Review of the new Toyota Yaris 1.0-Litre Range

When Toyota launched the first generation Yaris, they immediately moved the game on in the very competitive Supermini sector. Yet even before they could start to bask in self-satisfied glory, they were soon chasing the likes of Renault's Modus, Ford's Fiesta and Honda's Jazz in an effort to keep up. Nothing stays still for long, least of all the Motoring industry.

So, now the cycle has been renewed, with all the other manufacturers now looking at this second generation Yaris to set the benchmarks for their next models. A good clue to the quality of a new car's pedigree can often be found in the untainted attributes of the entry level model, a car like the Yaris 1.0-litre we look at here.

First impressions are that Toyota have taken the old Yaris and plugged it into a garage forecourt airline. It's bigger in every dimension and markedly more bulbous. It's also way better in terms of perceived quality. The double-sealed doors feel thicker and weightier and shut with a thunk rather than a clang. The rather unconventional fascia looks removed from the supermini norm, with a 3D effect on the main display. More conservative buyers may find it a bit Buck Rogers but it's certainly distinctive.

There's only so much money that can be thrown at a car where margins are this tight and there are plenty of unlined cubbies and hard plastics on display. The seats seem rather insubstantial too, Toyota realising that big seats are the enemy of packaging a small car. They've tried to create a lightweight but comfortable seat. Lightweight buyers will probably find them OK, but tip the scales at sixteen stone and you'll probably grumble after an hour or so.

"With keen fuel economy, low inertia and low emissions, it's a better choice than the diesel for the urban sprawl and crawl"

This entry level model comes with a brand new ultra-lightweight 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. Built in Japan, this engine will appeal to buyers who are attracted by the city credentials of the Yaris. The 0 to 60mph sprint figure is a little irrelevant on this type of car but for the record, it is achieved in 15.7 seconds. A top speed of 96mph is accompanied with a CO2 emissions level of only 127g/km. Where the Yaris 1.0-litre really scores however, is with its miserly fuel consumption, returning 52.3mpg on the combined cycle. With keen fuel economy, low inertia and low emissions, it's a better choice than the diesel for the urban sprawl and crawl. Marry that to Toyota's claim that the Yaris has the tightest turning circle in the whole supermini sector and you have a very agile and wieldy city scoot.

Despite its 11cm growth in overall length, the Yaris is still shorter than the latest generation of larger superminis such as the Fiat Grande Punto and the Renault Clio. Part of the reason why these cars are so large is compliance with pedestrian impact legislation which is adding a few centimetres to the nose of many cars. The Yaris gets round this one by arcing the bonnet high over the unyielding mechanicals to provide a deformable surface.

This means that despite being shorter on the outside, the Yaris is competitive in terms of interior space and easy to park at the same time. Fold the EasyFlat rear seats down and you're treated to the largest stowage area of any supermini. This system allows the rear bench to be split 60:40 and both sections to slide independently. Therefore it's possible to transport long, bulky items without impinging on a rear passenger's legroom allowance.

Prices start at £8,985 and two trim levels are available with this entry-level model - T2 and T3, both in 3-door and 5-door guises. The T2 model comes with driver's and passenger's airbags, ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce distribution as well as brake assist, electronically adjustable door mirrors, electric power steering, electric front windows, an RDS radio CD player, 60:40 split rear seat and remote central double locking. The T3 adds front side airbags, curtain shield airbags, knee airbags, a 6-speaker RDS radio CD player with MP3 and WMA compatibility, manual air conditioning and a leather trimmed steering wheel with matching gear knob.

If you buy a car on styling however, the Yaris may struggle to initially grab your attention. Cars like Fiat's Grande Punto have upped the design ante quite significantly and just as the original Yaris entered the market as customer demand swung towards serious size, there may now be a danger that the current model answers that question just as sassy styling becomes a key buyer criterion. Having said that, although there will inevitably be a backlash against big boxes, it's not coming right now. Space and safety remain the top two buyer wants and the Yaris answers both very comprehensively. Plus, as we've suggested, equipment levels are beyond the ability of most major rivals to match. Keyless ignition features on plusher models as well as climate control and a trip computer.

Toyota need to clearly communicate that this car has been redesigned from the ground up in order for the latest Yaris to succeed. Failing that, many potential buyers may pass it off as a facelift of the existing car and bypass their Toyota dealer on the way to a competitor. That would be a shame because the second generation Yaris has a lot to offer. The opposition may have caught up so it's now no longer the clear class leader that it once was. This 1.0-litre petrol, however, will be a difficult car to beat in the daily urban scrum.

TOP 4 YARIS DEALS

The results below show the top YARIS deals on buyacar

Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i T2 3dr Hatchback
Price £7,983 Click for a Yaris Review	Save £2,273
Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i T2 5dr Hatchback
Price £8,458 Click for a Yaris Review	Save £2,309
Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i TR 5dr Hatchback
Price £9,144 Click for a Yaris Review	Save £2,599
Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i TR 3dr Hatchback
Price £8,680 Click for a Yaris Review	Save £2,552