A little more than just a classic facelift Toyota donated his small car Yaris and replaced over 900 parts on the vehicle. The third generation, which has been available since 2011, will arrive from April 24 with improved safety equipment, revised engines and a refreshed look. In addition, a new 1,5-liter engine with 82 kW / 111 hp replaces the previous 1,33-liter unit. As usual, the Japanese offer their bestsellers as three and five-door models. At least 12.540 euros are due in combination with the 51 kW / 69 hp three-cylinder. The five-door car costs 700 euros extra. The hybrid version is available from 17.990 euros in the price list.
However, only customers of the small three-cylinder have the choice between the two body styles. All other engines are only available as five-door models. The 1,5-liter vacuum cleaner is a completely new addition to the range. It is a further development of the now more powerless 1,33-liter with 73 kW / 99 hp. Thanks to a high compression of 13,5: 1 and a valve control that allows a change between Otto and Atkinson combustion cycles, it should enable better performance with less consumption.
And indeed the 1.5 Series conveys a more agile driving experience than the predecessor engine. After all, the Sauber provides a maximum torque of 136 Nm at 4.400 rpm. But that also means that you should always keep the torque in the right range by diligently using the six-speed gearbox. But you shouldn't take it too boldly, then the unit shows its noisy side. Depending on the equipment and weight, Toyota specifies a standard consumption between 4,8 and 5 liters. During the first test drives in the hinterland of Amsterdam, the on-board computer showed a consumption of 120 liters with a mix of motorway driving (Vmax .: 5,8 km / h), country and city roads. Nice: the chassis gently swallows many bumps in the road.
Most of the Yaris customers will continue to use the hybrid version. So far, around 60 percent of buyers in Germany have opted for this combination of combustion engine and electric drive; Toyota now even expects a 70 percent hybrid share of the engine mix and supports this by paying a hybrid premium of 3.000 euros, based on the state's e-car premium. Otherwise, the hybrid naturally scores with its low fuel consumption. The standard value is between 3,3 and 3,6 liters. When revising as part of the facelift, the engineers took less of the drive unit. The well-known interplay of the 55 kW / 74 hp 1,5 liter petrol engine and the 45 kW / 61 hp electric motor as well as the total output of 74 kW / 100 hp remains. Rather, the aim was to improve smoothness and reduce noise.
The hybrid is now much quieter. However, only up to a certain point. If you accelerate, for example, to overtake or apply gas with force, it booms as always from the engine compartment. In addition, the continuously variable transmission - a DSG is not yet an alternative at Toyota in the medium term - according to his unwillingness to support this driving style. The Yaris Hybrid is a vehicle for relaxed drivers. The interplay between the two motors is most effective and therefore the most economical for the driver in an urban environment. Speaking of economical: Toyota removed the diesel from the Yaris program in Germany.
There is an extensive safety package for the small car ex works. The so-called safety sense package includes collision avoidance as well as lane keeping and high beam assistant. Most customers opt for the comfort equipment (from 15.790 euros, hybrid: from 19.340 euros). Traffic sign recognition is also part of this. Air conditioning, a 4,2-inch display for the on-board computer, reversing camera and leather steering wheel are also included as standard.
Oh yes. And of course there were also some optical retouches. There is a more aggressively drawn front and larger rear lights with characteristic LED graphics at the rear. The handle in the paint pot has become more color intensive. If you want, you can also customize your vehicle with colored wing mirror caps or elements for the front. New upholstery fabrics are now used in the interior. What remains are the decent amount of space and the trunk volume, which holds between 286 and 1.119 liters.
Even after the extensive facelift, the Yaris is preferably a vehicle for buyers who value safety and consumption, but who consider design and performance to be less important. At the end of the year, however, Toyota played out the emotion card and launched a sporty variant called GRMN. Here, a 1-liter turbo with at least 8 hp ensures driving pleasure. (Elfriede Munsch / SP-X)