2019 Toyota Yaris aka Vios hatchback is coming

KUALA LUMPUR: It is not just the A90 GR Supra that Toyota has ready in its hat to offer. As along with the Supra, Toyota Malaysia is also bringing a hatch to our market. If you’re an enthusiast, then the Supra is for you, however, in case you need something that looks good and serves its purpose without any frills, the upcoming 2019 Toyota Yaris is what you want. If you’re guessing by looking at the pictures, yes, the 2019 Yaris is very similar to the Vios. In fact, it is simply a Vios without the boot of a sedan.

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has officially announced that the 2019 Toyota Yaris aka Vios hatch will be arriving in Malaysia in the second quarter of 2019. Just like the facelifted Vios, the Yaris will also be produced at the Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB) plant in Bukit Raja, Klang. The Indonesian and Thai markets already have the hatch on offer with the Indonesian-spec housing a 2NR 1.5-litre four-cylinder motor, the same mill that powers the Perodua Myvi. Want to know more about this engine? Well, it is equipped with DOHC in conjunction with Dual VVT-i and produces 107 PS of maximum power and a peak torque of 140 Nm.

While the Malaysian-spec Yaris hatch is expected to carry a CVT unit only, the hatch in Indonesia gets both CVT and five-speed manual transmission options. Toyota Malaysia has, however, not revealed any information concerning the upcoming hatchback. If we talk about the Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB) plant in Bukit Raja, Klang, it is a newly built manufacturing facility spread over 670,000 square metres of an area dedicated to the production of passenger cars along with Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEVs). On the other hand, light commercial vehicles like Toyota Hilux will be produced at the Shah Alam facility. The new hatch from the Japanese auto giant will be locking horns with the likes of Honda Jazz and Perodua Myvi. Do tell us in the comments, which one would you bring home out of the three?