Toyota Yaris variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £13,699. Borrowing £12,329 with a £1,370 deposit at a representative APR of 10.9%.

48 monthly payments
£222.03
Fixed interest rate
10.9%
Total amount payable
£17,580.44
Cost of credit
£3,881.44
Optional final payment
£5,553.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

Toyota Yaris buying guide

There are several different engine and trim options in the Yaris lineup to suit many different buyers. Keep reading to learn more about this city-slicking hatchback.

Read our Toyota Yaris review

What Toyota Yaris trim levels are there?

The most common affordable trim level offered across both pre-2020 and newer Yaris models is Icon. Icon still includes neat features including climate control, Bluetooth, DAB radio and a reversing camera. Pre-2020 Yaris models also got another trim called Icon Tech, which added sat nav.

Design trim is available on 2020 and newer Yaris models. This adds some visual touches including a different alloy wheel design, LED head and brakelights, and a larger touchscreen in the cabin.

Excel is a high-level trim package for 2020 and newer Yaris models. This adds even larger alloy wheels, part-leather front sports seats and a few other choice extras. You get upgraded advanced driver assistance systems too, including blind-spot monitoring.

Y20 is a special-edition trim level to celebrate 20 years of the Yaris, available on pre-2020 models. This spec includes some special colour options, along with a sportier body kit and unique Y20 badges.

The meanest-looking Yaris you can get – or about as mean as a Yaris can ever look – is the GR Sport. This version draws inspiration from the full-fat GR Yaris hot hatch, with large alloy wheels, a butch-looking body kit and black trim details around the windows and wheels.

Toyota Yaris interior and technology

All Yaris models feel well built, with no squeaks or rattles from any trim pieces as you navigate bumpy city streets. However, interior design is probably one of the key benefits of the 2020 and newer Yaris models, compared to their predecessors. Newer Yaris cars have a much cleaner, more stylish dashboard with far fewer buttons, devoting more room to the touchscreen infotainment system, which is larger and closer to the driver’s eyeline.

The infotainment system itself is also substantially improved in newer Yaris models, with a cleaner interface and less visual clutter. The system found in older Yaris models will still handle your media and navigation requirements, but isn’t as easy to use as the latest version.

Cabin space is in line with other models in this segment – that is to say, it’s just about large enough for four adults to sit but, if you regularly use the boot or back seats, you might want to shop around for a bigger car.

Toyota Yaris engine range explained

Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVT-i

This engine is only offered on pre-2020 Yaris models and is the only way to get this vehicle with a manual gearbox. It puts out a reasonable 111hp helping it hit 62mph from rest in 11 seconds. Fuel economy stands at 55mpg.

Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid

Toyota also offers the same 1.5-litre petrol engine in the Yaris, but mated to a battery pack and electric motor for hybrid operation. It’s not a plug-in hybrid, so can only muster a mile or two of pure-electric running before the petrol engine kicks in, but that can be more than enough when crawling through city traffic. This setup makes 100hp in pre-2020 Yaris models, with this figure bumped up to 116hp for 2020 and newer versions.

Toyota Yaris FAQs

If you’re in the market for a Toyota Yaris, you’re likely to encounter two versions – the previous-generation model built up to 2019, and the current-gen version built from 2020 onwards. The newer car can be spotted by its thinner headlights and bulging wheelarches, but both are only available as five-door hatchbacks, similar in size to a Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio or Hyundai i20. You can also get an ultra-high-performance GR Yaris, which is a three-door model.

Both new and old versions of the Yaris are fractionally less than four metres long. That puts them in line with supermini rivals including the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo and Honda Jazz. Four adults will be able to fit inside in reasonable comfort – although rear knee room is limited – but five will find it quite a squeeze. The boot is large enough for the weekly food shop or a couple of cabin suitcases, but you might want a larger car if you need to transport kids, pets or clobber more frequently.

You essentially have two engine options for the Yaris, and only one if you’re looking at 2020 and newer versions. Pre-2020 Yaris cars come with either a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, or a 1.5-litre petrol hybrid with an automatic gearbox. 2020 and newer Yaris cars only get the option of the 1.5-litre hybrid. The hybrid options cost a little more than the non-hybrid versions, but achieve better fuel economy.

If you’re after an easy-to-drive, relaxing car that’s perfect for cross-town jaunts, the Yaris is a top choice. The latest version is automatic-only and hybrid-only – it’s capable of driving in quiet, zero-emission mode for short periods of time. The Yaris’ hybrid system could slash your fuel costs compared to a normal petrol car. Practicality could be a little better, but the Yaris is comfortable for adults in the front seat and well-equipped too.

The hybrid technology that powers the Yaris is quite complex, but Toyota has proved that hybrids are often more reliable than petrol and diesel cars. That seems to be true of the Yaris so far, with owner surveys praising the car’s dependability.

The Toyota Yaris insurance group is either 13 or 14 out of 50, depending on the exact spec. It’s a bit higher than the last Yaris and than some other superminis because of its hybrid technology, but it’s on a par with cars like the Ford Focus and Nissan Qashqai so insurance shouldn’t be too costly.