TURN BACK THE clock three years, open up your glossy top Car April 2009 issue and browse through the new car sales. At number two you’ll see Toyota Yaris - 1701 units sold. That, by the way, was during a depressed era for SA sales. Browse through the current sales stats and you might be surprised to hear thatYaris sales have dropped to 878 units (December ,11 figures) and has been relegated to sixth position. This new contender has a lot of ground to make up on the new segment leaders such as the VW Polo Vivo and Ford’s Figo. So, does the newcomer sit head and shoulders above the competition alongside the Polo? Or will Toyota’s hopes rest on the introduction of the Etios to improve its segment sales?
The new Yaris has adopted a sportier styling demeanour in order to attract more male buyers, says Toyota. The changes have worked we feel; the front end in particular looks keen and edgy. The back has also undergone a transformation with the lights protruding from the boot line. The whole stance is more masculine, thanks to the height of the car being lowered by zomrn and the wheelbase extended by a further 50mm. The model here is the Xr which is the top of three trim levels, so you get 14-inch wheels, front fog lamps, tinted windows and the tiniest exhaust tip ever.
The Yaris, like so many small cars these days, has an air of accommodation inside, despite its diminutive exterior proportions. By extending the dashboard away from the driver, Toyota’s designers have created a roomy environment that feels less cramped and more commodious than most superminis. Interior space is unsurprisingly up over its predecessor along with rear legroom. The dashboard’s tactile touches are passable, although the plastic throughout the interior looks to have been heated up and then brushed into place, abit like a horse’s mane. its appeal is largely subjective, but it still resonates with me. That said, this Xr spec comes complete with a touchscreen audio system, which is a classy piece of kit with easy-to-navigate menus. Anyone who has owned or used a three-door car has at some stage had to transport passengers in the rear. Usually front passenger seats slideforward to allow ease of ingress and return to their previous position once the passengers are seated. But the driver’s seat on the Yaris, doesn’t return to its original position, forcing you to adjust its station each time. Not only is this odd but a tad annoying.
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The hatchback`s 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine pumps out a measly 51kW and 93Nm of torque. Ifyou’re looking at buying for performance, this mite offers little bang for all those bucks. The three-potter’s exhaust note does have an attractive offbeat canter to it though, rather like an old air-cooled Porsche. The five-speed manual is typically Toyota, one can feel the reliability in its shift but the transition is a little long meaning quick slaps into third can often be missed. Our fuel consumption figures were also higher than Toyota’s claim, but this is likely to get better with more miles under the belt. Under normal driving conditions on our test route we managed 6. 5L /100km.
Handling
The most redeeming feature on the Yaris is its handling, and the more powerful variants should be an absolute blast to drive. Even our 1.0-litre test unit offered good lateral traction and a reassuring sense of confidence. The ride quality is delightfully supple, soaking up bumps with aplomb. The chassis rides flat when thrown into a bend and you can really wring its neck without having to be bothered by tyre screeching and the early intervention of Lmdersteer. Steering is also responsive on turn-in, despite a slight dead spot around its centre. The Yaris is certainly at the top when it comes to a fun-handling baby hatchback but one really needs a higher-output engine to fully exploit it.
Verdict
Although an improvement on the previous generation, the Yaris hasn’t moved the game on as much as its competitors. Taking into account that the 1.0-litre model tested here in highest trim spec costs R155700, it really does struggle to make a case for itselfagainst better value competitors. Also, servicing on the Yaris is still required every 15000km where most competitors have shifted that to beyond 20 oookm for petrol variants, while maintaining their 100 000km warranties. The Yaris may have the best chassis in its class and be particularly fun to drive, but it can’t really compete with the value of cars like the Figo and Vivo or the performance, quality and value of more appealing rivals like the Kia Rio, Ford Fiesta and Hyundai izo. Brand allegiance will have to be very strong to justify this purchase.
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