Toyota Yaris Review

Toyota Yaris Review

Bigsmall (big-small), adj. The theme for Toyota's TV adverts for the all-new Yaris is spot on. The ‘Big Car Thinking’ approach has resulted in more interior space and better use of it, whilst maintaining the essence of the original Yaris that has proved so popular.

Toyota is big on catch phrases - the present design philosophy is known as ‘Vibrant Clarity’, which endeavours to combine dynamism and energy with simplicity and logic. In the case of the Yaris, it works both inside and out, despite having to take account of the constraints of current safety practices and rules.

For sure, that’s no bad thing but a case in point is the front end of the new car - it has the appearance of being a tad snub-nosed and perhaps there’s a little too much of the heavily curved bonnet. The reason for the shape is that the bonnet hides part of the Minimal Intrusion Cabin System or MICS that first appeared in the Avensis. The idea is to disperse the energy in a frontal or side impact through the body structure around the cabin, in order to protect the bodies inside. In employing the MICS, Toyota have improved the resistance to frontal and side impacts by 20 and 30 per cent, respectively and earned a Euro NCAP 5-star rating for passenger crash protection, in the process.

As well as protection for the passengers, plastic energy absorbers behind the front grille and spoiler together with an energy-absorbing front bumper helps to reduce pedestrian leg injuries, should the unthinkable happen. Other safety features include a collapsible steering column, a retractable brake pedal and Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) front seats.

The Yaris comes as a 3 or 5-door hatchback and while both versions have a more dynamic appearance compared to the outgoing model, the simplicity and logic ethos shows through and extends into the interior.

Toyota Yaris