More features for Toyota Yaris in '09
A mild facelift of Toyota's Yaris introduces new features and lightly revised pricing for the new model yearToyota unveiled a subtly upgraded Yaris at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney earlier this month.
The revised model can be identified from last year's by new headlights, updated bumpers, a new grille and new tail lights. Larger reflectors in the headlights cast the headlight beam further and wider, and the tail lights have adopted LEDs for the light source for improved visibility and longevity.
Other distinguishing style elements for the upgrade include a new design of wheel cover for the entry-level YR grade, a new wheel cap design for the YRS sedan and new body kit, body-coloured grille insert and eight-spoke design of 15-inch alloy wheel for the YRX variants. For the sedans, the radiator grille migrates to an egg-crate-style of insert and the exterior mirrors now feature integrated indicators in the mirror bodies.
Graphite, Lustre (Silky Gold Mica metallic) and Sting (Yellow) are three new colours for the hatch variants and Santorini and Tidal Blue are the two new colours offered to buyers of the Yaris sedan.
Inside, the base-grade YR hatch is now equipped with reach adjustment for the steering column. The Yaris YRS and YRX hatch are upgraded with illuminated switchgear for the audio controls on the steering wheel, automatic variants gain a gearshift position indicator in the instrument binnacle and Toyota has bumped up the number of passenger-assist grips in all models.
Seat trim is a new Jacquard-weave trim, with individual patterns (all in dark grey) for the YR/YRS hatches, YRX hatch and YRS/YRX sedans. The centre fascia is now finished in a 'warm silver' colour for all variants and the air conditioning vents feature chrome-ringed bezels for the YRS and YRX models.
Toyota's Enhanced Safety Pack option for the Yaris offers more airbags and the company now supplies two remote control keys for all cars.
Pricing remains the same for the entry-level Yaris YR -- $15,190 for the three-door manual and $16,390 for the five-door manual -- but YRS/YRX hatches are lower in price by as much as $250 and the sedans have risen in price by as much as $400.
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