Toyota Yaris review

It’s a far more grown-up interior all round, with a modern design, easy-to-use climate control buttons – yeah, real ones – and an optional 10-inch HUD which keeps your eyes on the road.

A couple of let downs are the cheap plastics used for the centre console and the lower dash, and the difficult to read digital dials (although Icon cars get an analogue speedo). You do notice the graphics, too - there are quite a few slicker systems out there, and the GameBoy stylings of the Yaris don’t do it any favours.

There’s a lot of clever tech going on underneath, and it feels a bit falsely represented on the screens. A decent but not groundbreaking effort, and what there is, works. Plus, there’s lots of handy shelves and cubbies to lose your Werther’s Originals in. 

Whilst the GR Yaris comes as a three-door - yes, we keep mentioning it, because what other car comes with a rally-esque sibling these days? - the standard car is a more practical five-door only. It’s still a small vehicle though, so don’t expect Tardis-like theatrics with the interior space.

In fact, the back is fine for kids, but the lack of rear headroom is a slight issue and would make things claustrophobic for back seat passengers if they’re of anything over average height. Short journeys aren’t a problem, but touring with the extended family will probably provoke murder and/or medical-grade pins’n’needles. 

And while we’re talking volume, the 281-litre boot space is slightly down on most rivals and well down on the comparatively giant Renault Clio and its 380-litres of shopping bag space. But to be honest, it’s a little car with a boot that can cope with daily duties.