There are new models everywhere at Toyota. Witness the glorious new Supra, the evolving 86 coupe and the funky C-HR SUV. And don't forget the teeny tiny S-FR rear-drive sports car, which is still bobbing about in the yet-to-launch department. Yes, Toyota has turned a corner. It's almost cool again. But the fact is, to fund the development of these low-volume cars, there must be top-selling models like the $16,820 (plus on-road costs) Yaris Ascent.
A Toyota Yaris, Mazda2 and Holden Barina go for a surf. The Mazda and Holden are wearing Speedos or Tigerlily bikinis and when a wave dumps all three…well the ‘2’ and the Barina are fully exposed.
As for the Yaris, it strides confidently from the shore break with its conservative full-length board shorts/one-piece still securely in-place
This parable has a message: Bread and butter Toyota econoboxes may be unexciting, but what they lack in panache they make up for with rationality.
In this league, requirements for a car are merely: Must go from point A to point B reliably, have Bluetooth streaming, air-conditioning and top-notch safety features. Yep, the Yaris ticks those boxes.
It also turns corners predictably, the indicators and headlights work well, the brakes are decent and, let’s not forget, the roof stops you getting wet if it rains. Clever.
There's ample room in the boot for shopping and you can fit four adults inside, five at a squeeze. The seats are fit for purpose – drab and firm – and the interior plastics are unforgiving, but are no doubt child-friendly, hard-wearing and will stand the test of time.
For many people, underscoring all of that, Toyota’s enviable reputation for reliability forms the bedrock of their purchasing decision.
Do you need a car? If so, try a Yaris.
Do you want a car which is fun to drive? If so, check out a Toyota 86.
But hopefully Toyota will slot the new 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine from the C-HR compact SUV into the next-generation Yaris, because the current Ascent’s peak power of 63kW ain't nothing to write home about. But the car is light, at just over 1000kg, so when you wring its neck it does get its (reliable) skates on. And the 120Nm of torque? Safe to say neck strain isn’t an issue under full acceleration.
But things are grim in the gearbox department.
The Yaris’ four-speed automatic takes an age to shift a single gear in an era where six and seven-speed dual-clutch automatics with samurai-like speed are becoming standard.
In a strange way, part of me quite enjoyed flaying the anachronistic four-speed epicyclic gearbox, but only around town at slower speeds, and only for a wee bit. After a while apathy gave way to pity as freeway driving revealed the shortcomings of the Yaris’ automatic tranny. Simply put, it requires another ratio – if not two – to allow a combination of efficient driving and enough leeway to drop a gear to overtake.
Rubbing salt into the wound, the gear shifter looks dreadful, almost like a prop from a B-grade sci-fi film set. One redeeming feature is that cruise control is now standard on all Yaris models.
Compact dimensions make the Yaris easy to drive, upright windows provide a good view of your surroundings and a reversing camera is standard on all models – not to mention an improved (but still average) touchscreen infotainment display. Rear seats which split fold 60:40 add to the practicality picture.
It's a good city car and although it comes with seven airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is an optional extra. It comes as part of the Toyota Safety Sense pack which also adds lane departure alert and automatic high-beam headlights.
In terms of operating costs, one area where Toyota is falling behind some rivals is warranty. Kia and Holden (for now) offer seven-year warranties while Hyundai and Honda do five-years. Toyota's reputation for building reliable cars with strong resale values will probably enable it to sit tight for several more years, but there’s no doubt buyers can find security elsewhere these days.
Admittedly, Toyota being Toyota, you could probably chock up the front end of the Japanese-built Yaris, slot it into top gear and leave it running for years and the next service bill won't break the bank, or you could leave it parked by the beach for a month and the sea-salt spray probably won't corrode it. Okay, maybe not, but you get the picture.
Yep it’s uninteresting to drive and the four-speed automatic transmission needs to be retired, but the updated looks are neat, with 10 exterior colours to choose from. That said, this entry-grade Yaris Ascent model misses out on the LED driving lights and alloy wheels, so when parked alongside its fancier siblings, it does looks a bit ‘$2 Shop’.
All things considered, while the Yaris may not be the coolest kid on the block, don’t bet against it finishing 2017 as one of Australia’s top three best-selling compact cars.
2017 Toyota Yaris Ascent pricing and specifications:
Price: $16,820 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 63kW/120Nm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 147g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (last tested 2011)