Toyota is all set to launch its Yaris sedan in the Indian market very soon. This premium mid-size sedan will compete against heavyweights like the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and even the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.
The Yaris was first showcased at the Auto Expo 2018 a few months ago, and we got a chance to drive this sedan recently. It still doesn’t have a price tag, but check out our first-drive review video of the Toyota Yaris.
Being a Toyota sedan, the Yaris gets a single engine option, but with four variants to choose from. All four variants come with automatic transmission, while the manual transmission will be available on the first three, with a total of seven variant options.
The car packs a 1.5-litre petrol engine offering 107 PS of power and 140 Nm of torque. You can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed 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.
You get seven airbags, electronic-adjustable front seat (CVT model), hill-assist control, ABS (anti-lock braking system), with EBD (electronic brake force distribution) for safety and gesture control support for using the 7.2-inch infotainment screen.
Yaris does not get a sunroof and no support for Apple Carplay or Android Auto either. Cupholders are placed wherever it is deemed fit, including somewhere near the gearshift, which does come in handy.
Toyota has found success with the Innova and the Fortuner in its segment where there isn’t a lot of competition. For Yaris, it’s going to be a different ball game, and Toyota needs to get its pricing right, to appeal to buyers, who’ve been spoilt with options from Honda and Hyundai for years. To know how the Yaris drives, you can read our detailed first drive story here.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)