Toyota Yaris review

A hybrid Yaris looks pretty good value in comparison to some of the steep sticker prices you get on electric vehicles these days. Although – despite the marketing – we must remember that this is still a petrol car that uses petrol and does emissions. And you can't plug it in, in case you thought it was one of those fancier hybrids.

There are four trims available – Icon, Design, Excel and GR Sport. Icon starts the bidding at £23,445 while Design comes in at £25,135. Then there’s a jump to Excel trim (and its slightly perkier 129bhp powertrain versus the 114bhp of the two entry models) at £28,195 and the range-topping GR Sport is £29,945.

There is of course the GR Yaris to think about, but that's a £45k hot hatch and a whole other proposition. Which you should absolutely go for if you win the pools. Just sayin'.

What do I get on each trim level? 

The Icon car nets you a reasonable spec, with 16in alloys, 9in infotainment setup with wireless smartphone integration, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, auto headlights and wipers, front electric windows (!) and auto aircon as standard.

Design’s modest increment adds LED front and rear lights, a digital dashboard display, tinted rear windows (that go up and down electrically) and some extra safety kit.

Excel brings the more powerful powertrain, 17in alloys, keyless go, a fancier 10.5in infotainment setup, larger 12.3in digital dashboard, wireless phone charging, folding mirrors, plus front and rear parking sensors.

GR Sport offers 18in alloys, dual zone aircon, synthetic suede upholstery (with GR Sport badging) and some upgraded exterior trim (a rear diffuser and mesh front grille) for your money – but stingily doesn’t offer the front and rear parking sensors. Hey Toyota, what gives?

A baffling omission across the whole model range is heated seats – you’d have to go for the Yaris Cross SUV if you wanted those.

Which one should I go for? 

The upper trims don’t really offer enough to tempt us to splurge out the extra cash: we’d probably go for the Design and buy ourselves something pretty with the change. The ride is better on the 16in wheels and the fuel economy a smidge higher on the entry-level powertrain.

In terms of other value, all new Yarises come with Toyota’s five-year/100,000-mile warranty and if previous generations are anything to go by it should be supremely reliable, and safe too.