Reasons to wait for the upcoming Toyota Yaris

The 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) was a huge success. We witnessed a large number of car manufacturers showcasing their latest and upcoming products. Toyota displayed its 2019 Vios at the show and soon after launched the sedan here in Malaysia. The Vios is available at a starting price of RM 77,200 and has been bringing home good numbers.

Before its launch, the 2019 Toyota Vios was already being sold in our neighbouring countries. So it was quite evident that Toyota will bring it to Malaysia sooner or later. Now since the Vios is here, all the attention shifted to its younger sibling, the Toyota Yaris. The Yaris has a similar story. It is also available in some of our neighbouring countries. Therefore, eventually, Toyota had to bring it to Malaysia. And last month UMW Toyota Motor confirmed the same and the 2019 Yaris should launch in the country in Q2 of 2019.

So why there is such a hype regarding this funky-looking hatchback? And should you really care? Well, in this story we will try to give you a few reasons why you should wait for the upcoming Toyota Yaris.

Brand name

Toyota is a brand that needs no introduction in most parts of the world. It has been in this business for decades now and surely knows the how-tos. Having a Toyota would not only give you peace of mind when it comes to reliability and durability, but it might also separate you from the others.

Design

Just like the Toyota Vios, the Yaris has also got an into-the-face-design. However, somehow this funky outfit suits the Yaris more than the Vios. Perhaps that has something to do with the overall dimensions of both the cars. Being a hatchback, the Yaris appears much younger, playful, fun, and lively when compared to the Vios. We are not saying that the Vios doesn’t look good, the Yaris just looks better.

It is also being anticipated that to compensate for the delayed launch of the 2019 Yaris in Malaysia, Toyota might introduce a TRD Sportivo trim which will be only Malaysia specific. This will add slightly more sporty character to the car and would attract a lot of young buyers.

Engine

Although Toyota Malaysia has not given any official details regarding the 2019 Toyota Yaris specs, speculations are being made that it will feature a 1.5-litre engine. It is the same engine that is currently being used in the Yaris in Indonesia. It is tuned to churn out a max power of 107 PS and generate a peak torque of 140 Nm. Unlike the 1.2-litre engine that Yaris uses in Thailand, this is a more powerful unit.

Also, the fact that the 2019 Vios has got the same engine as its Indonesian variant makes it likely that the 2019 Yaris for Malaysia would follow the same footsteps.

Safety features

Toyota has done a commendable job in making its 2019 Vios get a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating. Having a safe car is extremely important and knowing that your car has nailed one of the toughest safety tests in the world is so much better. The 2019 Yaris is expected to perform likewise. Clearly, our expectations from it have risen now. Some of the safety features that it would be getting include seven airbags, blind spot monitoring, hill start assist control, ABS with EBD and brake assist, etc.

Considering all the details that we have got so far about the 2019 Toyota Yaris, it looks like a promising car. However, there is one thing that is still unclear and would play a major factor in deciding the car’s future in the country, and that’s the price. Toyota has not released any official number regarding the 2019 Yaris price. However, we do know that the new Yaris is going to be assembled locally at the Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB) plant in Bukit Raja, Klang, which also handles the assembly of the 2019 Vios. This could mean that the Yaris might carry an attractive price tag!

We will be covering all the latest news and updates regarding the upcoming Toyota Yaris. So stay tuned.