Whatever about its merits as a car, Toyota's new Yaris deserves credit for its safety package.
The latest generation Yaris arrives with pretty much everything we've already seen on Toyota's bigger hybrid models in terms of its drivetrain. With the Yaris, it's a 1.5 three-cylinder petrol engine, backed up by a battery and motor, that combine to deliver 114 horse power. It's not a huge output but is more than enough to meet the needs of town,and occasionally, country motoring.
There is a continously variable transmission system instead of a conventional gearbox. This system choses an infinite selections rather than the standard five but it does have its critics because of uneven delivery and noise.
Toyota says overall efficiency of the new car has increased by 20 per cent but not at the expense of performance, which it says is 16 per cent greater. There's even a 0 to 100 KPH time of 9.7 seconds. It also claims a fuel efficiency rate of 3.9 kilometres of petrol per 100 kilometres but one independent test I've read puts the figure at 5.14. That's still a pretty impressive figure though and represents 65 MPG in old money.
You can see styling cues from other Toyota family members in the overall look of the Yaris, especially at the front and rear but in essence it has'nt really changed a great deal. Inside, the steering wheel has been made smaller and the standard infotainment screen is a 7" one. I've yet to drive the car and will be curious to see if Toyota has addressed the rather poor standard of graphics available on previous models.
What does distinguish the Yaris, however, is its safety package.
For some years now Toyota has been, to use its own phrase, "democratising" safety and introducing a standard safety package from the smallest car up that really should make other manufacturers look to their products and assume the same degree of responsibility. Cars do kill people, after all.
Toyota claims the Yaris is now "the world's safest compact car". The Pre-Collision System can now detect pedestrians by day and night and cyclists in daytime driving. The cars also offers an Intersection Turn Assistance activation to recognise collision risks with oncoming traffic and pedestrians when making a turn at a crossroads. It's also the first Toyota to be equipped with centre airbags to help prevent driver and passenger colliding with each other in a side impact.
The cars also has lane recognition assist and emergency steering assist functions.
The starting price for the Yaris is €23,055.
