NEW YARIS BEATS PRIUS FOR FUEL ECONOMY

Toyota’s sophisticated new city hatchback is also its new eco-star

This issue of DRIVEN is full of large, fast, German metal. So to balance things out, let’s kick off with what will be New Zealand’s most thrifty non-plug-in hybrid when it's launched in August.

The new-generation Toyota Yaris GX hybrid is now the Japanese brand’s most economical non-EV Kiwi model.

Combined fuel consumption of just 3.3l/100km is even better than the Prius (3.4l/100km, so, just). At $27,990, the GX hybrid is $2000 more than the standard Yaris GX; the petrol-electric powertrain combines a new 1.5l three-cylinder engine with a lithium-ion battery pack, for total system output of 85kW.

By way of comparison, the standard Yaris GX gets the same 1.5l petrol engine in a higher state of tune, making 88kW/145Nm. It can’t match the hybrid’s fuel economy but it’s hardly thirsty: the combined figure is just 4.9l/100km.

Yaris is being launched in fivedoor hatchback form to start with, with GX and ZR specifications. Toyota NZ is following the path it set with Corolla by offering the hybrid powertrain right across the range, including the rangetopping ZR “Two Tone”, which adds a black roof to the ZR for an extra $500.

There’s much more to come from Yaris. At the end of this year we’ll see the Yaris Cross, a jackedup SUV-style version with the same powertrain choices. At the same time, Toyota NZ will turn the little three-cylinder engine up to 11 with the GR Yaris, a rally-inspired hot hatch that makes 200kW/360Nm and boasts a six-speed manual with a GR-Four all-wheel drive system.

Pricing is yet to be revealed for the GR Yaris. But trust us, it won’t be $25,990.