New Yaris Sedan cool and affordable
Mazda collaboration adds some subcompact style to its 2016 model
QUEBEC CITY Producing an affordable subcompact sedan that also comes across as “cool” sounds like mission impossible. But Toyota, with a little help from its new friend Mazda, seems to be on the right track with the new 2016 Toyota Yaris Sedan.
Making its Canadian launch in la belle province, where Toyota has sold more Yaris hatchbacks than the rest of Canada combined, Toyota emphasized the new sedan’s aggressive look and nimble driving dynamics. Sold as the Scion IA in the U.S., the target demographic for Toyota’s latest subcompact remains the same throughout North America: young millennial buyers looking for an affordable small car with premium features and a fun drive.
“The subcompact sedan category in Canada is going to get a whole lot cooler,” said Stephen Beatty, Managing Director of Toyota Canada, at the launch of the Yaris.
“The new Yaris Sedan proves you can have it all — even in a small package, with an injection of style that brings the cool factor of our small car offerings up a notch or two.”
If this sedan’s eye-catching Mazda-like profile looks familiar, don’t worry, you’re not going crazy. The all-new fourth-generation Yaris Sedan is the product of Toyota’s recent partnership with Mazda, which means this car is essentially a Mazda2 sedan with Toyota badges and other refinements.
Built in Mazda’s plant in Salamanca, Mexico, Toyota’s new four-door differentiates itself with a pair of aggressive, sharpeyed headlights. But the biggest visual difference between this and the Mazda2 sedan, which is not sold in Canada, is the prominent catfish-like lower hexagonal grill that complements the Kodo-inspired design. Compared with the last Yaris sedan, this new look is definitely bolder.
Inside, the Mazda familiarity continues, with the dashboard, steering wheel and materials all shared with the Mazda2 — and this isn’t a bad thing.
The interior, like most new Mazdas of late, feels premium and solidly built. As you’d expect in this class, there are plenty of hard plastics, but that’s offset with some nice soft-touch materials along the dash. Things also look familiar when you pop open the hood, where the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine found in the Mazda2 makes 106 horsepower and 103 lb.-ft. of torque. Like the Mazda, the Yaris Sedan is available with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual.
Pricing is a bit curious for the new Yaris Sedan. The base manual starts at $16,995, a grand more than the bigger and more powerful base 2015 Corolla, while the automatic starts at $18,200. The automatic can be ordered with a Premium Package that bumps up the price to $20,200, but adds some comforts like a seven-inch touchscreen display, six speakers, heated front seats, fog lamps, aluminum alloy wheels and a backup camera. Toyota justifies the price difference by saying the base Yaris Sedan comes with more standard features than the Corolla, such as air conditioning and push-button start.
Other standard features in the model include power windows and locks, cruise control, four speakers, a Bluetooth-ready audio system, 60/40 split-folding rear seats and safety features like ABS and traction control.
The 2016 Yaris Sedan is now available to buy across Canada.