size is no match for the 510 liters of the City / Ciaz. In fact, it narrowly beats the Skoda Rapid's 460 liter boot (which is the smallest in the segment). Even so, it is capable of accommodating a couple of large bags and won't leave an owner embarrassed on an airport run:


Anchor points for the child seats (there are three of them):


Boot lamp provided. Underside is very unpleasant to look at and doesn't even get a proper coat of paint:


Well-finished button to fold the seatback forward. Looks & feels upmarket:


Rear seats get a 60:40 split (no competitor offers this flexibility). You can fold them selectively if you need to carry a combination of cargo + passengers or carry long articles like golf clubs:


A look at the space available with both seatbacks folded down:


Unlike some cars today, the Yaris gets a separate carpet and cardboard cover for the spare wheel. Gap at the base of the boot lip to put your fingers in and lift the cardboard up. There's one on the other side as well:


Spare wheel in all trim levels is a 15-inch steel unit with 185/60 section rubber. This is the same size as the regular wheels. No Styrofoam casing or a dedicated slot to tuck the toolkit in:


Kit consists of the regular tyre-changing tools, a tow-hook and a safety triangle. Notice the bag for storing them:

Last edited by GTO : 21st June 2018 at 10:54.
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Old 21st June 2018, 10:40   #6
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In-Car Entertainment

7" LED touchscreen is very intuitive to use. All buttons & controls are big, making the system easy to operate. Touch sensitivity is good, but there is often a noticeable lag before the desired action is executed after you touch the screen. Most annoying thing about the ICE = the system takes 15+ seconds to boot after starting the car. Today's laptops running a full Windows OS boot faster!!! This isn't a car you get into and start playing music instantly.

Another problem is there are visibility issues under direct sunlight. There should been a cap / shade over the ICE screen. Additionally, none of the settings of the infotainment system can be altered while the car is in motion. This can be a good (safety) or bad (even passenger cannot change settings) thing, depending on your perspective.

It comes with a remote control and features Bluetooth, USB and iPod connectivity with navigation, and further supports voice commands, CD / MP3 playback, SD Card, HDMI, WiFi, MirrorLink and Miracast. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which are the most important ones today - have been left out!! To throw in something new, Toyota has equipped the system with gesture controls, wherein you don't have to touch the screen physically to change a track or the volume.

Overall, the head-unit is just average because of its many flaws & misses. Toyota could have definitely tried harder. Many cheaper Marutis (Smartplay) & Fords (Sync 3) are far superior. What is most surprising is this head-unit has been sourced from Pioneer...once the master of HUs.

7-inch ICE is placed at the upper edge of the dashboard - this means that the driver does not have to look too far down to glance at the screen:


HDMI and USB ports are located lower on the left. They have a plastic cover for aesthetic purposes:


Touchscreen needs to be tilted...


...to access the slot to insert a CD. In today's era of digital & streaming music, we doubt too many people are going to be using this input though:


SD card slot (for navigation) is located on the upper side of the screen:


In the V and VX variants, music is played out through 6 speakers - one on each door...


...and two tweeters on top of the dashboard:


Large icons for the various apps make them easy to locate and touch:


The system supports video playback (only when the car is at a standstill for safety purposes):


One can choose the "widget" view like on smartphones:


To activate gesture control, hold your hand in front of the sensor located on the lower left corner of the screen for a few seconds:


When gesture control is activated, a small "hand" symbol appears on the top right corner:


Moderator Vid6639 has made a short video to demonstrate how the gesture control system works. Frankly, this function is useless; you'd much rather keep your hands on the steering wheel and use the steering-mounted controls:


The usual set of inputs (HDMI too), but dismally, no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay:


System settings can be changed according to your preferences:


A look at the various sound settings that can be changed:


In terms of sound quality, the bass is good. However, the mids are weak and even if you pump them up in the equaliser, the sound doesn't have 'fullness' to it. Overall SQ is 'above average' for the price:


The various display parameters that can be altered:


You can tweak the brightness & contrast levels of the touchscreen, map, phone mirror and reversing camera individually:


Pairing a smartphone to the car's system is easy. Note: You need to stop the vehicle and pull the handbrake in order to do so:


Many options such as auto answer or auto reject:


You can connect the system to a nearby WiFi network:


While the standard disclaimer comes up at the start, you don't need to compulsorily press 'continue' or 'OK' to use the navigation (I find that very annoying). This screen will disappear shortly after:


Maps are provided by MapMyIndia. Navigation is good in terms of timing & accuracy. The instructions are spot on and easy to follow:


Like most GPS systems, a list of POIs is available:


Pretty cool = a list of Toyota showrooms and workshops nearby. Knowing the Big T's reliability, you probably won't need this screen too often:


The shortest and quickest routes to get to your destination are displayed:


Shows how economically you have been driving:


Voice commands can be used to operate multiple functions of the ICE. However, the system does not always understand what the user is saying and this can make the experience frustrating (unlike what we've seen in Ford & Tata systems). Whoever was in charge of the Yaris' head-unit has done an incredibly shoddy job - the system has many flaws:


Touchscreen doubles up as a display for the rear view camera. However, no guidelines (not even static) have been provided. Camera display quality is average. As we have seen earlier, there are 4 rear parking sensors provided on the car:


If one wishes, one can select a focused view from the rear view camera. He can choose to see the left rear corner...


...or right...


...or both:


Display quality in the dark is average at best:


Transferring the call from the system to the phone (for privacy) and vice versa is not as quick as some of the other systems I've used. Phone clarity is good:


ICE remote control feels like a cheap Chinese product (the type you get with unknown brand TVs):


V variant gets a 7-inch touchscreen as well. This one is from Panasonic. It features voice commands, Weblink and Miracast, but doesn't get gesture controls and navigation:


The connectivity options:


This one gets voice commands too; this is the list you can use:

Last edited by GTO : 21st June 2018 at 10:53.
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Old 21st June 2018, 10:40   #7
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Driving the 1.5L Petrol MT

1.5L, 4-cylinder petrol engine doesn't really fill up the engine bay completely:


To power the Yaris, Toyota has used the 1.5L petrol engine only. There is no diesel option available, making it the sole car in this segment to be "petrol only". This means, it is at a disadvantage in an already competitive market. Even in international markets, the car comes with an option of two petrol engines only - the one mentioned here and a 1.2L unit. Must add that if Toyota had to add its 1.4L D-4D, it would be far from class-leading. The 1.4L D-4D is a very mediocre motor. In the Etios, it offers driveability, but not much power. In the Corolla Altis, it offers more power, but has poor driveability due to the turbo-lag.

The 2NR FE petrol engine of the Yaris is an improved version of the 4-cylinder, 16-valve unit seen in the Etios. Mated to a 6-speed gearbox, it features dual variable valve timing (dual VVT-i) and develops 106 BHP @ 6,000 rpm. This means the Toyota ranks below the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Fiat Linea T-Jet in the power rankings. When it comes to torque, the new Yaris makes 140 Nm @ 4,200 rpm. The figure places it behind almost all its competitors. Only the Ciaz and the naturally-aspirated lame Linea 1.4 produce lesser torque.

The G, V and VX variants are equipped with keyless entry & go. To start the car, press the clutch and hit the start button. The engine fires up with very little noise and without transmitting any noticeable vibrations to the cabin. At idle, it is so silent that you can barely tell if it is running. This petrol is very refined. Standing still, the 1.5L can revv to 6,300 rpm.

The clutch is light to press and has a short travel range. The gear shifter is also light with short throws, making it nice to use. Its gates are well-defined and there’s no effort required to slot the lever into place. Release the clutch gradually and the car moves forward without any throttle input. In fact, with a little dab of the accelerator, you can even move off from a standstill in 2nd gear.

Throttle response is satisfactory and the power delivery is linear (with no surge anywhere). The engine responds well to partial throttle inputs; however, don't expect the outright performance of a City or Verna. The Yaris can pull from anything over 1,250 rpm. At 1,500 rpm, it feels fairly comfortable. Understand the engine and you will realise that the Yaris is a decent city commuter. 2nd gear over a speed-breaker? No problem. It will also move around at 45 km/h in 4th gear with the engine spinning at 1,500 rpm. Driveability is good & the Yaris is practical here. However, its sibling the Etios still has better driveability.

On the highway, the performance of the Yaris feels 'adequate', but not explosive. Frankly, I would expect more power if I'm spending 15+ lakhs on the road for the equipped variants. At this price point, 'enough isn't enough' . There has to be something special which the Yaris is missing. Power delivery is linear and there is enough low and mid-range performance available to keep drivers happy most of the time. Work the Yaris petrol hard on the expressway and you can make good progress; it never feels under-powered, but again, a City or Vento TSI will leave you behind in the dust. When pushed, the engine will revv to 6,300 rpm. On the highway, the mid-range is where the Yaris is at its best. This 1.5L starts coming into its stride above 2,000 rpm and power is available all the way till the redline. It will cruise at 100 km/h & 120 km/h in 6th gear with the tachometer reading 2,500 rpm & 3,000 rpm respectively (a bit higher than we expected with the 6th gear). While there is adequate performance available to overtake slow moving traffic and gear changes are not required most of the time, you will certainly need to downshift while performing quick overtaking manouveurs, especially on undivided highways.

This engine won't be an enthusiast's choice. At high revs, it doesn't feel as nice as the Honda 1.5L, Verna 1.6L & VW 1.2L TSI. Further, its 6,300 rpm limit is rather low compared to the City's 7,100 rpm. The engine starts getting loud above 4,000 rpm. While enthusiasts will enjoy its sound, passengers might get irritated.

As we have mentioned earlier, the clutch is light with a travel range that is short. The 6-speed gearbox is smooth and sure-slotting with short throws. The shifter does have a rubbery side to it though.

Coming to NVH levels, the Yaris' cabin is well-insulated. Even insulation from exterior / traffic sounds is good. Wind & tyre noise are both well-controlled at 100 km/h. The engine feels very refined and under regular driving conditions, it can barely be heard inside the cabin. While it starts getting audible at 3,000 rpm, the motor will get loud after 4,000 rpm.

The Yaris petrol MT has an ARAI-certified figure of 17.1 km/l (little lower than the City, but much lower than the Ciaz).

1.5L naturally-aspirated engine uses variable valve timing and makes 106 BHP & 140 Nm of torque. We like the engine cover's design & colour choice:


Insulation sheet has been provided under the bonnet:


A look at the engine without the cover. The 2NR FE is essentially the same engine as the Etios', but it has been thoroughly reworked:


Engine cover has soft insulating foam on the underside:


No underbody protection provided. Road is clearly visible:


Firewall insulation is sufficient:


Air-intake is located at the front of the engine bay, so it can suck in cooler air:


Fuse box is neatly arranged:


Foam insulation above the wheel arches is visible. All of these touches lead to the Yaris' refined cabin:


Notice how far the headlamp stretches back!! If car designers continue this trend, we'll probably have them touching the A-Pillar in another 5 years:


Smooth 6-speed shifter is a delight to hold and use. Reverse is located up, to the extreme left:


Before engaging reverse, you need to lift this collar up:


Driving the 1.5L Petrol CVT

The Yaris AT comes with a CVT (continuously variable transmission). A CVT has less moving parts than a conventional AT, is lighter and brings a smooth driving experience. However, CVTs also suffer from the rubber-band effect wherein hard throttle input will lead to revs rising with no corresponding increase in speed (Yaris does exhibit this annoying behaviour).

The VX variant of the Yaris AT gets steering-mounted paddle shifters that let you access 7 'virtual' gear ratios. You can also access these ratios by moving the gear lever to the front or back. A gearshift indicator (e.g. D1, M7, etc.) on the instrument cluster shows you what predefined 'virtual' ratio you've chosen.

To start the car, put your foot on the brake pedal and press the starter button. Take your foot off the brake pedal and the vehicle starts rolling. This creeping means that you can drive the car with just the brake pedal in stop & go traffic (no need to press the accelerator).

The Yaris CVT provides a seamless experience in the city. As there aren't any actual gearshifts taking place, the drive feels amazingly smooth. In urban traffic conditions, the engine will rarely need to cross 2,000 rpm. It uses a higher ratio at the earliest possible opportunity. By CVT standards, throttle response is good and the rubber-band (slipping clutch) effect is well controlled with a light foot on the accelerator. However, just like the MT, the car is best driven with partial throttle inputs. The engine struggles if you use your right foot in a heavy manner. Instead, we suggest driving gently and enjoying the smooth drive the car has to offer. Most folk won't be able to tell the difference from a normal AT, except for the 'shiftless' drive. The light steering and smooth transmission make for a good combination in our congested cities. Over your daily drive to work, don't even bother with the paddle shifters. Let the transmission do all the work.

On the open road, the Yaris CVT feels sluggish compared to the City CVT (there is no comparison at all with the Vento TSI). Enthusiasts will be disappointed as neither is the engine fast, nor is the transmission. Floor the accelerator abruptly and all you'll see is a rise in engine rpms, a whole lot of noise, but with no corresponding increase in speed. In such a situation, the car will be slow to respond and the rubber band effect can get very annoying, particularly on undivided highways. At times, we saw the response time go as high as 5 seconds! The Yaris (like other CVTs) drives best with light to mid-range accelerator inputs.

One needs to spend some time understanding the transmission's characteristics. Once that's done, decent progress can be made. No, the Yaris CVT isn't slow on the expressway and it will easily keep up with traffic. On the flip side, this isn't a car we'd call fast or fun either. The Yaris CVT is more suited to a calm cruiser than a fast enthusiast.

With a CVT, it's important to 'prepare' the car in advance for a quick overtaking manouveur. I found that the best way to overtake is to move the gear lever to 'M' mode or make use of the paddle shifters. With the M mode and paddle shifters, you can also extract a surprisingly good amount of engine braking from the CVT. Still, in terms of driving pleasure, conventional ATs or the DSG are a whole lot more fun. Another point is that the 1.5L petrol can get noisy over 4,000 rpm. This can get irritating for occupants especially as the revvs are thrown up every time the accelerator is pressed (much more frequently than in the MT). Keep the accelerator floored and the engine revvs till 6,000 rpm before choosing a higher ratio.

CVTs can be more fuel-efficient than conventional ATs (but not well-driven manual transmissions). Drive with a light foot and you should see acceptable fuel economy. An ECO light comes on in the instrument cluster while the car is being driven economically in D mode. The Yaris CVT has an ARAI rating of 17.8 km/l. This is due to the CVT's ability to cruise at high speed with low rpms.

Coming to driver aids, Toyota has also equipped the Yaris with cruise control, traction control and hill start assist.

Gear console has a piano black finish and chrome insert. The gear shifter has a black top with silver and chrome below:


Because it has a gated shifter (zig-zag pattern), there is no need for a gear unlock button. To engage manual (M) mode, move the lever to D and then to the right. Push the lever up to upshift and down to downshift (just the way we like it):


The shift lock release button on the top right. Pressing this button bypasses the gear lock system whereby you cannot move out of position "P" unless the key is inserted and the brake pedal is pressed. Use the shift lock button when you park on an incline and can’t move the lever out of "P". The feature could also be used when towing the vehicle:


Gear indicator denotes the 'virtual gear' selected in M mode:


Drive with a light foot and you'll see the yellow ECO light on the rev counter:


Cruise control sign appears on the MID when the feature is activated. It works above 42 km/h:


If you so wish, traction control can be turned off. We wouldn't recommend it for Indian conditions though (useful only when starting off on a slippery surface like say, snow):

Last edited by GTO : 21st June 2018 at 10:52.
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Old 21st June 2018, 10:40   #8
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Ride & Handling

The Yaris rides on 15" rims with 185/60 rubber and comes with the ubiquitous McPherson strut suspension setup at the front and a coupled torsion beam setup at the rear. Ride quality at urban speeds is best described as mature. The smaller wheels & taller tyre sidewalls also help keeping the ride compliant. Even at the rear, things are comfortable. However, this mature tune means that the suspension feels firmer than other Toyota cars. At low speeds, you'll feel this on bad roads or sharp bumps.

At highway speeds, the ride is again very mature. There is no wallowing or bouncing experienced while tackling road irregularities or undulations. Rough patches and potholes are handled with aplomb - you won't even be slowing down for rough patches at speed. This high speed ride quality is definitely one of the strong points of the Yaris. What is also impressive is the quality of damping used by Toyota. The suspension functions very silently at all times. Even while tackling large bumps or potholes, there are no unpleasant noises heard.

At triple digits, the Yaris feels planted and there is no sign of any nervousness (Japanese cars have come a long way!). While travelling at 100 km/h, slightly rough patches are dealt with, without losing composure. Take some corners and you'll see that grip levels are good with the car being able to change direction easily. As we have mentioned earlier, the Yaris is stiffer than other Toyotas and body roll is very well controlled. Not just average Joes, even BHPians will find the car's handling capability to be satisfactory. Only when you encounter mid-corner bumps / rough patches will you see the Yaris not matching up to the Europeans. The 185/60 R15 GoodYear tyres should do for most drivers, but those hitting the open road often should definitely switch to safer 195s.

The electric power steering of the Yaris is not as light as the Verna's at parking and city speeds. Still, it's not so heavy that drivers will complain either, and the car is easy enough to drive in urban situations. Its turning radius of 5.1m is smaller than its competitors too (City = 5.3m, Ciaz = 5.4m, Verna = 5.18m). At high speeds, the EPS does weigh up. That said, it lacks feel and relays little feedback to the driver. Enthusiasts won't find this typical Toyota steering to their liking.

Like most Toyotas, the ground clearance appears to be adequate (152 mm laden, 175 mm unladen). We didn't scrape the undercarriage over any bumps. However, we hadn't loaded it up with 4 passengers and luggage either. We’ll have to rely on BHPians’ ownership reports for real-world observations. Can remain optimistic as the firm suspension tune means it won't sag as easily.

The V and VX variants come with disc brakes all-round. Other than the slow-selling Linea T-Jet, no other car in this segment gets disc brakes at the rear. The pedal travels very little before the brake pads start biting. The brakes have good bite and do a fantastic job of stopping the car. Must add that the brakes of the MT felt sharper than those of the CVT. ABS + EBD are standard on all variants of the Yaris.

Last edited by GTO : 21st June 2018 at 10:51.
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Old 21st June 2018, 10:41   #9
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Other Points

• First spotted testing in India in January 2018. Thanks to BHPian Anashku for bringing us these images. The first undisguised images of the car appeared later in the same month. Details of the variants were scooped by BHPian cmani0000 in April 2018.

• Unveiled at the 2018 Auto Expo. Thanks to Moderators Eddy and Vid6639 for their fantastic coverage (The Toyota Yaris. EDIT: Prices start at Rs. 8.75 lakh) of the car. Also thanks to Moderator .Anshuman for his short video covering it. Their preview was more detailed than nearly all of the reviews we see today!

• Available in 4 trim levels - J, G, V & VX. All variants come with the optional automatic transmission (CVT); a fantastic move . According to a media report, the CVT accounts for a whopping 2/3rds of all Yaris' booked in India so far. Says a lot about the direction the market is moving in.

• The pricing is crazy. BHPian cmani0000 wrote "Nice pricing strategy from Toyota, I think they are competing with Corolla and have priced lesser than that, Well done!" He canceled his Yaris booking due to the high pricing.

• Built in Karnataka with an 87% level of localisation.

• Ex-showroom prices are the same across the country. GST = simplification.

• Some of the segment-first features include the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), front parking sensors, 7 airbags, electrically adjustable driver's seat, flat floor, roof-mounted air vents with ambient illumination and high solar energy-absorbing glass.

• Conversely, many features such as an auto-dimming IRVM, auto-folding ORVMs, lumbar support for the driver’s seat, reach-adjustable steering and sunroof are missing. With such premium pricing, these features are a must-have. Big mistake by Toyota.

• Standard warranty of 3 years / 1,00,000 km. Toyota now offers extended warranties of up to 7 years. As always, we strongly recommend the maximum coverage.

• The first 3 services have free labour. Initial intervals are 1,000 km / 1 month, 10,000 km / 12 months and 20,000 km / 24 months.

• Uniquely, even 'auto headlamps' and 'auto-folding ORVMs' are available as accessories. Big shoutout to BHPian Flyer for listing the noteworthy accessories in this post.

• Fuel tank = 42 liters. Somehow, cars from this segment are stuck in the 40 - 45 liter range (City & Ciaz are low too). We hope they move up to 50 liters sooner rather than later.

• The doors auto-lock at 25 km/h; they don't auto-unlock when the engine is switched off (we like it this way for security reasons). They will automatically unlock in an accident.

• If the engine is running and you step out with the smartkey, the car gives you a very audible warning on the outside! Have seen this in Hyundais too.

• Has the follow-me-home feature. Switch off the car and flash the high beam, it'll then stay on for 30 seconds while you find your way in the dark. We wish it happened automatically though (without the need for any user initiation).

• When you lock & unlock the car, there is no confirmation beep. We miss it. Lock the car and the turn indicators flash once; unlock the car and they flash twice.

• TPMS is not the cheaper ABS-based type like in some cars. The tyre valves have actual inbuilt sensors. This means you can only change the valves with Toyota ones.

• Scored a 5-star safety rating in the ASEAN NCAP crash tests! Obtained 81.63 / 100 points. We deeply respect Toyota's commitment to safety.

Disclaimer: Toyota invited Team-BHP for the Yaris test-drive. They covered all the travel expenses for this driving event.

Last edited by GTO : 21st June 2018 at 10:50.
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Old 21st June 2018, 10:41   #10
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The Smaller yet Significant Things

Apart from the new Wildfire Red colour of our test car, the Yaris is available in 5 other shades - Phantom Brown, Grey Metallic, Super White, Pearl White & Silver Metallic:


The Yaris is available only with a petrol engine. A small sticker on the inside of the fuel flap to indicate its dietary preferences - uniquely, 'diesel' is mentioned, but marked out and there's no explicit mention of 'petrol':


In addition to the sticker on the flap, there is a small "P" printed on the fuel cap. So many touches, but no one thought of a big 'PETROL' sticker to just keep it simple? No spill protector provided:


42L fuel tank is larger than that of the City (40L), but smaller than all the other cars of the segment:


While there is partial plastic cladding in the front wheel arches...


…there's none at the rear!


All wheel arches have two aero fins on the inside:


Exposed silver bolts in the wheel wells are clearly visible and an eyesore. Black paint could have camouflaged them better. Toyota missed it, but you shouldn't. DIY:


No LED headlamps. In low beam, the halogen projectors are par for the course (nothing exceptional):


With high beam engaged, the throw is impressive:


Recommended tyre pressure is 32 / 30 PSI:


VIN is engraved on a beam, below the driver's seat (sticker also there on B-pillar):


Auto-dimming IRVM is shockingly missing in a car costing 15+ lakhs on the road! Standard manual adjuster is provided. Sad:


Rubber beading is soft, of good quality and well-fitted. Thanks to this and the 'acoustic & vibration control window glasses', insulation from exterior noises / traffic sounds is superb:


Interior buttons are backlit in blue:


Neatly integrated solar sensor (for the climate control) sits on the right side of the dashboard:


Light sensor (for the auto-headlamps) is located on the left. None of them stick out like in other cars:


Two hooks to stop the "Yaris' branded driver's mat from sliding around:


Instrument cluster is prone to reflections and as a result, difficult to read under sunlight. A rare usability failure in a Toyota:


Needles do a clean sweep on startup. Frankly, we're now getting tired of this. It's become way too common to entertain anymore & we hope manufacturers stop the practice:


Blue indicator comes on when you start the car & the engine is cold. When the engine has reached its operating temperature, it disappears. Translated, you should keep the revs low while this light is on. Also, it will turn red if the motor overheats:


VX variant gets a tyre pressure monitoring system. Reset switch is located in the driver's footwell:


In case the pressure in one or more tyres is not at the recommended level, a warning light appears in the instrument cluster. There is no display showing the actual pressure reading though:


Parking sensor display comes up in the MID whenever a car or person comes close to the bumpers. Even when you're not parking. We caught this while waiting at a traffic light:


You don't ever need to take the black smartkey out of your pocket, thanks to the passive keyless entry and go:


White OBD port is located below the dashboard (in the driver's footwell):


There is very little space between the clutch and center console panel to rest your foot. You might have to slide it below the clutch. A proper dead pedal will be sorely missed by owners:


Jack is stored below the front passenger's seat:


A plastic cover has been provided for it, which needs to be pulled out from behind. You can remove the jack only from the rear passenger's seat:


Cables for the driver's electrically-adjustable seat come out from below the carpet through a flap under the seat:


Ambient lighting at the front is restricted to just the base of the center fascia:


Bonnet has two slots where the holding rod can be fixed. This allows one to open the bonnet according to his / her height preference. The rod gets very hot if the engine has been running. Remember to hold it only via the white plastic area that has been provided:


Boot lamp is just an open bulb with a small grille. Looks cheap in such an expensive car. Some hatchbacks have better finished units. Here's the one in the Maruti Swift for reference:


Horn discs are located right at the front. The tone is neutral-sounding (typical Toyota family sound), but not as sweet as the wind-tone units of European cars:


With the touchscreen of the head-unit tilted, it is impossible to see the functions displayed on it from the driver's (or passenger's) seat. To press the screen button to get it back in place, one has to crane his / her neck over the unit and battle poor visibility. Even if you are the rare gentleman that still uses CDs, this process will convert you to Bluetooth streaming:

Last edited by GTO : 21st June 2018 at 10:49.
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Old 21st June 2018, 11:14   #11
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Re: Toyota Yaris : Official Review

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Official Reviews Section. Thanks for sharing! Rating 5 stars as always, Aditya & Vid6639. You guys are as unbeatable as Hamilton & Rosberg were together.

Toyota's 2nd shot at the sedan segment is certainly better than the first (i.e. Etios). The Yaris has qualities that will endear itself to buyers, especially fans of the T badge. Equally, this is surely not the best that the world's no.1 car manufacturer could have done. Leave aside the overpriced nature, even the product itself has many flaws which have been aptly listed in the review.

A good car, but not great.

Not going to be easy for the Yaris to enter a segment at the top of the pricing chart. If someone is looking for a no-nonsense reliable commuter, the Ciaz, Verna & City all fit the bill, with the Maruti & Hyundai being much cheaper too. If someone is looking for a fast self-driven car, I'd tell him to get the City, Vento or Verna 1.6 diesel. Backseat? The Ciaz & City are both superior. The Yaris is neither here nor there. Its standout features are that badge on the hood & safety kit (City, Vento & Verna aren't exactly unsafe).

Some of you might be wondering why we've added the head-unit in the opening post as a dislike point. Well, music is really important to us and it really is that flawed. Most car owners will be forced to live with it - after all, who upgrades head-units in the aftermarket anymore? A 17-lakh OTR car deserves better.

Last edited by GTO : 21st June 2018 at 11:18.
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Old 21st June 2018, 11:38   #12
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Re: Toyota Yaris : Official Review

Hey Aditya & Team,

Thanks for this exhaustive report

I recently test drove the YARIS A/T & was really impressed with the refinement levels of the engine, ride quality & the typical Toyota-ness of this product.

However, as i was looking to buy this to be chauffeur driven in it really turned me down in the spaciousness aspect. Surprisingly my Ford Figo hatch too has better leg & headroom than the Yaris.

Another turn off was the After-marketish touchscreen infotainment system.

To be honest this is a very stale product as this generation (3rd) of the Yaris was launched in around early 2014 (Thailand, Indonesia etc) & though we get the facelifted version it definitely feels 5 years old.

IMO this car Majorly lacks the "Desirability Quotient' & doesnt justify the price it demands.

Last edited by karan561 : 21st June 2018 at 12:02.
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Old 21st June 2018, 12:22   #13
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Re: Toyota Yaris : Official Review

No diesel option for Kitna Deti hai gang makes it a difficult entry for Yaris. Toyota needs a volume car to establish itself in India.

Is this it? Looks like its going to be missed bus.
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Old 21st June 2018, 12:23   #14
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Re: Toyota Yaris : Official Review

Great Review by the team. Attention to detail is superb. It is a car which had left many sitting on the fence. The car somehow scores big on quality but lacks on many fronts. I feel that the "T" badge and low service costs are no longer sufficient to sell great numbers in an already competitive market.

Buying an overpriced car makes no sense as the amount of extra money spent at the time of purchase can best be used for servicing the other cars which are not only priced lower but are equally reasonable with servicing costs like Honda, Ciaz. So the low cost maintenance of "T" badge may not hold true in every case.

Although, the bullet proof reliability of "T" badge can't be questioned but at the same time I hope owners of this car will not have to start a niggles thread.

No doubt that the fit and finish of the car is high quality, I feel the rear door arm rests are very narrow like that of Etios.

The dealers of Toyota are very confident and the ones I have managed to speak have said that it will take some time to pick up but once it picks up there won't be any looking back thereafter.

Last edited by mints21 : 21st June 2018 at 12:24.
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Old 21st June 2018, 12:30   #15
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Re: Toyota Yaris : Official Review

An excellent review as usual!

A question on the airbags: This review mentions 2 airbags for the seats, 1 for the driver side knee, and I assume 2 standard for the front passengers. In which pillar are the remaining 2 airbags? The picture here: http://www.team-bhp.com/carpics/2018...a-yaris-82.jpg shows airbags in the A pillars,
and the picture here: http://www.team-bhp.com/carpics/2018...a-yaris-37.jpg mentions the airbags on the C pillars!
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