Toyota Yaris Hybrid 2013, Specs, Review and Price

Toyota Yaris Hybrid

Toyota Yaris Hybrid Image

The new Toyota Yaris Hybrid is the first full hybrid vehicle to go on sale in the European B-segment. The Yaris model range flagship, it represents a new and unique offer in Europe’s highest sales volume segment, and will bring the benefits of full hybrid technology to a wider range of customers than ever before.

The Yaris is Toyota’s best-selling core model in Europe, with more than 2.5 million units sold. It is the only B-segment car to offer customers the choice of 3 different powertrain types – full hybrid, diesel or petrol.

Combining the ingenious packaging and urban agility of the Yaris model range with the unique driving experience and efficiency of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive® (HSD), the Toyota Yaris Hybrid is a new major step in the company’s full hybrid European roll-out strategy.

With low fuel consumption, low environmental impact, strong acceleration, great manoeuvrability and unique EV capabilities, it represents the ultimate urban car.

The base Toyota Yaris Hybrid will be the cheapest hybrid model on the market in Germany, with a price tag of about $22,410 (€16950). Powered by a 1.5L, VVT-i engine combined with an electric motor, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid will have 98-hp similar to the American market Prius c (read our review here). It will also be the most fuel efficient vehicle with a combustion engine in the German market.

A “Life” trim line will be available for $23,675 (€17900) and adds Toyota Touch multimedia audio system, ECO-Drive monitor, rearview camera, Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, aux and USB input with iPod control. Interior upgrades for the “Life” model includes a leather steering wheel and shift knob, two-way adjustable luggage compartment floor, while the rear taillights get LEDs.

At the top of the list is the “Club” model which will come with 16-inch wheels, engine start/stop, fog lights, roof spoiler, heated mirrors, electric rear windows, glove compartment with cooling function, and a height adjustable front seat. Pricing for that starts at about $25,400 (€19200).

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine based on the second-generation Prius’s instead of the 1.8 found in the latest Prius and Auris fuel-sippers. The hybrid system – electric motor, transaxle, inverter and batteries – has been downsized from the larger models to fit into the Yaris Hybrid without compromising on its spacious interior or 286-litre boot.

The hybrid system offers three different driving modes: Normal, Eco and EV. EV allows the Yaris to run on electric power only for short bursts (something the Jazz Hybrid can’t manage). This mode is good while it lasts; the Yaris is silent apart from a slight whirr from the electric motor, but inject anything more than a big toe’s worth of pressure on the throttle and the engine kicks back in.

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid also boasts the lowest CO2 rating of any new car on sale that isn’t an electric car or extended-range electric car. Its 79g/km puts it 5g/km below the recently revised Hyundai i20 in that department.

As well as appealing to the head, Toyota also hopes the Yaris will appeal to the heart in the way no Toyota hybrid – or third-generation Yaris, even – has managed. For starters, it looks a darned sight better than the standard Yaris on which it’s based, with a much bolder front-end look.

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Toyota Yaris Hybrid