2022 Toyota Yaris

Toyota Yaris 2022 Review

Selling hatchbacks like the Toyota Yaris in Malaysia is a peculiar business. With the exception of our extremely popular local models, most Malaysians still prefer a sedan, or even a crossover or SUV, to the diminutive hatchback layout. Why that is the case is down to a variety of reasons – perceived practicality, value for money, or safety – but despite all this, the Toyota Yaris is a car that manages to rise above it all.

This wasn’t always the case. The Toyota Yaris is a model with a very odd and convoluted history. Toyota Malaysia did try to introduce the Yaris to Malaysians back in the mid-2000s, though the problem was that it was still very much a global car – which meant that even the pure construction of it, sans features, was already extremely expensive.

The reason for the expense was because of standards and requirements in places like Europe and America where NVH and comfort are placed above everything else. Eventually, Toyota developed a separate Yaris specifically for Asia, which was more cost-effective to build and essentially shared a platform with the Vios that we know and love. In some markets, the Mazda 2 is even rebadged as a Toyota Yaris for various other reasons.

Whatever it is, we finally have an entry-level hatchback from Toyota that is competitively priced in the Malaysian market. For the most part, the mechanicals is similar to the Vios, but the form factor is what sets the Toyota Yaris apart. One engine, one transmission, and three variants.

Toyota Yaris Specifications

Which came first: the Toyota Yaris or the Toyota Vios? In reality, it doesn’t matter – they are one and the same – at least from a mechanical perspective. The wheelbase is identical at 2,550 mm, the widths are identical at 1,700 to 1,730 mm, and the heights range between 1,475 and 1,500 mm for both models. It’s only the length that makes a difference, with the Toyota Yaris being roughly 300 mm shorter than its sedan sister.

What beats at the heart of the Yaris is identical to the Vios: it’s the 2NR-FE 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol powerplant, pushing 107 PS and 140 Nm of torque, delivering power to the front wheels via a CVT-type automatic transmission with seven virtual gears. Rather surprisingly, despite being a shorter overall car, the Toyota Yaris is only FIVE kilograms lighter than the Vios with each variant.

Where the big difference lies is, of course, in the boot space. The Vios has a decent 506 litres of space, while the Toyota Yaris makes do with 286 litres until you drop the 40:60 split-folding rear seats. That being said, the overall height of the available space does let you get more creative with fitting taller items and luggage – something sedans struggle with.

Exterior Toyota Yaris 2022

It would be odd to say “business in the front, party in the back” with the Toyota Yaris, but you could say that it looks pretty much identical to the Vios from the front half onwards. Where the Yaris really stands out is of course in its rear hatch and design, maintaining a classic two-box hatchback form and accentuating the bodywork and roofline with black-coloured pillars along the side.

The rear lights of the Yaris are reminiscent of the Caldina – perhaps in an oddly charming way – making the Yaris look like a pleasant homage to the wagon we never received. It’s definitely a pretty thing to look at – though we wish Toyota had made more of an effort to distinguish the front end from the Vios. Only the entry-level Yaris model gets 15-inch alloy wheels, while the remaining two variants get 16-inch alloys. With the 2022 facelift, the Yaris is only made available in Red Mica Metallic, Silver Metallic, and Platinum White Pearl paint options.

Interior Toyota Yaris 2022

It wouldn’t really be surprising that the Toyota Yaris shares its interior with the Vios, given how much else of the car is shared. There’s nothing wrong with this – the Toyota Yaris possesses an interior that is more functional than it is luxurious, but it still provides enough amenities and luxuries to feel like a proper car for this day and age.

All variants of the Toyota Yaris get black fabric seats, unlike the Vios where the top-spec model gets perforated leather. Like the Vios, the Optitron display for the instrument cluster is only for the mid and top-spec Yaris variants, as is the seven-inch display audio with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality. All variants of the Toyota Yaris also get illuminated scuff plates and blue interior lighting for your footwells. All in all, there is some give-and-take in terms of what you get – but nothing so drastic in comparison to the Vios.

Toyota Yaris Safety Features

It has long been Toyota’s aim to revamp their image regarding safety systems in their vehicles across the range – and the Toyota Yaris is included in this effort. The safety features available mirror that of the Vios, with both the top and mid-spec variants of the Toyota Yaris getting the majority of the safety features – Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Assist, 3D Panoramic View Monitor, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control, and Hill-start Assist Control are all on the list.

More passive systems such as seven airbags, ISOFIX for the rear seats, and pre-tensioning seatbelts are standard across the Toyota Yaris range. You even get vehicle telematics as part of the package so you can track where your vehicle goes and how fast it’s travelling – though this is optional for the entry-level J spec model.

Pros & Cons: Toyota Yaris

The strength of the Toyota Yaris is in its ease of parking, while the weaknesses are in explaining to your relatives why you bought a hatchback. Jokes aside, the Toyota Yaris is a fantastic counterpart to the Vios, especially for those willing to trade a little bit of boot space in favour of a little more practicality and ease of manoeuvrability. Threading your way through traffic and gauging the overall length of a car is that little bit easier with a hatchback like the Toyota Yaris than a sedan.

Of course, the only obvious weakness then is the fact that you don’t get as much boot space – though the real question is how often you will find yourself needing all of those extra 300 or so litres you lose by choosing a Toyota Yaris over a Vios. If the Yaris fits your lifestyle, by all means, it’s a choice you won’t go wrong with.

Toyota Yaris Price in Malaysia

One of the benefits of the Toyota Yaris is that with less boot space, you also pay a little less money.

• Toyota Yaris 2021-2022 1.5J price - RM 70,940
• Toyota Yaris 2021-2022 1.5E price - RM 80,380
• Toyota Yaris 2021-2022 1.5G price - RM 84,808

This is ever so slightly cheaper than equivalent Vios variants – though again, you don’t get the leather seats for the top-spec Toyota Yaris 1.5G.

Features of Toyota Yaris 2022

Keyless entry and start are common across the range of Toyota Yaris variants. Where the entry-level Toyota Yaris loses out is in the lack of steering wheel switches, a Multi-Information Display for the instrument cluster, having a four-speaker setup over the six-speaker setup (only for the 1.5G), and having manual air-conditioning over automatic air-conditioning (only for the 1.5G as well).

Toyota Yaris 2022 Fuel Consumption

There are no official manufacturer figures for the Toyota Yaris, but if we had to follow that of the Vios, it would get a real-world consumption of around 16 kilometres per litre. We even managed to get it up to 22 kilometres per litre with a bit of fiddling, and some have gone as far as 24.6 kilometres per litre – all done at between 40 km/h and 60 km/h.