2020 toyota yaris ascent sport 1472
2020 toyota yaris grade range 1440
2020 toyota yaris zr hybrid 0117
2020 toyota yaris zr hybrid 5663
2020 toyota yaris zr hybrid 5627
Carsales Staff18 Aug 2020
NEWS

Prices skyrocket for new Toyota Yaris

Base model starts at $22,000; new hybrid tops out at $32,000

Pricing has rocketed upward for the third-generation Toyota Yaris with no example starting below $20,000 and two pitched beyond $30,000.

The cheapest new Toyota Yaris, the Ascent Sport manual, is priced at $22,130 before on-road costs – a rise of $6740 compared to its predecessor.

The most expensive model in the line-up is the $32,100 ZR hybrid, which is a climb of $9430 compared to the previous flagship.

Pricing for the outgoing second-generation Yaris spanned $15,390 to $22,670 plus on-road costs.

The dollar jump means the Yaris now sits much closer to the larger Corolla on pricing. The cheapest Corolla hybrid actually undercuts the entry-level petrol-electric Yaris by more than $1000.

Toyota is pushing hard the significant improvements for the Yaris compared to its predecessor to justify the price hikes.

2020 toyota yaris grade range 1440

“The all-new Yaris has sharper styling, a dynamic new platform, powerful and efficient new powertrains, an engaging new driving experience and the cutting-edge safety that is otherwise available only in luxury cars,” Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said.

Recognising the gulf it has created in its pricing, Hanley pushed Toyota’s certified pre-owned used car program as a new avenue for entry-level buyers.

Toyota has sold more than 250,000 examples of the Yaris since its introduction in Australia in 2005, which helps explain why it is staying in the declining light-car segment when other brands such as Ford, Honda and Hyundai are pulling out.

Instead it has opted to pump up the pricing as Mazda did with its popular Mazda 2 entry-level model.

Toyota is banking on the introduction of the hybrid drivetrain to boost interest in Yaris and account for around 40 per cent of sales.

The hatch’s arrival also signals a big few months for the Yaris nameplate, with the Yaris Cross SUV and Yaris GR hot hatch also arriving later this year.

2020 toyota yaris zr hybrid 5663

Based on Toyota’s TNGA-B architecture, the new Yaris is pretty much all-new from the wheels up. It will come with two drivetrains and in three equipment grades.

The existing 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines have been ditched and replaced by a 1.5-litre triple-cylinder in both naturally-aspirated 88kW form and the 85kW hybrid.

The three models are Ascent Sport (replacing Ascent) and the existing SX and ZR grades.

Not fitting the base model with a hybrid means the larger $27,395 Corolla Ascent Sport undercuts the cheapest $29,020 petrol-electric Yaris SX on price.

The hybrid is the most fuel-efficient model Toyota offers in Australia at a claimed 3.3L/100km average consumption rate. The CVT version of the 1.5 manages a handy 4.9L/100km. That manual is 5.4L/100km.

2020 toyota yaris zr hybrid 0117

The nat-atmo’s 88kW output is 8kW up on the old 1.5 and 25kW than the old 1.3. The 145Nm ratings means torque lifts 25Nm and 4Nm respectively.

The hybrid’s 85kW rating combines the engine and electric motor outputs. Toyota does not provide a torque output.

Toyota says the Yaris has more safety features than any other model it offers. It is the first model it has offered here with the ability avoid collisions with pedestrian and vehicles while turning at intersections.

Other key features include autonomous emergency braking with day and night vehicle and pedestrian recognition and daylight cyclist detection. It has lane keep assist, can recognise speed signs and prompt the driver to limit speeds in response.

2020 toyota yaris zr hybrid 3739

Inside, the Yaris will be offered with an all-new infotainment system that includes a 7.0-inch touch-screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and voice recognition.

Highlights of each model grades equipment includes:

Ascent Sport: 15-inch steel wheels, LED daytime running lamps, 60/40 folding rear seatback, USB port.

SX: Sat-nav, keyless, 15-inch alloys, LED head and tail lights, piano black and satin interior finishes, leather-accent steering wheel, digital meters.

ZR: 16-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, head-up display, blind spot monitor, paddle shifts for (petrol model).

A full equipment list can be found below.

The new Toyota Yaris will be covered by a five-year/unlimited-km warranty and 12-month/15,000km service intervals for five years/75,000km priced at $195 per service.

New Yaris: model by model

Ascent Sport

Mechanical
88kW/145Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine
Six-speed intelligent manual transmission
Optional CVT
TNGA-B platform
MacPherson strut front suspension
Torsion beam rear suspension
Active cornering assist
Electric power steering
Ventilated disk brakes (front)
Leading-trailing drum brakes (rear)

Exterior
Longer wheelbase (+40mm)
Lower roof (-5mm)
Shorter rear overhang (-45mm)
15-inch steel wheels with cap
Temporary spare
Halogen headlights, indicators
LED daytime running lamps
LED tail, stop lamp
Rear fog lamps
Auto retractable door mirrors
LED turn signal lamps
Two front-windscreen wipers
Shark fin antenna
12 paint colours

Interior
Urethane steering wheel
Steering-wheel switches
Tilt & telescopic steering column, manual
Front seats, manual adjustment
Fabric upholstery, piano black trim
Analogue speedometer and tachometer
4.2-inch multi-information display (vertical)
60:40 split-fold rear seat
Rear-seat reminder
Cargo area: two-level deck board
Power windows, front and rear
Manual air-conditioner
Centre console – 2 cupholders
Front door pockets: up to 1.5-litre bottle
Rear door pockets: up to 600ml bottle
Front 12V socket, USB port

Safety and security
Eight airbags
Driver, front passenger, 2 front centre, 2 front side, 2 curtain shield
Pre-collision safety system
Pedestrian, day and night-time detection
Cyclist, day-time detection
Active cruise control
Intersection turn assistance
Lane-trace assist (with steering assist, lane centring)
Road-sign assist
Reversing camera
Auto high beam
Antilock brake system
Emergency brake assist
Steering-assisted vehicle stability control
Traction control
Hill-start assist control
Secondary collision brake system
Emergency brake signal (hazard lights)
ISOFIX rear-seat anchors (lower outboard, 3 upper tethers)

Multimedia
7.0-inch touch-screen display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Miracast
myToyota
AM/FM/DAB+ radio3
Enhanced voice recognition
Bluetooth (phone and music)
Mobile assistant
Access to Siri Eyes Free, Google Now6 voice commands
USB video playback (vehicle stationary)
Six speakers

SX (upgrades or additions over Ascent Sport)
85kW (combined) 1.5-litre hybrid option with e-CVT
Lithium-ion battery pack
Normal, power, eco, EV modes
Satellite navigation with enhanced content
SUNA live traffic
Intersection guidance
My traffic routes
Real junction view
Speed-limit display and warnings
Enhanced interface
Pinch and zoom on map screen
Auto air-conditioner
Keyless smart entry
Smart start (ignition button)
Digital LCD speedometer, tachometer/hybrid meter
4.2-inch multi-information display (horizontal)
Soft-touch instrument panel
Leather-accented steering wheel
15-inch alloy wheels
LED headlamps and indicators
LED rear combination lamps
Privacy glass
Silver trim highlights
CVT only on petrol variant

ZR (upgrades or additions over SX)
16-inch alloy wheels
Rear spoiler
Head-up display
Sports front seats
Blind-spot monitor
Intelligent clearance sonar with parking support brake
Paddle shifter (not on hybrid)
Embossed and Y-printed seat fabric
Piano black gear surround, front-door highlights
Red insert on dashboard, front doors

ZR with two-tone paint
Four paint colours available with black roof
Two paint colours available with white roof

How much does the 2020 Toyota Yaris cost?
Ascent Sport manual – $22,130
Ascent Sport CVT – $23,630
SX CVT – $27,020
ZR CVT – $30,100
SX Hybrid CVT – $29,020
ZR Hybrid CVT – $32,100

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Written byCarsales Staff
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