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Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid Icon 5dr CVT Review

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A 0-60mph time of 9.0sec won’t set anyone’s trousers on fire, but the Yaris doesn’t struggle to get up to motorway speeds. It’s super economical, especially around town, but the 1.5-litre petrol engine is noisy when you aren't driving gently.

1.5 Hybrid

Hatchback

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

YARIS

The Yaris is well equipped, even in entry-level Icon trim; you get climate control, auto lights and wipers, electric front windows, 16in alloy wheels, a reversing camera and 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system with a DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also a suite of safety tech including automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

The Yaris is well equipped, even in entry-level Icon trim; you get climate control, auto lights and wipers, electric front windows, 16in alloy wheels, a reversing camera and 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system with a DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also a suite of safety tech including automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

Icon

1.5 Hybrid Icon 5dr CVT

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Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android auto

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 8 airbags: Driver & passenger's airbags, dual side curtain airbags, side impact airbags, front centre airbag

Toyota Yaris

The Yaris has some important strengths, not least its superb fuel economy, excellent reliability and generous standard kit. However, it can’t match the VW Polo for interior quality, infotainment or ride comfort, and it's pretty cramped inside, especially compared with the Honda Jazz.


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought almost exclusively as first cars or by people with no children – but the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

The Fiesta remains a star of the class, thanks to its strong Ecoboost petrol engines and suspension settings that are beautifully judged for British roads. However, the latest Volkswagen offers even more practicality, decent performance and a classy interior that has the edge on the Ford’s for quality.

Any of these models will be a competent commuter car – especially if fitted with one of the increasingly popular small turbocharged petrol engines – but just remember that while you’ll be able to carry two adults and two children, it might still be a struggle to get all of their luggage into the boot.

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Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid Icon 5dr CVT Review

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68.9

286

litres

92

g/km

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