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First Drive: 2015 Toyota Yaris Hatchback
Car Reviews

First Drive: 2015 Toyota Yaris Hatchback

·
July 7,2014
·
4 min read

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Toyota is giving it's competitors a run for their money yet again with the arrival of 2015 Toyota Yaris Hatchback. After creating quite a style buzz with the launch of Yaris Sedan in January this year, Toyota has further boosted it's compact commuter weaponry with its hatch version. How different is it compared to the Yaris Sedan I had reviewed recently? How does it fare compared to Kia Rio, Hyundai i20 or Honda Jazz? I decided to find out in our first drive of 2015 Toyota Yaris Hatchback:

Style

So there are mostly positive sentiments about the styling. The front styling literally mirrors the Yaris Sedan with the fog lamps, the grille and the pointy side mirrors. Definitely makes Yaris Hatchback the most stylish commuter among it's subcompact hatchback rivals. On the other hand, who designed those rear lights? They look like a claw of an alien from outer space! The rear lights of Yaris Sedan are quite stylish, the hatchback version could have retained the same design, but someone at Toyota decided those lights needed a makeover. Not a good decision in my opinion. Ignore the rear lights and we have a very good looking hatch. 

Interior Comfort and Safety

Surprisingly the interior is not bad for a subcompact economy hatchback. The fabrics are decent, there is some good padding to be found and the seats come with a nice stitch design. The seat controls are quite limited so if you're a bit taller you might find it awkward to use the steering while in inclined seat position. The interior is very similar to the Yaris Sedan in terms of design. The main thing that sets Yaris Hatchback apart from other hatchbacks are the safety features. Not only does the Yaris Hatchback has class leading safety, the features are offered as standard on all trims. This is a commendable initiative as safety is something that should not be compromised on. A lot of brands offer higher safety features in higher trim levels and Toyota reverses that trend. Standard on all trims will be SRS dual airbags, Anti Lock Brake System, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, with front and rear crumple zones in the frame included. 

Interior Space and Visibility

The new Yaris comes with generous boot space compared to it's rivals. Boot space is a very healthy 326 liters with all seats upright while the wheelbase has expanded by 40mm in the new model. The boot space in Yaris Hatchback is considerably less than the Yaris Sedan which has 476 liters of boot space. Also the middle seat position has a flat bottom to create extra space for a third passenger. Headroom is surprisingly decent for a hatchback that is now slightly wider and lower. Visibility from all angles is fairly adequate, no complaints in that department. 

Interior Technology and Features

Nothing major to expect in the economy segment, though Yaris surprises here as well with some decent additions. The new model now features at the very basic level a speedometer, power windows, central locking, keyless entry, USB, AUX, electric power steering and steering column tilt function. The sound system is quite functional with four speakers. Higher trims also include multi information display, 6 speakers and rear seat folding with 60:40 split function. 

Drive Experience

The new Yaris Hatchback comes in 1.3 and 1.5 liter engines combined with a 4 speed automatic transmission, so there is really no point doing fancy braking or acceleration tests. We did test out the handling and the Yaris Hatchback is actually far superior to Yaris Sedan when it comes to handling. Not to say it's great at handling, anything above 80km/h and the Yaris Hatcback will struggle in terms of cornering. This is actually good news for Yaris Hatchback as most will struggle above 60 km/h.  The ABS and EBD come in handy here and the acceleration, while terrible, still seems rather bearable compared to the other horrendous alternatives in the market. This car is not meant to be accelerated. Period. It's meant to be slowly and carefully maneuvered through the city traffic. 

Verdict

The Yaris Sedan is more spacious in the boot but Yaris Hatchback is more spacious in the cabin. The Yaris Hatchback handles better than Yaris Sedan AND it's rivals. Finally, it's actually much better looking compared to it's peers, save for those alien rear lights. Priced from 51,500 AED - 57,500 AED, the Yaris Hatchback faces stiff competition from cheaper alternatives like Kia Rio and Hyundai i20. Compared to them, the Yaris Hatchback offers decent features, a healthy number of safety features and most importantly, reliability and resale value. 

Prices and Specs: 2015 Toyota Yaris Hatchback

Compare Specs: Toyota Yaris vs Hyundai i20 vs Kia Rio Hatchback

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