2023 (73) Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid GR Sport 5dr CVT

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

In MK4 model form, the Toyota Yaris was further Europeanised, with sharper styling, a better quality interior and improved media connectivity. Most important though, were the significant changes made to its segment-leading Hybrid engine, giving the car better fuel economy, lower emissions and a greatly enhanced capability to operate on electric power alone, at higher speeds and over longer distances. What was already a class act became in this form genuinely hard to overlook. And stacks up well as a used buy. Here, we look at the pre-facelift versions of this XP210-series design.

History

The Yaris has always been a supermini that works well in the real world and this fourth generation car was no exception. Prior to the arrival of this MK4 design in 2020 though, it had long lacked a bit of flair though. So Toyota needed to ring the changes with this XP210-era model. The Yaris has been around since 1999 when the original 'XP10'-series design was launched, gaining the Car of the Year title in the year 2000. More than 9 million Yaris models were then subsequently sold over three generations, the MK2 'XP90'-series car introduced in 2005 and the third generation 'XP130'-series model launched in 2011, then updated into 'XP150'-series guise in 2014, before being further improved in 2017. The 'Yaris' name, taken from the legendary 'Charites' or 'Graces' - the three sisters that sprung from an illicit relationship between the gods Eurydome and Zeus - wasn't the only one this little Toyota was sold under. In different markets, it's also known as the Platz, the Vitz, the Belta, the Echo and the Vios. In some countries, it's called a Daihatsu Charade. And in the US, they know it is either a Mazda2 or a Scion. Nameplates aside though, what this Yaris has primarily been known for over the last decade is its lead in the democratisation of electrification in small cars. Put simply, think of a small hybrid hatch and you tend to think of the Yaris. Which is why Toyota took a deep breath in developing this fourth generation design and decided that this MK4 'XP210'-series model, launched in the Spring of 2020, should for the first time be Hybrid-only. Self-charging Full-Hybrid that is. Toyota doesn't believe in compromise mild hybrid powertrains like the ones that by 2020, Ford, Kia and Hyundai were using in their superminis. Full-on Plug-in Hybrid tech would have made a car of this class too expensive. Mind you, the full-Hybrid tech employed here made this Yaris pretty pricey too, so as a used car, it'll no longer figure in your deliberations if you're looking at the budget end of the market. But should it feature in your deliberations at all? After all, the small hatch sector from the 2020-2023 period is stuffed with great alternatives. And by 2020, the self-charging full-Hybrid supermini concept was no longer unique to Toyota; by then, Honda's Jazz and a version of the Renault Clio could also offer the same kind of powertrain. Toyota though, has vastly more experience in engine electrification than rivals like those. The company's been making Hybrids since 1997 and this MK4 Yaris used a fourth generation petrol/ electric system bolted to an all-new 'Toyota New Generation Architecture' 'GA-B' chassis borrowed from the Corolla, a platform that was lighter than before. Which is another reason why there's class-leading efficiency here. Toyota also made bold claims about driveability improvements too - which is good news for potential fans of the top GR Yaris hot hatch variant. And the brand reckoned it had here produced a piece of cabin design buyers would really like; the exterior looks are certainly a good deal more eye-catching than older Yaris models. This MK4 design sold in its original form until Spring 2024, when it was significantly facelifted. It's the 2020-2024-era pre-facelift models we're going to look at here.

What You Get

With this fourth generation 'XP210'-series Yaris, Toyota returned to the so-called 'big small' concept that inspired the original MK1 model. You get that from a glance at the car - and at its spec sheet: the MK4 design's wheelbase is longer but overall length is actually shorter, 5mm less than the previous MK3 version. Visually, the emphasis here was on delivering this with a fresh sense of energy and dynamism. Chief Engineer Yasunori Suezawa wanted the styling to capture 'the stance of an athlete on the starting blocks'. You can see this in the aggressively shaped rear wings, which arch up into the C-pillars. And in the car's more purposeful wider, lower and more compact proportions, which aim to deliver the impression of condensed power. The front end continues with that more energetic theme, the larger grille topped by a prominent central emblem and flanked by headlights that extend back towards the front wheels. At the rear, you might better appreciate this MK4 model's 40mm reduction in height. And the black mid-level trim panel and a prominent diffuser-style section in the sculpted bumper together accentuate the 50mm increase in overall width which, along with a 57mm extension of the track width, adds to the lower, wider and more purposeful stance. At the wheel, if you're familiar with older Yaris designs, you'll find that in this XP120 model a big step forward's certainly been taken. The fascia style is more modern, the trim materials are of higher quality, the 8-inch central infotainment screen no longer has a turn-of-the-century look and, providing you avoid base trim, there's even a set of circular digital dials in the instrument cluster. Function as well as form has been prioritised here too, hence the way that to improve visibility, the instrument panel was set lower and the A-pillars were pulled further back. Plus Toyota tried to create more of a spacious-feeling environment by moving the front seats slightly outwards and 60mm rearwards. You sit lower too, which delivers a sportier stance in front of the smaller three-spoke wheel. Compared to older Yaris's, there's a bit more tech as well - standard 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring, an included rear view camera and the option from new of a colour Head-up display. Plus side and rearward vision is generally unimpeded and good pedal alignment, along with lots of seat and wheel adjustability, means it's easy to find an ideal driving position too. What about the back? Well with 50mm of extra wheelbase length for this MK4 design, you'd hope for a few improvements here over the previous MK3 model, but despite the provision of 20mm more legroom, cabin space still feels merely average by class standards, possibly because the Hybrid system battery is now under this bench rather than, as before, beneath the boot floor. We'll finish by considering boot space. Bearing in mind the battery relocation we just mentioned, you might be expecting a small improvement in size here, so it's a fraction disappointing to find the same 286-litre capacity as before.

What to Look For

As usual with a supermini, check for this like interior child damage and scratched alloy wheels. With our ownership survey, we found plenty of satisfied Yaris owners, but inevitably, there were a few issues. A rattling dash was reported by one owner. We also came across issues with creaking suspension and a clunking gearbox, while we've also heard that in some cases, the eCall emergency calling system may not function when needed (something that can be resolved by a dealer software update). Check the wheels for kerbing damage that may have forced the steering out of alignment - betray by steering wheel juddering. Look out for all these things on the test drive and, as usual, prioritise models featuring a fully stamped-up service record.

Replacement Parts

(approx - based on a 2020 Yaris Hybrid ex VAT - autodoc.co.uk) An air filter is priced in the £17 to £62 bracket. An oil filter costs in the £3 to £17 bracket. On to brakes. A set of pads tend to retail in the £45 to £65 bracket; brake discs tend to be in the £20-£50 bracket. Brake callipers start from around £35. You'll need in the £4-£23 bracket for a wiper blade. A pollen filter's in the £4-£11 bracket. A rear bumper is around £200.

On the Road

What the earlier generation versions of this Yaris Hybrid were designed to do, they did brilliantly. Just not in a very engaging way. This MK4 version though, is rather different - as you'll feel instantly from the way it zips more energetically away from rest. That has much to do with the denser cells used in the 0.76kWh lithium-ion battery that powers the two electric motor generators integral to its completely re-designed fourth generation self-charging full-Hybrid drivetrain. In this XP210 design, this still worked with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, but that combustion unit had just three rather than the previous four cylinders and was mated to a completely re-worked e-CVT auto gearbox that responded far more quickly to throttle inputs, rather than in its own sweet time. Combined power output is 114bhp, but you'll only really feel that if you switch out of this car's usual 'Eco' drive mode and into the alternative 'Power' setting. There's a further 'EV' mode in which the car can run on battery power only for up to 4 miles or (in theory) at up to 80mph in totally electrified form. We mentioned the extra level of engagement of this MK4 model. Beyond the city limits, you'll discover a completely different level of driver involvement compared to the previous design, thanks to sharper steering, a lower centre of gravity and a new much stiffer 'GA-B' version of the company's modern-era TNGA platform. Re-worked torsion beam rear suspension also helps here, though we think that on plusher variants fitted larger 17-inch wheels, Toyota set it up a touch too firmly, affecting ride quality over poorer surfaces. Try a car running on the smaller 16-inch rims if you can before you decide on trim. Buyers of the rare top GR Yaris hot hatch model will of course want a firmer ride. That variant has its own 257bhp 1.6-litre three cylinder turbo engine and 6-speed manual gearbox mated to the compact 'AWD-i' 4x4 system that also features as an option on the SUV version of this Toyota supermini, the Yaris Cross. Otherwise, all MK4 Yaris models were full-Hybrid-powered with auto transmission and front wheel drive - in which form they were class-leadingly clean frugal according to WLTP figures; a base-spec variant was rated at up to 68.9mpg on the combined cycle and up to 92g/km of CO2.

Overall

At a time of radical change in the motor industry, this fourth generation Yaris had to deliver - and by and large, it did. As with previous versions of this model, most will still choose this hybrid supermini for its superb refinement, its regularly achievable 50-60mpg economy and its tax-friendly sub-100g/km CO2 readings. The difference with this XP210 design though lay in the fact that these were no longer the only reasons why you might want one. As an alternative to a baby battery-powered full-electric small hatch, it may not be quite as good for the planet; but for most people, most of the time, it's by far the better all-round choice. And the bottom line? Well ask yourself what you really need a supermini for and then see if this Yaris doesn't tick every single box. Toyota, on this evidence, knows how to right a best seller.