PAGE 22 Wednesday <strong>December</strong> 9 <strong>2020</strong> BAY HARBOUR Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz multimedia communications 40 spectacular decorated floats indoors! TRAVIS ROAD NORTH NEW BRIGHTON DlflMIIR, !O!O Christmas Lighting powered by Non-stop entertainment indoors & food vendors on site both weekends! Dates & Time 10th/11th (Thur/Friday 10.30am - 3pm) 12th (Saturday 10.30am - 5pm) 13th (Sunday International day 10.30am - 5pm) 17th/18th (Thur/Friday 10.30am - 3pm) 19th/20th (Sat/Sunday 10.30am - 5pm) 21st/22nd (Mon/Tues 10.30am - 3pm) Entry Fee: Gold Coin Donation More Info: https://www.facebook.com/www.ch ristch u rchsa nta parade. nz Santa's Mega Grotto is proudly presented by The Christchurch Children's Christmas Parade Trust and brought to you by MultiMedia Communications Ltd.
Wednesday <strong>December</strong> 9 <strong>2020</strong> Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz BAY HARBOUR PAGE 23 New Yaris buyer faces tough decisions MAKE NO MISTAKE, Toyota’s new hatchback Yaris is everything you would want – cheeky styling, fuel efficiency and value pricing. However, there is a challenge facing any potential buyer, that being the hybrid is the best in the series, and that may be a step too far price-wise for those in the budget car market. I base those comments on the three drives I’ve had in the new Yaris, I’ve driven two petrol-only models and a hybrid, and the latter wins out with its economy and driving experience, the connection to electric power makes for effortless motoring. Now, I’m not saying the petrol-only model isn’t worth consideration, I still like it, and most of that is because its threecylinder engine is also thrifty and truly delightful in terms of honesty. This evaluation focuses on the high-spec ZR variant which lists at $29,990, an extra $3000 buying you into the hybrid. Bear in mind, too, that the range starts at $25,990 for the GX petrol model which I evaluated in these columns in September. It is also available in hybrid form at $27,990. All models have the same basic petrol powerplant – a 1.5-litre unit that, as I’ve mentioned, it only has three combustion chambers. Regular readers will recall my enthusiasm for that layout and in recent years many manufacturers have opted for that configuration. To me it makes a lot of sense, the less reciprocating mass you have the more efficient and smooth the engine becomes. However, those who do go the three-cylinder way will need to keep in mind that it is an experience just that little bit different, there are sounds that are foreign to that of say, a four-cylinder engine of the same capacity there is a distinctive tone and the Yaris buyer in all forms will need to adjust to that. In petrol form it is listed with an 88kW power output and 145Nm of torque. These figures are relatively healthy for its capacity, and if you take into account that it is small and light at just 4m and 1075kg respectively, the five-door hatchback feels nimble and is no slouch against the clock. You can expect a standstill to 100km/h acceleration time of around 10sec and 7.5sec to make 80-120km/h. On the subject of figures Toyota claims a 4.9-litre per 100km combined cycle fuel usage average. That’s a bold claim, but it is one that is within target. I took the evaluation car on a long highway loop, and on the open road straights the fuel usage readout was TOYOTA YARIS ZR: Petrol-only model has tough competition from its hybrid stablemate. listing 4l/100km instantaneously at 100km/h. That resulted in a dash display average of 5.5l/100km when I took the test car back to the dealership, which is not that far distant from Toyota’s claim. Of course, those figures are nowhere near those of the hybrid with its 3.3l/100km, but I wasn’t disappointed given that on occasion I allowed the wee engine to work freely towards the top end. Drive is sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission, this is fast becoming Toyota’s gearbox of choice in the models it offers that are earmarked for efficiency. In the ZR-spec petrol-only Yaris there are paddle-shifters which will lock the transmission into any one of 10 pre-set steps. That function is useful when slowing for corners, or for inclines, up or down. The CVT ratio has been structured to provide that reasonable acceleration to highway speed, and once there the engine is relaxed at 100km/h, turning over slowly at 2000rpm. Aimed at the twists and turns out of the Waimakariri River gorge bridge, the Yaris felt sprightly and agile. The chassis isn’t disturbed by mid-corner bumps or road deviations, the suspension does a good job of controlling body balance. The Yaris is also a comfortable car for four adults; it’s a bit of a squeeze width-wise for three adults in the rear, and leg room depends totally on how far back the front seat passengers have their seats, but there’s no shortage of head room, it is clever in the way it translates its limited space into occupant comfort. In ZR spec, the Yaris gets a good level of fitment that should please the budget-conscious buyer and those who rate safety as a key ingredient. To that end, when • Price – Toyota Yaris ZR, $29,990 • Dimensions – Length, 3940mm; width, 1695mm; height, 1500mm • Configuration – Threecylinder, front-wheeldrive, 1490cc, 88kW, 145Nm, continuously variable automatic. • Performance – 0-100km/h, 10.8sec • Fuel usage – 4.9l/100km crash tested, the series should easily earn a five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program rating, thanks to the Toyota SafetySense suite of technologies. There are too many features to mention in detail, but I particularly like the head-up display and radar cruise control. My daughter works for an organisation that has at least a dozen Yaris’ – mostly all white – that are used as pool cars on a daily basis. I told her they will probably be replaced in time with the newcomer. She’s hoping some of the trendy colours Toyota is offering in the new model will be incorporated into the fleet. I hope that when that time comes some would be hybrids, but if not, then the petrol-only model is still a very worthy consideration. Just as you would expect from Toyota, the new Yaris is a smart car and one which pleases in all forms, you can expect it to last forever and at the same time be charmed at every drive with that delightful wee engine up front.
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