Toyota's latest Yaris is much bigger and more substantial than the model it replaces. The Japanese see the Yaris as very much an inspirational vehicle for thirty to forty year olds and have moved it significantly up market, leaving the smaller Aygo to mop up the budget end of the supermini spectrum. Wisely, Toyota have retained and improved the all-aluminium 1.4-litre D-4D turbo charged diesel engine that featured in the old Yaris and is the subject of the model we look at here.

At its original launch in 1999, this Toyota supermini was pretty much state of the art when it came to the amount of space you could reasonably squeeze into a small car. Then came the Honda Jazz, the Ford Fiesta, the Renault Modus, all offering more room than the original compact Yaris could ever hope to compete with. Despite this, it did well for a while, but the die was cast. This great little car was just that: great but little. The subsequent launch of the Aygo citycar only highlighted how redundant the MK1 Yaris had increasingly become.

Not surprisingly then, the latest Yaris is much bigger in every dimension, as well as being markedly more bulbous than its predecessor. It's also way better in terms of perceived quality. The double-sealed doors have been designed specifically to feel thicker and weightier and shut with a thunk rather than a clang. The unconventional fascia looks removed from the supermini norm, with a 3D effect on the main display. More conservative buyers may find it a bit unusual but it's certainly distinctive.

The improvements to the 1.4-litre turbo-charged diesel engine have seen an increase in the injection pressure to 1600 bar with six-hole injectors. This makes the fuel burn more efficiently, giving increased power and better fuel economy. This has resulted in an engine that delivers 89bhp at 3,600rpm compared to 74bhp at 4,000rpm for the previous model. The sprint from 0 to 62mph is achieved in 10.7 seconds going on to a top speed of 109mph. You won't be spending too much time at the pumps either as, despite it increase in size, this Yaris returns a very healthy 62.8 mpg in the combined cycle. The Yaris 1.4-litre D-4D also has exemplary green credentials, emitting only 119g/km of CO2. A five-speed manual gearbox comes as standard but diesel buyers can also specify Toyota's MultiMode transmission featuring automatic or sequential gear selection.

"The double-sealed doors have been designed specifically to feel thicker and weightier and shut with a 'thunk' rather than a 'clang'"

Four trim levels are offered with this diesel model, TR, T3, SR and T Spirit. The T3 grade that many choose includes side and curtain airbags, a driver's knee airbag, air-conditioning, a telescopic steering wheel, driver's seat height adjustment and a leather steering wheel with audio controls. The sound system also gets the facility to play MP3 and WMA music formats from a disc. The SR adds sports suspension and a bodykit with 17" alloys to boot the Yaris' dynamic appeal. The top-of-the-range T Spirit comes with a keyless smart entry and starting system, climate control, front fog lights, metallic effect cabin trim detailing and 15-inch alloy wheels. Prices start at £11,045 for the TR three-door and rise to £13,550 for the T Spirit five-door.

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 models like these. 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. With the rear seats in place though the boot space is tiny.

Aerodynamics, once a major vehicle selling point in the Eighties, are again coming back into vogue as manufacturers look for relatively inexpensive solutions to the problem of their wares becoming bigger, heavier and therefore less economical on fuel. A few thousand hours spent in a wind tunnel can claw back those losses and the Yaris benefits from a flat central underfloor, a smooth fuel tank and a cover between the spare wheel and the bumper. The result is a drag coefficient of 0.30, excellent for such an upright car. Toyota claim to have cut frontal lift at speed by 100 per cent, which in turn gives benefits in terms of motorway stability and resistance to crosswind effects.

The look of this Yaris will not be everybody's cup of tea. Cars like the Grande Punto have upped the design ante quite significantly and just as the original version of Toyota's supermini entered the market shortly before customer demand swung towards serious size, is there now a danger of the current Yaris answering that question just before sassy styling becomes a key buyer criterion? Maybe not. 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. Equipment levels are also beyond the ability of most major rivals to match.

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. This is somewhat disappointing for something otherwise so well built. The seats, though lightweight and comfortable, seem rather insubstantial too, Toyota realising that big seats are the enemy of packaging in a small car. Thinner buyers will probably find them OK, but tip the scales at sixteen stone and you'll probably grumble after an hour or so.

On the road, the Yaris 1.4-litre D-4D is a competent if not an exhilarating drive. There is plenty of low-end torque to make town driving a breeze and the steering is light and responsive. Visibility is good all round, except for the large 'A' pillars which you have to peer around on tight bends.

The Yaris 1.4-litre D-4D makes for a strong contender in the very competitive diesel supermini sector. Its pug-like looks may not be to everyone's taste but its build quality, specification and Toyota's legendary reliability should ensure that this Yaris is soon back at the top of the heap.

TOP 5 YARIS DEALS

The results below show the top YARIS deals on buyacar

	Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D TR 5dr Spec edn Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £171	Saving £1,839	Price £9,556
	Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D TR 3dr Spec edn Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £162	Saving £1,785	Price £9,120
	Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D T3 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £200	Saving £975	Price £10,575
	Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D TR 5dr MMT Spec edn Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £180	Saving £1,893	Price £9,992
	Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D T3 3dr MMT Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £210	Saving £1,029	Price £11,011

typical 13.49% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000