2022 Toyota Yaris review

This hatchback has long been a favourite of young and older drivers, but big price increases may have tarnished its image.

Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport.

Typically cheap to buy and own, the Toyota Yaris has long been a staple of P-platers and retirees.

But the latest model starts from a chunky $23,740 before on-roads, so can its class-leading safety and impressive drive experience justify the price? Here are five things you need to know.

The cheapest Yaris has risen by about $10,000 in five years

It’s a lot of money for a little Yaris

The Ascent Sport is the entry level Yaris but Toyota demands about $27,000 to drive one away. Five short years ago the cheapest Yaris Ascent cost $15,290 plus charges, so we’re looking at a near ten grand leap. Why? There are no more manual gearboxes, Toyota has included expensive safety gear as standard and new car supply shortages mean every brand has bumped up prices in this seller’s market. The once humble hatch also comes in $27,130

SX and $30,200 ZR grades, while Hybrid versions add an extra $2000. You’ll need about $36,500 to drive away the range topper with metallic paint. That makes it pricier than an entry-level Camry.

The Yaris is also available as a hybrid.

Has the Yaris actually become sexy?

The old model was as sexy as granny pants, but the Yaris nameplate is so hip in the 2020s. The superb rally-bred GR Yaris is already a hot-hatch favourite, while the quirky Yaris Cross is kicking sales goals in the city SUV segment.

The garden variety Yaris hatch also shines with a body shorter and lower than old, a tough-guy face and blacked-out boot panel between rear LED lights. Dual-tone colour schemes are possible, and depending how you view sexy, the colour palette includes Cherry Blossom (light pink) and Electric Green (Dayglo style).

The Yaris no longer comes with a manual transmission, which has caused the entry price to rise.

Standard kit is very impressive

The entry level Ascent Sport basically scores the same advanced safety as the top grades. Highlights include eight airbags (including two front-row centre bags), auto emergency braking for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, radar cruise control, intersection turn assistance, speed-sign recognition and lane centring. It has the all-important five-star ANCAP safety rating despite it now being far harder to achieve. Other welcome inclusions are a 7-inch touchscreen running CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera, digital radio and digital speedo.

It looks cool and is fun to drive.

But it can’t hide its cheap roots

The cabin quickly reminds we’re in entry-level land. Hard plastics abound, the steering wheel’s urethane, the seat fabric feels thin and the door arm rests are so hard they wear away elbows on long drives. The wheels are titchy steelies with plastic covers, headlamps are halogen and rear brakes are drum. Shock horror, you even have to insert a metal key into the ignition to get moving. Settle in, though, and there’s plenty to praise. The layout and storage are excellent and Toyota’s somehow managed to make the Yaris’ rear seats and boot more spacious than its big brother Corolla. A cheap aspect we do like is servicing: the first five are only $205 a pop. Fuel use – 91 unleaded is all it needs – also helps with a 4.9L/100km average.

It’s incredibly good fun to drive

I fear some buyers will reject the basic Yaris before even driving it. That’d be a mistake. Its three-cylinder 1.5-litre engine – no turbocharging involved – makes a lovely note and simply adores being revved. It brings only 88kW and 145Nm to the party, but weighing little more than 1000kg, that’s enough. The Yaris shares its architecture with the excellent-to-drive RAV4

and Corolla, so despite its skinny tyres, the city Toyota is a treat in corners and even when quickly changing direction. Steering, too, offers feedback closer to a hot hatch than a retirement village cruiser. You can only buy a Yaris with a CVT auto gearbox; a generally smooth thing for town use.

Toyota withdrew the six-speed manual, which worked fantastically when mated to that little engine, but only four per cent of shoppers picked it, which was a shame.