A Hatch to Match the Best With the new Yaris, Toyota has made a convincing return to the compact hatchback segment in Singapore. By Hadi Soedarsono, From Carbuyer Issue 48, Singapore. The supermini segment has always been a tough one for carmakers to conquer. Customers who buy such cars want them to be as compact as possible to zip around crowded city streets, but at the same time they demand space for four to five passengers plus a decent boot. In Singapore, the Honda Jazz and Hyundai Getz are the top sellers in this segment, and recently the demand for the Suzuki Swift has increased steadily.

The original Yaris, which was sold here as the Echo, was introduced in 1998. It was petite enough to be driven in the tiniest back alleys yet, thanks to clever packaging, it offered ample cabin room for four.

It was widely used as the benchmark by other car manufacturers when developing compact hatchbacks that are small on the outside and big on the inside. The Yaris was soon outclassed by its more modern opponents, most of which boasted even cleverer packaging.

The second-generation Yaris aims to move the game on again. While it still manages to look compact physically, its dimensions have grown quite substantially. Compared to the old car, the wheelbase has increased by 9cm and overall length by 14cm, while width and height have gone up by 3cm.

The first Yaris was always an attractive car but its replacement is slightly less distinctive and more forgettable. It still is cheekily styled though, with a large pair of headlamps, prominent grille and chunky bumpers. The wider wheel tracks, accompanied with the almost non-existent overhangs, make it sportier looking than before.

 

DRIVING IT
 

There's only one engine choice for the Thai-built Yaris, and it's the same 107bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that powers the Vios. From idle to around 3500rpm, the powerplant is hushed and responsive. Rev it higher and it becomes raucous and boomy, although the power delivery doesn't taper off.

The four-speed automatic transmission changes gears flawlessly most of the time, but it could be a bit smoother during downshifts. The upmarket-looking zigzag gear lever gate works well - the lever has a positive shift feel and the side-to-side movement from D to 3 makes it easy to drop a gear for corners.

The Yaris has a front disc and rear drum brake set-up. Stopping power is impressive even from three-figure speeds, with the car coming to a halt quickly and in a perfectly straight line.

The chassis feels particularly rigid and the suspension has been tweaked to provide better handling. The result is a quick turn-in response and good stability in high-speed corners. The steering is accurate and provides ample feedback to the driver.

But although the Yaris is a far better drive than the car it replaces, it still can't be considered a sporty number. Its tall stance and soft suspension mean there's noticeable body roll in fast corners, as well as some squat and dive under acceleration and braking.

On the other hand, the car's refinement can't be faulted. The suspension soaks up surface blemishes without fuss and it does so quietly, thanks to the superb cabin soundproofing. Wind noise is also noticeable only by its absence, although tyre roar starts to creep in from 60km/h onwards.

INSIDE IT
 

The increased exterior dimensions have allowed the Yaris to provide excellent cabin roominess, with the increase in rear legroom being the most notable improvement.

There's a generous amount of front headroom too, although the tapered roofline at the rear means taller occupants sitting behind may have to slouch a little if they don't want to mess up their hairdos.

Further back, the boot is rather cramped but a couple of clever features on the range-topping G model allow you to make the most of the available space. The 60:40 split rear seats can slide and recline individually, allowing you to vary the amount of cabin and boot space.

They can also be folded forward to form a completely flat loading floor, and fold-out plastic panels ensure that the boot carpet doesn't get soiled by dirty or wet items.

One of the things that catches your attention the moment you climb on board is the large instrument pod located right in the middle of the dashboard. It forms a neat T-shape with the vertically-stacked air-con controls, which are themselves flanked by large storage compartments.

Elsewhere in the cockpit, there are pull-out cupholders under the side air-con vents, dashboard-top compartments on both the driver's and passenger's side and sizeable door pockets which can hold more drink cans. There are in fact so many compartments that it might sometimes take a while to find your stuff.

The Yaris also boasts top-level build quality. Although some of the plastics are rather low-rent, like the air-con knobs and storage box lids, they have a nice texture and colour that perfectly complement the motifs of the fabric upholstery.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

The G model tested costs $57,488 with COE and it's pretty well-equipped with anti-lock brakes, alloy wheels, twin airbags, full electric-powered conveniences and front fog lamps.

A cheaper E model is also available for $2,500 less, although you lose the alloy wheels, fog lamps and, most significantly, the clever sliding and folding rear seat.

VERDICT
 

Compared to the old model, the second-generation Yaris is a significantly improved package. It's bigger so it has a spacious cabin, which at the same time there are more storage compartments and enhanced versatility.

The build quality is superior to that of most of its competitors too, and overall it's a fun car to drive.

However, those who have been led to believe it's a hot hatch by the engine's promising power output may be disappointed. The Yaris is happiest zipping along in the concrete jungle at a breezy pace, and not when it's being driven like a Formula One car.

All in all, the Yaris is a very competitive product from Toyota. Throw in the keen pricing, and it's ready to give all of its peers a hard time.