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Updated: April 25 (Prices added)
Toyota has just launched the Toyota Yaris in India at prices starting at Rs 8.75 lakh and going up to Rs 14.07 lakh (ex-showroom). This mid-size sedan will compete with the likes of the Honda City, Maruti Ciaz and Hyundai Verna in a market that is fairly stagnated at the moment. Will the Toyota Yaris make a difference?
There are eight variants in all - four with a manual transmission and four with an automatic transmission. All come with a 1.5 litre petrol engine. There is no diesel option as of now.
Manual Transmission Variants
Toyota Yaris J: Rs 8.75 lakh
Toyota Yaris G: Rs 10.56 lakh
Toyota Yaris V: Rs 11.70 lakh
Toyota Yaris VX: Rs 12.85 lakh
Automatic Transmission Variants
Toyota Yaris J (CVT): Rs 9.95 lakh
Toyota Yaris G (CVT): Rs 11.76 lakh
Toyota Yaris V (CVT): Rs 12.90 lakh
Toyota Yaris VX (CVT): Rs 14.07 lakh
Prices of the Toyota Yaris are very similar to that of the Honda City. The petrol variants of the Honda City start at Rs. 8.71 lakh and go up to Rs 13.70 lakh. The Maruti Ciaz is the market leader in the segment, with prices starting at Rs 7.87 lakh and going up to Rs 10.70 lakh.
Toyota seems to be taking safety to the next level. While a minimum of two airbags and ABS are now mandatory on all new cars, Toyota is offering seven airbags as standard fitment on all variants of the Toyota Yaris. There are going to be four grades – J, G, V and VX on offer. All four will come with automatic transmission and manual transmission options, for a total of eight variants. (Earlier the VX did not have a manual, but Toyota has decided to offer a top-end manual as well.)
Here’s a quick run-down of what each grade has.
The J (base) variant will get a basic audio system with four speakers, manual AC, driver’s seat height adjustment, electrically adjustable mirrors, keyless entry, powered windows, cooled glove box and halogen projector headlamps.
In the G variant, in addition to the features in the J, one can expect front and rear fog lamps, speed-sensing door locks, rear defogger, power-folding mirrors, steering audio controls, seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, auto climate control, roof-mounted AC vent, ambient lighting, and a chrome grille.
The V variant, in addition, gets all four disc brakes, six speakers, reverse camera, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, LED tail-lamps, front and rear parking sensors, automatic headlights and 15-inch alloys.
The VX variant, which is the top-end model, gets optional paddle shifters for the automatic transmission, hill start assist, stability control, tyre pressure monitoring, GPS navigation, leather seats, powered driver’s seat, rear sun-blind and daytime running lights.
The Toyota Yaris will be sold in India with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine only. This is a new naturally-aspirated engine that has been introduced globally on the Yaris. It puts out 107 PS of power and 140 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. It is likely to be Euro 6 (Bharat Stage 6) emissions standards compatible as well, but that has not been confirmed yet. It will have an electronic valve-control system for improved performance and emissions standards.
Power will be transmitted to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed preset CVT (constantly variable transmission). This enables a lot of parts sharing between other sedans in the Toyota fold such as the Etios and Corolla Altis.
There is no diesel engine option on offer for now.
Here is the first-drive review of the Toyota Yaris:
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