Toyota Yaris

FIRST DRIVE Does facelifted supermini have what it takes to keep up with a raft of newcomers?

- Sam Naylor

THE Toyota Yaris is one of the Japanese firm’s best-selling models, and in the UK it competes with the soon-to-be-updated Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo (Page 8). With such strong competition, it’s easy to see why Toyota has given it a facelift.

It’s a subtle change, but the new front end is sportier than before, and it draws inspiration from the current World Rally Championship Yaris with its new grille and headlights. The rear has been overhauled, too, with a completely new tailgate and updated lights.

The Yaris was already a handsome little hatchback, and the changes have built upon that. It’s certainly more interesting to look at than a Polo, just like the other two Japanese superminis that have recently launched: the Nissan Micra and the Suzuki Swift. It’s five-door only, however, and doesn’t have the quirky looks of the admittedly more expensive MINI.

Toyota has also updated the interior with some new materials, although the design is very similar to the previous car. It feels well built, but the scratchy plastics aren’t that much of a change from the old car’s. 

The Polo and latest Micra feel much more modern inside, and they have much better infotainment screens as well – the Yaris’ seven-inch Toyota Touch 2 display is hard to see and use from the driver’s seat. Additional features such as Google Street View and a wifi hotspot are useful, though.