Top Compact/Small Car: Toyota Yaris

Monday, 30 November 2020

The Stuff Top Compact/Small Car for 2020 is the Toyota Yaris.

A Toyota Yaris!? Are you kidding?

Yeah, I know, I can almost hear you yelling that. And, to be fair, going on past Yaris efforts I would have previously agreed with you.

But here’s the thing - after way too many years foisting an ancient car with a series of increasingly awkward new noses on us in a desperate attempt to keep it up to date, Toyota pulled out all the stops and actually delivered an absolutely brilliant all-new incarnation of its baby Yaris.

After years of refreshing a very old car Toyota finally gave us an all-new Yaris. And it is a very good one.

Based on the company’s excellent TNGA platform the new Yaris already has a massive leap over the old in the handling and fun stakes (yes, really: it is actually a fun car to drive!), but it is the even more massive leap in technology that really impresses.

**READ MORE:

The in-yer-face styling may not appeal to everyone, but it works well in a wild colour like this.

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The new Yaris gets a quality interior with quirky looks and excellent ergonomics.

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Toyota has included its excellent Safety Sense driver assist package in every single model in the line up, which means that even the entry level $25,990 Yaris GX comes with adaptive radar cruise control, automatic high beam, lane keep assist, road sign recognition and an advanced pre-collision system with autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection and intersection turn assist.

This is a top-spec ZR, but the Yaris comes in two grades with either a straight petrol powertrain or a trick hybrid one. Both are excellent.

The depth of abilities across the Yaris range is also deeply impressive - while the petrol powered car is actually a great steer (and its little 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine a wonderfully characterful thing) and a brilliant traditional compact city car with a grown-up ride, the hybrid model brings an entirely different aspect to things by being startlingly frugal.

The hybrid system particularly impresses with the fact that it is clearly set up for urban commuting, making the most of pure battery power at low speeds and, completely contrary to what common sense tells you, actually uses less fuel at urban city speeds than out on the open road. Yes, really.

Then, of course, there is the utterly mad GR Yaris hot hatch. Not actually arriving in time to affect our decision about this category or make the cut for consideration for our Sports/Performance category, we have driven it since and it only solidifies our decision that the Yaris range is simply one of the best cars in the compact segment, and by far the best to come out in 2020.

What else was in the running?

To be honest, not a lot because, while there were plenty of compact and small SUVs released this year, small cars had their run last year.

This shouldn’t reflect poorly on the Yaris though, because if it had been released last year it would still have cleaned out the opposition thanks to its driveability, practicality, technology and sheer value for money.

The Ford Fiesta ST was technically eligible for this category (being the sole representative of the Fiesta family in Ford New Zealand’s line up now), but the Yaris still won us over, despite the ST being a bag of laughs jammed inside a barrel of thrills wrapped up in a blanket of fun and thrown into a river of exhilaration to drive.

But it simply doesn’t have the Yaris’ sheer breadth of talents or brutal value for money aspect that just crushes all arguments against it. Plus, it is just plain nice to drive.

Essential details: Petrol (88kW/145Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder) or petrol hybrid (85kW/120kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol/electric hybrid) models ranging from $25,990 to $33,490.

Safety: 5 star ANCAP across the entire range with Toyota Safety Sense driver assist as standard.

At a glance: Supremely frugal - even petrol-only models, actually fun to drive, polarising looks (but we think it looks great!), more like several generations ahead of its predecessor, sharply priced and impressively comfortable.

Who should consider it: City dwellers should embrace the hybrid for its minuscule urban consumption, as should empty nesters and even small families (although the Yaris Cross SUV is the go there) and anyone who just wants something frugal, funky and fun.

Things to consider: Rear legroom is restricted and the boot is small (albeit actually more usable than the larger Corolla), styling won’t be to everyone’s tastes.

What else could you buy?: Aside from the dismal Hyundai i20, only really the Ford Fiesta was released this year, but restricted to niche hot hatch ST form. Others in the same segment not released this year but still very worthy of consideration include the always excellent Suzuki Swift, the Kia Rio (in the compact segment) and larger entries like the Ford Focus, Mazda3 and Hyundai i30 (in the small segment).