2019 Toyota Yaris: Top reasons to buy

The latest-gen Toyota Yaris was one of the most highly anticipated new cars in Malaysia, and it went on sale just last month. While the previous model was an efficient and dependable machine, it lacked any aesthetic verve and also didn’t offer much in terms of features. Of course, with the introduction of the 2019 Yaris, Toyota has fixed (almost) everything that wasn’t right with the old Yaris.

In our market, this all-new Toyota Yaris picks up the torch from its predecessor to compete against the likes of the Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo. With Yaris price ranging from between RM 70,888 to RM 83,888, the 2019 Yaris isn’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination. However, that seems relatively fair considering its premium positioning in the segment and the fact that it’s the newest kid on the block. So, if those of you reading this article have already shortlisted the 2019 Toyota Yaris - here are some reasons why you should definitely go ahead.

Does its design excite?

The way a car looks plays a huge role when the time comes for you to make the purchase decision. Now, it can be contested that styling and looks are all subjective and that it’s different for different people. That’s quite true. However, if you’re the kind of buyer who doesn’t want people to gawk at you or your car constantly - the 2019 Toyota Yaris isn’t for you. Unlike its more humdrum predecessor, the new avatar doesn’t seem to be designed keeping subtlety in mind. In Malaysia, Toyota even offers the 2019 Yaris with some extra styling elements such as side skirts, front splitter, beefed-up rear bumper with an air diffuser, and a large rear wing.

When you combine those sporty bits with one of the flashier paints, the new Yaris surely stands out in a sea of other hatchbacks. The upswept and sleek headlamps, large and well-contoured front bumper, cheeky 16-inch alloy wheels, blacked-out C-pillars, and the sharp rear LED-combination lamps all fit this hatchback’s aggressive yet premium design theme. Is it exciting enough? Yes, definitely. Is it a bit over the top? That depends on who you’re. However, the 2019 Toyota Yaris will turn heads, and for most buyers, that’s a good thing.

Spacious and pragmatic interior

It may come as a surprise to some, but designing the interior of a mass-market family car isn’t very easy. Some of the most vital aspects that a carmaker could screw up have to do with the vehicle’s usable cabin space, ergonomics, day-to-day practicality, etc. Fortunately, Toyota has got all of those points (and then some) absolutely spot on with the 2019 Yaris. To begin with, the Yaris has one of the roomiest cabins in its class - seating five people wouldn’t be too difficult in here. Also, all the buttons and switches are laid out practically, and the view out of the driver’s seat is good as well.

Toyota has been a champion at building tough, long-lasting, and well put-together interiors. And with the new Yaris, that quality is as intact as ever. The seats are fairly decent, and the cabin isn’t too noisy, either. For those who aren’t too pedantic about flair, the rather conservative styling of it wouldn’t be a deal-breaker.

Great safety features

Safety is one of the key deciding factors when most of us look at buying a new car. This is where the 2019 Toyota Yaris specs sheet earns its reputation by providing more kit than its key rivals. For example, even the base variant comes with seven airbags, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), speed-sensing auto door locks, ISOFIX anchor points, and rear parking sensors. Meanwhile, you can also get the new Yaris with Blind-Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Panoramic-View Monitor (PVM), and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).

Frugal powertrain, dependable performance

The 1.5-litre four-cylinder 2NR-FE petrol engine is one of the marque’s most smooth and reliable engines. In the 2019 Yaris, this naturally-aspirated mill produces 105 hp and 140 Nm of torque. It’s connected to a recalibrated 7-step CVT gearbox and drives the front wheels, obviously. Toyota has fine-tuned the Yaris’s engine and gearbox to exact maximum mileage, something that becomes apparent when you hit the pumps. So, don’t be too surprised if you’re able to land somewhere around the 19 kmpl mark. Also, even though the 2019 Yaris is so well behaved when it comes to fuel burn, it doesn’t fall on its face when you want to move. Of course, it’s no hot-hatch material, but it’ll do 0-100 kmph in 11 seconds and only run out of breath at 175 kmph.