Yar’ll want one
Toyota makes two different versions of its Yaris supermini, one with a 115PS engine and another with 130PS. Please forgive the few sentences of nerdiness that are about to follow.
In the 1980s Peugeot made two versions of its legendary 205 GTI hot hatch; one with 115PS and another with 130PS. The first had a 1.6-litre engine and the other 1.9 litre.
In the old days to get more power either a turbocharger had to be added or clever things done with the insides of the engine to make it rev more – or an increase in size was needed –Peugeot clearly chose to do the latter.
These days it’s different. Electrification has changed the whole performance landscape. The two Yaris have the same 1,490cc petrol engine and both produce the same amount of horsepower.
How Toyota gets more power from one is by using a more powerful electric motor in the hybrid powertrain. Simple – and for Toyota very cheap to do.
There aren’t many small hybrid cars around, with only Renault’s Clio and Honda’s Jazz truly competing. Both are good cars. We’ve already driven the Yaris but that was the entry-level Design spec version with the lower powered engine.
Now it’s time for the 130PS powertrain in the flagship Premiere
Edition spec.
The Design, just to remind you, costs £23,535. This one in snazzy Neptune blue paint costs £28,295.
Your extra money, apart from the added 15PS and a 0-62mph time that’s half a second faster, brings you a bigger infotainment and instrument screens plus an eight-speaker JBL premium audio system. Oh, and a few go-faster additions like sports seats and a leather gear knob and steering wheel with red stitching.
Outside there’s not a lot of difference except for bigger alloy wheels (17in versus 16in on the entry-level car) and a rear diffuser that you don’t get on the Design.
The Yaris, regardless of trim, appears rather sporty anyway thanks to its flared rear wheel arches that make it look a bit like the 257bhp extremely hot GR Yaris. The new Yaris is 55mm shorter than its predecessor and has a roof that’s 40mm lower. This combined with a track that’s wider by 57mm front and back gives the car a rather imposing stance. It also makes it better to drive. But you don’t buy this car for sporty driving, you buy it because it is parsimonious when it comes to using petrol. The 115PS powertrain’s official consumption is 70.6mpg and the 130PS’S is 67.2mpg.
In reality you’ll find it easy to achieve over 60mpg in both. The advantage of owning the more powerful example is that it makes for
easier overtaking and manages hills better. The Yaris has always used space well for a small car and this latest one is no different.
You sit 21mm lower in the driving seat than before and the instrument panel is lower to improve the view out. With a steering column that adjusts for reach as well as rake it’s easy to get comfy. Toyota is yet to offer us a fully electric small car, for now this Yaris offers affordable and economical motoring.