2015 Toyota Yaris lobs in USA

Details of the US-market 2015 Toyota Yaris have emerged, with price rises across the board.

As previously reported the Toyota Yaris mid-life update benefits from over 1000 new parts, resulting a fresh new face, fettled engines, updated interiors and different suspension parts, however with the cheapest five-door Yaris priced at $16,820 in the US, which represents a price rise of two per cent.

It's unlikely to foreshadow major price increases in the Australia-bound Yaris, as the impending arrival of new Hyundai i20, Mazda2 and Volkswagen Polo models ensure tight competition.

Toyota Australia was unable to comment about potential price increases at the time of writing.

The most affordable five-door Yaris available in Australia at present is the $15,690 1.3 YR model. The most affordable $US16,820 North American model Yaris converts to a price of $17,815.

While US models are offered solely with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine worth 79kW/139Nm, Australian models are likely to soldier on with a mildly reworked version of the entry-level 1.3-litre (63kW/121Nm) engine in addition, which would help Toyota keep the price down.

Only the five-door Yaris hatch will be sold in Australia when the new-look model arrives here in September. The sub-$15K three-door model will be boned due to slow sales, and the sedan's future is in limbo too. Australian versions of the new Yaris won't be as comprehensively equipped as European or US models, and are not expected to benefit from new technology.

The Yaris is currently the second-best selling light car in Australia, with 6573 sales in the first half of 2014 only marginally behind the Mazda2's 6616 sales.

An all-new Mazda2 will launch here in late October 2014, giving the new Toyota Yaris a month's head start.

Where the US market Yaris gets a five-speed manual or an ageing four-speed auto, the Mazda2 will offer six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.