Something old, something new in the 2014 Toyota Yaris

THE 2014 Yaris’ aggressive grille with silver garnish resembles that of a Lexus.

The 2014 Toyota Yaris subcompact hatchback, with its aggressive-looking, Lexus-inspired façade, looks all-new and very different from the outgoing cutesy model.  But not everything is new. After all, car manufacturers are reluctant to change a successful formula for as the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”  Something old, something new is a smart way to keep the loyalty of customers and, in the process, lower the retail price to attract new buyers.

Built on the same platform as the Toyota Vios and powered by the same INZ-FE 16-valve, four cylinders-in-line, DOHC engine with VVT-i mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, the Yaris 1.5G, like the Vios 1.5G, produces  105.53 horsepower and 141 Newton-meters max torque.  Fuel economy is estimated at more than 8 kilometer per liter  in city driving and 12.6 kpl on the highway.

THE YARIS is longer by 315 millimeters.

ACCELERATION. While the powerplant with electronic fuel injection is acceptably strong under moderate acceleration around town, it feels strained when attempting to overtake on the highway or when the car is full of passengers.  If you were to judge the new Yaris by its looks alone, especially by its macho grille with silver garnish and new projector-type halogen headlamps, you would never guess that it performs modestly with a dated four-speed A/T.

On the other hand, the Yaris holds its value well over the years and is backed by Toyota’s reputation for reliability and high resale value.  What’s new about the Yaris is that it is longer by 315 millimeters, has 77 mm more legroom in the cabin, new, extended bulb-type rear combination lamps, blacked-out quarter panels and cargo space that increases to 326 liters when the 60/40 split rear seatbacks are folded down.

CARGO space was upgraded to 326 liters.

Adequate riding comfort is ensured by the suspension system consisting of MacPherson strut type in front and torsion beam at the rear, with stabilizers fore and aft.  Stopping power is provided by solid disc brakes in front and drums at the rear.  On the 1.5G variant, the tires/wheels are 185/60R15, which is standard in the segment to which the Yaris belongs.

VISIBILITY. The expansive greenhouse of the new Yaris offers excellent visibility.  The fabric-covered driver and front passenger seats slide and recline with the driver’s seat vertically adjustable. The three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather shift lever and knob and plated inside door handles add a touch of class to the cabin.  On the dash are easy-to-operate controls simply and logically laid out plus an analogue meter gauge, a lamp-type econ meter, a multi-information display and a digital clock.

In terms of storage options, the new Yaris offers a no-lid rear console box, a glove box, door trim-integrated pockets, passenger seatback pocket and three cupholders (two in front, one at the back.)  The windows and door locks are all power together with the outside rear view mirrors, which are also power-retractable and have integrated turn signal lamps in the 1.5G variant. The integrated audio system (single CD/MP3/USB) has four speakers and aux and USB inputs.

THE 1.5-LITER, 4-in-line DOHC engine with VVT-i produces 105.53 HP and 141 Nm max torque.

77 MM more legroom due to the Yaris’ increased length

SAFETY. The Yaris would surely earn four stars from the Asean NCAP vehicle crashworthiness test as it has two airbags, ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist, three-point pretensioner seatbelts, isofix, a high-mount LED stop lamp, integrated fog lamps, wireless doorlock and Toyota’s Vehicle Security System (TVSS.)

Summing up, driving the new Yaris gives you the impression that it is solidly built and would last many years of daily commuting in urban areas.  It may not be as fun to drive or as agile as its rivals in the subcompact hatchback segment or have a cutting-edge gearbox like a CVT or six-speed A/T, but it sips regular grade gasoline frugally, is hassle-free and competitively priced. Incidentally, the suggested retail price is the biggest and most surprising new thing about the 2014 Yaris as the SRPs have been reduced by Toyota Motor Philippines. Imported CBU from Thailand instead of Japan, the new prices of the 2014 Yaris are P845,000 for the top-end 1.5G A/T, P755,000 for the 1.3E A/T  and P720,000 for the 1.3E manual transmission.

INSIDE, a leather three-spoke steering wheel, multi-info display and chrome and silver accents. photos by Aida Sevilla-Mendoza