New Toyota Yaris to replace Prius c

The new Toyota Yaris hatch will be available with hybrid power for the first time when it arrives in Australia in May, and it will consume less fuel than any other Toyota model.

Toyota Australia today announced the first Yaris hybrid will consume just 3.3L/100km, which is less than the Prius (3.4L/100km) and also less than the Prius c hybrid (3.9L/100km), which will be axed by the time the new Yaris arrives.

First released Down Under in 2012, the small Prius c ‘coupe’ is priced from $24,040 and found just 415 buyers last year – down 20 per cent on 2018.

For reference, the larger Prius hatch is priced from $36,590 and it notched up 180 sales in 2019 – down 23 percent. The larger-still Prius v people-mover, which also continues on sale, consumes 4.4L/100km, is priced from $37,590 and found 392 homes last year – up 4.5 per cent.

Toyota is yet to confirm 2020 Yaris pricing or fuel consumption details for the mainstream versions, which will share the hybrid’s new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine but misses out on an electric motor. Australians won’t be offered Europe’s new 1.0-litre triple or Japan’s all-wheel drive versions.

On sale in Australia since 2011, the outgoing Toyota Yaris is priced from $15,390 and available with 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines consuming 5.8L/100km and 6.4L/100km respectively.

The Toyota Yaris hybrid will be more expensive, but likely still priced under $20,000, making it cheaper than the Prius c and the Japanese brand’s most affordable hybrid model.

More expensive again, but still likely to undercut $50,000, will be the first Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch, which is due on sale here in the final quarter of this year and forms the basis of Toyota’s 2020 World Rally Championship assault.

An all-new Toyota baby SUV based on the same new platform is expected to slot beneath the C-HR compact SUV, but a sedan version of the new Yaris hatch is not on the cards.

The Yaris hybrid will bring to eight the number of Toyota models available with petrol-electric powertrain, including the Prius, Prius v, Corolla hatch and sedan, Camry, C-HR and RAV4.

While the next-generation LandCruiser 300 Series is expected to arrive next year with a V6 hybrid powertrain, the fourth-generation Kluger may arrive later than planned in 2021 and might not be available with hybrid power from launch.

Toyota has promised a hybrid version of every model it sells by 2025, but so far there’s no sign of electrified versions of the HiLux, HiAce, Fortuner, Granvia, Coaster, Prado, 86 or Supra.

“The all-new Toyota Yaris is a marked step up from the current car in every respect and will deliver the outstanding fuel efficiency and advanced safety technology that our customers demand,” said Toyota Australia vice-president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley.

“It will also offer a substantially more engaging drive, superb comfort and refinement and the sort of contemporary styling to make it truly stand out in the crowd,” he said.

Toyota Australia also confirmed today that the new Yaris will come with the most advanced pre-collision safety system in its model range, including Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Beyond that no local specifications have been announced, but in Europe the new Yaris gets a more advanced version of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) that – beyond detecting vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists – is claimed to prevent accidents by detecting oncoming vehicles when turning right at an intersection and pedestrians crossing the road when turning right or left.

In a first for the Japanese car-maker, the new Yaris also debuted a centre airbag to protect front-seat occupants from clashing heads during side impact collisions, but it’s unclear if it will be fitted to Australian versions.

Other new safety systems available overseas include Low Speed Acceleration Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Automatic High Beam, Road Side Assist and Secondary Collision Brake.

While Aussie cars should come with a new tablet-style infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard across the range, other new technologies introduced in the European Yaris include an Advanced Park self-parking system, Turn Tilt Seats that facilitate easier ingress/egress, 10-inch head-up display and a 1500-Watt accessory power outlet for hybrid models.

Toyota has previously confirmed the new Yaris will bring 30 per cent more body rigidity, 15mm lower centre of gravity, an optimised driving position, a more spacious cabin thanks to a wheelbase that’s 50mm longer.

Despite being 40mm lower and 5mm shorter overall, Toyota says headroom isn’t compromised thanks to clever packaging.

The new Yaris platform comprises MacPherson struts up front and a torsion-beam rear-end (double-wishbone for AWD models), with reinforcements to the cowl, rear pillar, tunnel, rear wheelhouse and the addition of a stiffer dashboard panel.

All Australian Yaris modes will remain front-wheel drive and fitted with a CVT automatic transmission (and perhaps a six-speed manual for the entry-level non-hybrid model).