Toyota Yaris review

With the exception of the 1.5-litre hybrid model, the Yaris is not a particularly efficient choice. Our preferred engine, the 1.5, emits more than 100g/km of CO2, and although the 1.0 is cleaner at 99g/km, that’s nothing special in this class.

Still, the Yaris Hybrid is one of the cheapest company cars money can buy, with a very low rate of benefit-in-kind tax and – if you opt for 15in wheels – a CO2 output that makes the car exempt from the Congestion Charge. It also had very impressive urban fuel economy in our real-world testing, but its less notable performance on the motorway means its overall fuel economy is good rather than outstanding.

Relatively cheap servicing costs and a low insurance group, thanks to plenty of safety equipment, make the Yaris an affordable choice compared with rivals.

Private buyers are better off with a petrol version, though, which has lower list prices and cheaper PCP finance deals than the hybrid.

The Yaris is well equipped as standard; Toyota’s Safety Sense package (now standard on all Yaris models) brings a pre-collision system, lane departure alert and automatic high beam, plus rain-sensing windscreen wipers, power front windows, Bluetooth and a six-speaker audio system are available on entry-level Active models. Hybrid models additionally feature automatic air conditioning and projector headlights.

Icon versions add 15in alloy wheels, cruise control, air conditioning and a 4.2in colour TFT multi-information screen. They are also equipped with the Toyota Touch 2 touchscreen-controlled multimedia system and rear-view camera. Icon Tech cars add satellite navigation and front parking sensors.

Design trim features larger 16in alloys, a honeycomb mesh grille, piano-black side mouldings, rear privacy glass and a rear spoiler, while Bi-Tone trim offers a wider choice of contrast colour options: Nebula Blue, Tokyo Red, Glacier Pearl White and Platinum Bronze – each has a black finish for the roof and pillars and a matching dash. Power rear windows, LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights are added too.

At the top of the range, Excel trim offers 16in alloys, a rear spoiler and chrome side sills. LED front and rear lights are fitted, along with automatic headlights, climate control and part-leather and Alcantara seat upholstery. A panoramic roof is available as an option for Design and Excel models.

Toyota ranked an extremely impressive third place out of 32 manufacturers in our reliability survey, with the Yaris finishing second to the Honda Jazz in the small car class.

A five-year/100,000-mile warranty is standard – this is better than what most of the Yaris’s rivals come with. All the engines are tried and tested, too, with very few mechanical issues reported.

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Toyota’s Safety Sense package is standard on all Yaris versions and brings automatic city braking technology, lane departure alert and automatic high beam. Stepping up to Icon trim adds road sign recognition technology.

There are no fewer than seven airbags to help you and everyone on board avoid injury, and stability control and sophisticated braking systems help you avoid a crash in the first place. The Yaris was awarded the maximum five-star rating in its Euro NCAP crash test.

Deadlocks and an engine immobiliser are on hand to deter thieves, rounding off one of the most impressive standard safety and security offerings in this class.

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