Road test: Toyota Yaris Hybrid

When it was launched here at the end of 2012, Toyota's Yaris Hybrid was the first full hybrid vehicle in the B-segment, writes Trish Whelan.

To most people, though, this is just another Yaris, the best-selling B-Segment supermini in Ireland available with petrol and diesel engines.

But this is the most advanced Yaris yet, described as 'a great piece of engineering' with ingenious technology, class-leading efficiency and high 'green' credentials.

So what are the differences between this hybrid version and the ordinary Yaris?

Look closely at the exterior and you will see some distinguishing cues to show this is a hybrid car. A different front grille, and different rear lights as well as the blue of the Toyota badge on the tailgate.

But the key difference is in the mix of electric and petrol power as the hybrid combines a re-engineered 1.5 petrol engine with a lighter, more compact electric motor and battery pack. The total system output is 100bhp.

Every key hybrid system component has been reduced in both size and weight to fit into a supermini car without intruding on cabin or boot space - the 286 litres of boot capacity matches that of the standard Yaris. Engineers placed both the fuel tank and the battery under the rear seats for this reason. The total hybrid system weight is 201 kgs, which is 20 percent (42 kg) less than that of an Auris Hybrid. There's also a temporary spare below the boot floor.

The Yaris Hybrid emits just 79g/km C02 which means your annual road tax is the second lowest available at €170.

All of these factors allow it deliver a claimed economy of up to 3.5 L/100kms (80mpg) which is really quite phenomenal - Toyota claims a possible driving range of 1,000 kms on one single tank of fuel.


Now compare these figures to the standard 1.0-litre Terra petrol model with an entry price of €15,555; returning around 58.9mpg for the combined cycle and with an annual road tax of €200. Customers have a choice of 1.0 and 1.33 petrol, or 1.4 diesel engines.

The 1.5 E-CVT automatic model I drove is priced at €18,950 so you pay another €3,395 for the hybrid technology and €1,000 more for the Hybrid Luxury grade which also moves up to €180 in annual road tax.

The Irish distributor expects up to 15 percent of all Yaris sales to be hybrids this year. This could be up to 350 units.

I expect most sales will come from urban customers as it's on city streets that this Hybrid really excels. A little urban warrior with quite a seamless smooth drive, a tight turning circle and it's easy to park in tight spaces. You also enjoy the feel-good factor of its spacious, bright, smart looking cabin.

Country drivers who have to travel longer distances on main roads won't get as much benefit as a hybrid used in urban driving so they might consider the D-4D 1.4 diesel Yaris at €18,380 (Road tax of €104) instead. And the latter is likely to have better residuals in our current obsession with diesel.

Drivers can select Eco or zero emission EV driving modes. My time with the car was mostly in Eco mode. I found the engine needed a fair bit of wellie to gather speed when attempting to join the motorway, when driving up steep hills or when overtaking. (It takes 11.8 seconds for the 0-100km/h trip).

Being a hybrid, you get to see where the power is coming from as you drive, and I tended to keep glancing at the information on the energy monitor of the colour screen to keep checking. But be warned, it becomes addictive viewing! You can turn it off.

Toyota are offering a very high level of specification with the Yaris Hybrid including seven airbags, vehicle stability control, emergency brake assist, 15-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, Bluetooth, dual climate control, LED daytime running lights and special blue stitching on the seats/steering wheel/and hand brake. The special hybrid-specific CVT knob is finished in blue to complete the look.

Yaris is one of those cars that looks good from every angle and the review car turned heads in Glacier Pearl White exterior with black windows.