2024 Toyota Yaris SX: Quick Review

Toyota was one of the first Australian brands to make the decision about the future of the small car positioning.

The choice was either to offer a cheap and feature-light vehicle, or fill the car with integral safety and features required to meet ANCAPs requirements, and up the price.

Ultimately the brand facelifted the Yaris range in 2020 which saw prices hiked almost $7k, pushing it well out of the sub $20k space the car was once comfortably in.

The update saw the all-new model come with a host of additional safety features compared to its predecessor.

Now in 2024, the Yaris has gone hybrid only, which of course can only mean, another increase in starting price. So let's see what the 'cheapest' Yaris available brings to the table.

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Pricing and features

Without an entry-level available, the Yaris range starts at the SX grade for $30,190 before on-road costs.

There is a higher spec ZR variant available as well.

Within the Toyota range, shoppers might consider the Corolla Ascent Sport hybrid ($32,110 before on-road costs) and the Yaris Cross 2WD hybrid ($30,000 before on-road costs).

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The Yaris SX includes 15-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, active cruise control, leather-accented steering wheel, fabric seats, keyless entry and start and LED headlights and daytime running lights.

It's a zippy little runabout that sips just 3.3L/100km. That's one of the lowest hybrid fuel consumption figures in the country.

In terms of colours, Yaris buyers have the choice of ten individual colours with eight adding an extra $600 to your drive-away price.

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Safety

The Toyota Yaris was awarded a five-star ANCAP rating with testing conducted around launch in 2020.

This is constituted by an 86% score for adult occupant protection, and 87% for children.

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All variants of the Yaris receive 8 airbags and plenty of additions in terms of safety.

The Toyota Safety Sense suite of features is available across the range, including active cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, intersection turn assist, lane keep assist, lane-departure warning and fatigue reminders.

If you're after systems like blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, you'll need to step up to the ZR grade next in line.

Key rivals

With the small segment shrinking in size, due to the popularity of small SUV and the trend towards larger cars in general, there have been a number of withdrawals from the segment.

Players that remain include the popular:

• Mazda 2
• Suzuki Swift
• Volkswagen Polo
• MG3

The MG3 is notably leading the segment due to its current competitive pricing meaning it's the last sub 20k new car available. This is set to change when the MG3 is updated this year.

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Should I put it on my shortlist?

As a hybrid offering, the Yaris presents an attractive option for urban commuting, boasting stellar fuel economy and compact dimensions.

However, it comes with a significant price premium compared to its competitors, many of which offer petrol alternatives. Particularly in a segment where some rivals are available for under $20,000 drive-away, justifying the Yaris purely on a financial basis can be challenging.

Buyers also used to have the option of a cheaper petrol alternative, which differed by just 1.6L/100km on a combined fuel cycle. So the hybrid premium used to take a fair while to justify the initial purchase price. But this is no longer an option for the Yaris.

Overall, a brief test drive reveals the joy of its driving dynamics and the reassurance of its robust safety features. If you're willing to invest, the Yaris might just be the perfect fit for you.