The Toyota Yaris fights against the Honda Jazz and Mazda 2. From our experience with the pre-facelift model, the cabin is supremely quiet, with a smooth and fuel efficient drive from the 1.5-litre engine that’s paired to a CVT. The facelifted Yaris bumps things up a bit by introducing Android Auto/Apple CarPlay support and Toyota Safety Sense ADAS suite in addition to its 7 airbags, blind-spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert and panoramic view monitor - making it the safest car in the B-segment hatchback market.
Much like its sedan sibling, the Toyota Vios, the 2021 Toyota Yaris has also undergone a facelift. There's redesigned LED head lights and DRLs flanking an aggressive front fascia which at the same time, manages to look cleaner than the pre-facelift model. Three variants remain - the J, E and G - all powered by the same 2NR-VE, 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine paired to a CVT, making 107 PS and 140 Nm. Like the Vios, the Yaris also benefits from the inclusion of Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) ADAS suite (for E & G variants).
Changes in the interior are a little less apparent, but welcomed. The cheap-looking silver trims give way to dark-grey ones and gone is the old infotainment system, now replaced by a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Optitron instrument cluster is also available on the E variant now too. Other than that, new optional extras include front and rear DVRs and a wireless charger nestled in the car's centre console. Everything else - fabric seats, interior design - remains the same.
With a price range of RM 70k (J), RM 80k (E) and RM 84k (G), the Yaris is bound to go head-to-head with the upcoming 2021 Honda City Hatchback.