Used Toyota Yaris 2020-present review

The Toyota Yaris must be a wizard, because few can master petrol and electric power quite like it. It combines the two for truly incredible fuel efficiency and, as if by magic, this hybrid achieves that without the need to be plugged in.

Its spellbinding talents don't end there either, especially as a used buy.

Engines & Performance: Every Yaris is powered by a 1.5-litre engine, a battery pack, a CVT automatic gearbox and a pair of electric motors. The total power output (sent to the front wheels) is 114bhp, enabling a 0-60mph time of 9.0sec in our tests.

This performance is more than satisfying for a small car and, around town in particular, its nippy electrical assistance is much appreciated; a squeeze of the accelerator pedal delivers moderate acceleration fairly promptly. However, when you need a real burst of pace, the set-up is rather less responsive, while engine noise becomes louder and more intrusive. It all gives you get the impression that the Yaris would prefer you to drive at a more relaxed pace.

In 2023, a 129bhp version of the same engine also became available. Go for this setup and you'll see punchier performance, but the difference is small.

Ride & Handling: The Yaris's direct steering, relatively taut suspension – even without the 'sports' suspension of the GR Sport trim level – and confidence-inspiring grip make it enjoyable to drive on country roads and urban streets alike. It feels agile and quick to change direction, being almost as entertaining as the Ford Fiesta and Seat Ibiza.

The ride is fairly firm, but its most notable caveat is that it's fidgety and can become unsettled over bumps – a VW Polo is more composed. The Yaris is quiet around town, aided by the ability to run silent on battery power alone for up to 80% of the time. A couple of issues rear their heads at motorway speeds, though; tyre roar is prevalent and you can hear some wind noise around the B-pillar. It's by no means a horrific offender, however.

Interior & Practicality: Inside, you sit fairly high for a small car, but it's easy to find an excellent, comfortable driving position. In terms of material quality, the interior feels a cut above budget alternatives like the first-gen MG3, but its rather drab plastics restrict it from reaching the heights of more premium rivals.

The infotainment system of early Yaris models is rather clunky, but thankfully you can bypass this by mirroring a version of your smartphone's display onto the touchscreen using Apple CarPlay/Android Auto – every Yaris got this technology as standard from new. We say 'early Yaris models' because 2023 also saw infotainment upgrades: the screen has updated software and is now larger, rising from 8.0in to 9.0in and 10.5in, the latter being fitted to Excel, GR Sport and Premiere Edition trims.

Although six-footers won't exactly feel cramped in the front of the Yaris, they might struggle in the back; there isn’t a great deal of head or leg room back there. What's more, the rising window line doesn’t let much light into the rear seat area, either, making it feel even more cramped than it really is.

Boot space is not a Yaris strong suit, either. In our tests, we managed to fit four carry-on-sized suitcases below the parcel shelf, while a fair few rivals – such as the Polo – can swallow at least five cases. There's no option to have a height-adjustable boot floor, too, meaning there's a big (160mm) drop down onto the floor of the boot from the entrance.

Trims & Equipment: The range opens with Icon, which gives you 16in wheels, a reversing camera, automatic headlights, adaptive cruise control and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity. Design trim brings LED front and rear lights, electric rear windows and an eight-inch touchscreen.

The next step up is GR Sport, which gets sportier styling, 18in wheels, front sports seats and keyless entry and start. Sitting at a similar rank, yet more comfort-focused is Excel. It does without sports suspension, and adds front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring and an air purifier.

While all trim levels get good safety kit – the Toyota Yaris was given the maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP during crash testing as well – luxuries aren't as plentiful. For example, none come with heated seats or a heated steering wheel.

Interested in buying a used Toyota Yaris? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

As of writing, the cheapest examples are 2020/'21 cars in Icon trim, and you can expect to spend upwards of £11,000 on one of those. Up your budget by around £2000 to get a Design car and by a further £5000 to get a GR Sport.

Expect to spend at least £15,000 on a 2024 model.

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MPG: This is where the Yaris comes into its element. In fact, it's the most efficient car we've ever put through our scientific Real MPG test. It averaged a whisker under 60mpg and managed an astonishing 80mpg around town. Its official average is 68.9mpg.

Road tax: Being a hybrid, it attracts a flat rate fee of £180 per year in road tax. Read more about road tax costs here.

Insurance and servicing: With all models occupying insurance group 13 or 14, the Yaris is cheap to insure. Toyota offers fixed price servicing – it'll cost you £310 for a full service.

A three-year warranty comes as standard from new with the Yaris, but there is the option of extending it up to 10 years and 100,000 miles if you service your car at a Toyota dealership every year. That's longer than any other brand gives you (three years is the norm).

Reliability

Based on real-world owner reviews analysed in our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, the car boasts a robust mechanical performance but struggles with electrical issues, particularly sensors and dashboard displays, often requiring dealer assistance.

Most owners report satisfactory experiences at dealerships, noting prompt and professional service with efficient warranty repairs. However, some owners express frustration over long wait times for parts.

Discover more about used Toyota Yaris reliability and common problems on our dedicated reliability page.

Design trim cars are reasonably more expensive than entry-level Icon ones, but you can see the premium reflected in the kit list. Prices jump even higher as you rise up the trim range, while those with larger wheels and/or sports suspension have firmer, less comfortable rides, so we'd avoid splashing out there.

Due to the higher powered engine having only just hit the market, the prices alone are too high to recommend over the engine's lesser counterpart. What's more, the performance gain is small, as we mentioned.

Our favourite Toyota Yaris: 1.5 Hybrid Design

The Honda Jazz is arguably the fiercest rival to the Toyota Yaris. It's the small car to beat for passenger space, plus its unique and incredibly flexible rear seating only adds to that practicality. Like the Yaris, it also only comes as a hybrid.

The Ford Fiesta is superb to drive, smart inside and well equipped. In addition, it offers a broad range of trim levels – from the affordable Trend to the SUV-inspired Active – to cater for many tastes and budgets.

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Interested in buying a used Toyota Yaris? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.