2019 Toyota Yaris - 5 Things you need to know

The premium B-segment hatchback pond in Malaysia now has a fresh resident in the form of the new 2019 Toyota Yaris. This third-generation model of the Yaris is beyond a shadow of doubt one of Toyota’s most significant models in the country, and it has a lot going for it. With Yaris price ranging between RM 70,888 to RM 83,888, this new boy represents a fantastic value-for-money deal. This is especially true when you compare the Yaris to its nearest rivals which, for instance, includes the Honda Jazz, Kia Rio, and Peugeot 208. Having stated that, here are 5 more things you should know about the 2019 Toyota Yaris.

1. Sporty exterior façade

One of the most crucial factors when buying a new car comes down to its exterior design. Thankfully, the new 2019 Toyota Yaris seems to fare quite well on this point, as it’s definitely not a lemon. Those that love aggressive and in-your-face styling would be glad with its overly enthusiastic and dressed-up front end of the new Yaris. This is even more true if you fit it with the optional aero package, which adds on to its already sporty persona. The dynamic styling is further complemented by some bright paint options, bold-looking front splitter, side skirts, rear bumper extensions, optional 16-inch alloy wheels, and a unique-design rear roof spoiler. Pitted against its more mature and less flashy Korean and fellow Japanese choices, the cheeky Yaris does hold its own.

2. Good feature list

The 2019 Toyota Yaris specs sheet includes - projector headlamps, LED daytime running lights, rear disc brakes, chrome door handles, illuminated door sill plates, automatic climate control, drive mode selector, color multi-information driver’s display, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, leather-stitched multifunction steering wheel & gear lever, digital dashcam, 360-degree surround-view parking cameras, and a 6.8-inch capacitive head unit with DVD support and smartphone/USB mirroring. Though the seats in the Yaris are still fabric, Toyota has jazzed them up with blue stitching, and the front footwell can now be lit up in brilliant blue as well. Meanwhile, the Kia Rio and Honda Jazz miss out on much of this equipment mentioned above.

3. Impressive safety tech

While the base variants of its competitors skimp on some vital safety gear, Toyota has gone down a different route. Even the base (J) variant of the new Yaris comes with life-saving stuff such as seven airbags, hill-start assist, and electronic vehicle stability and traction control systems as standard equipment. Moreover, it also bagged an ensuring five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.

4. Efficient drivetrain

Under that sweeping bonnet of the 2019 Toyota Yaris is one of the most reliable engines – the 2NR-FE. This 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-popper churns out 105 hp and 140 Nm of peak torque at 4,200 rpm. And despite the well-tuned and smooth CVT, which also features seven virtual ratios, the straight-line performance of the Yaris isn’t great. Zero to 100 kmph takes 11 seconds, while its top whack is only 175 kmph – the Peugeot 208 is faster on both counts. However, the Toyota Yaris claws back in with its healthy 19+ kmpl fuel economy rating. In everyday driving scenarios and especially within city limits, the engine-gearbox marriage of the new Yaris goes about doing business without any hiccups.

5. Ease of driving

Despite being larger than the model it replaces, the new Toyota Yaris is actually an easier car to drive. The large area helps a great deal when it comes to outward visibility, but there’s also some extra help available. You can get the new Yaris with a brilliant surround-view camera system, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitor. These gizmos, when combined with excellent all-around visibility and a light steering wheel make parking and manoeuvring this car an absolute doddle. The Yaris also makes for a decent commuter as its refined engine and transmission remain perfectly obedient and free of any annoying vibration. The cabin also does a decent job of maintaining the quiet, which is mostly because of the beefed-up insulation and padding that Toyota has added. The suspension, too, has been set up on the softer side to improve the ride quality and bump absorption over bad surfaces.

The 2019 Toyota Yaris is a great all-rounder of a car. It leaves little to complain about, looks quite zesty, and performs day-to-day tasks admirably.