- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.5i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
80kW, 141Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 5.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2011)
2017 Toyota Yaris SX new car review
Why we're driving it
Toyota updated the Yaris in March, lending new looks and updated technology to the smallest car in its range. While most of the changes are largely skin-deep, leaving mechanical elements such as the engine and transmission untouched, they do introduce an important safety pack.
What we like
The Yaris is now available with autonomous emergency braking, lane departure alert and automatic high beam headlights across the range. Standard in the top-end ($22,470) Yaris ZR, the optional features add a very reasonable $650 to the more affordable Yaris Ascent and SX.
Safety is solid on the Yaris, which features a five-star ANCAP rating and seven airbags (including driver's knee protection) to protect occupants.
Every model in the range features a colour infotainment screen, reversing camera, cruise control and air conditioning as standard – the days of "poverty pack" ill-equipped economy models look to be behind us.
Priced from $17,330 plus on-road costs, the Yaris SX tested here features a 1.5-litre engine with 80kW (as opposed to the entry point's 1.3-litre, 60kW motor) and a five-speed manual transmission as standard. It gets fog lamps, tinted windows a premium steering wheel and gear knob.
Toyota is currently offering end of financial year deals on the Yaris range, starting with the base Yaris Ascent in manual form for $15,990 drive-away, through to the Yaris SX auto for $19,990 drive-away and the top-end Yaris ZR for $23,450 drive-away until June 30, 2017.
The Yaris is one of the cheapest cars in its class to run, with capped price servicing available for $140 per service, due every six months or 10,000km. It also offers excellent resale value thanks to Toyota's reputation for reliability.
What we dislike
Those six month intervals are a little too frequent to be convenient, and it's three-year, 100,000 kilometre warranty is a bit tightfisted.
Toyota's small car styling is a little divisive to our eyes, with the facelifted model looking a little harsh from some angles. While we're on appearances, the Yaris SX's steel wheels with hubcaps are a cheap touch, and its interior touchscreen feels like something from the Super Cheap Auto catalogue.
The Yaris' lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity lags behind rivals.
Toyota's optional four-speed auto isn't a shining example of the breed, though it is reasonably priced at $1,530.
The Yaris isn't as dynamic to drive as a Mazda2 or Ford Fiesta, but it gets the job done.
Would we buy one?
You could do a lot worse than Toyota's city car when buying a small hatch.
Toyota's changes are worthwhile - particularly the optional safety features - but we'd probably lean toward a more modern rival with more standard equipment.
2017 Toyota Yaris SX pricing and specifications
Price: $17,330 before on-road costs
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power: 80kW at 6000rpm
Torque: 141Nm at 4400rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 5.9L/100km