First Toyota Yaris hybrid may account for half of all sales

When the next-generation Toyota Yaris arrives in Australian showrooms from September, Toyota says the first hybrid version of its smallest model could account for up to 50 per cent of all sales.

Powered by a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine in regular (88kW) and hybrid (85kW) guises, the new Toyota Yaris will set a new efficiency benchmark not only for the Japanese brand but in the light-car segment.

The Kia Rio, MG3 and Mazda2 rival has claimed fuel consumption of just 3.3L/100km for hybrid models, making the Yaris the most miserly Toyota thus far.

With non-hybrid models still fairly efficient at 4.9L/100km and more standard safety features than any other Toyota, the Japanese brand is confident of regaining its place as sales leader in the light-car class.

“The hybrid is a welcome addition to the new-generation Yaris. I think it will be around 40 to 50 per cent [of total sales],” Toyota Australia’s head of sales and marketing Sean Hanley told carsales.

“It will have the highest level of safety in any Toyota and it will have a hybrid variant for the first time in a Yaris, which will also be the most fuel-efficient Toyota in Australia.”

Hanley said that while other mainstream brands such as Honda, Hyundai and (effectively) Ford were exiting the light-car category, the Yaris remains the key entry model for Australia’s favourite auto brand.

“In terms of what this model represents, it’s super important for us,” he said. “This segment is often recognised and in fact is the introduction point for many of our customers in the Toyota brand.

“I’ve no doubt we have a lot of customers today that started with a small car like this, and this entry point car built incredible trust. It’s given us many loyal customers over the years.”

However, like the Toyota HiLux, the outgoing Toyota Yaris is in run-out ahead of its replacement and supplies of existing stocks are running perilously low.

The Yaris was originally due to be launched in Australia in May and with low stock levels, sales of Toyota’s evergreen compact car have been hit hard.

Year to date, sales of the Toyota Yaris hatch are down almost 40 per cent and sales were down 94.3 per cent during the month of July, when the Yaris was summarily dethroned as the nation’s top-selling light car by the MG3.

Despite the challenges of a shrinking light-car market segment and Victorian showrooms shutting down for six weeks due to COVID-19 stage 4 restrictions, Toyota’s sales chief expects a big uptick in safety and technology to draw Australians back to light cars like the Yaris.

“There’s a lot of class-leading attributes coming to this car and all these things will continue to make Yaris competitive,” said Hanley.

Available in three model grades (Ascent, SX, ZR), the standard Yaris hatchback will come equipped with a 7.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and voice recognition.

Apart from its efficiency and technology, Toyota will also pitch the new Yaris as a super-safe car as it will be the first in its class to get a centre airbag, along with an advanced sensor system that enables autonomous emergency braking including day/night detection of vehicles and pedestrians, and day-time cyclist detection.

It can avoid collisions with pedestrian and other vehicles while turning at intersections – a first for a Toyota in Australia – and can also recognise speed signs/limits and steer itself back into its lane via a lane-keep function.

But with all the extra technology, hybrid powertrains and safety equipment, the price of the Yaris could rise significantly. There will be cheap and cheerful Ascent models with attractive entry-level pricing, but it remains to be seen whether the current model’s $15,390 opening price continues.

By comparison, the most affordable MG3 is $16,490 drive-away, which is cheaper than the current Yaris once on-road costs are added.

“The new generation Yaris is a model we need to get right and it needs to do all the right things for first car owners, so we’re not moving away from what it stands for,” said Hanley, implying that pricing won’t head too far upmarket.

The all-new Toyota Yaris Cross SUV will join the regular Yaris to form a two-pronged attack on the budget car sector later this year, while the high-performance (and expensive) Yaris GR hot hatch hero model arrives later this year as well.

Stay tuned for full pricing and specs for the Toyota Yaris soon.