Southern View: March 28, 2024

8
Thursday March 28 2024
Incorporating
best motorbuys
www.drivesouth.co.nz
Toyota’s peppy hybrid hatch the best Yaris yet
A GOOD EXAMPLE of SUVs
being hot and hatches not is the
Toyota Yaris a funky five-door
hatch, which hardly gets a sales
look-in against its slightly SUV
sibling the Yaris Cross that costs
almost $4k more.
The current Yaris is now
four years old, but considered
the biggest transformation in
decades of the dull, but utterly
dependable Yaris. Some even
described it as a quantum leap in
refinement and technology over
its predecessors.
The starting point for a Yaris is
$32,190 for the GX hybrid with a
big jump to $38,390 for the high
spec ZR hybrid provided for this
road test.
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
If you’re serious about
reducing you carbon footprint
by driving some something
clean and green, the distinctive
Yaris hybrid makes a compelling
case with super low CO2 engine
emission figure at just 76g/
km. The 1.5-litre three-cylinder
petrol electric hybrid system
has a combined power output of
85kW. Collectively this combo
does a fine job.
In urban motoring, the hybrid
has amazingly low engine noise
levels. You can almost hear a
pin drop in the cabin when it’s
running in electric-only mode
and it does this for extended
periods on reasonably flat
terrain.
Ratings out of 10: Performance 7; Handling 7; Build Quality
7; Comfort 7; Passenger and Load Space 6; Styling 7; Value
for money 6; Safety – Five Star ANCAP crash rating.
Overall points out of 10: 7
It switches seamlessly between
its double life of petrol and
electric and back again, a credit
to an advanced and effective
lithium-ion battery and electric
motor set-up.
I noticed the hybrid seemed
to work harder when faced with
energy draining hill climbs, and
isn’t as spritely at it during hill
free driving.
This compact five-door
hatch is happiest in the urban
motoring that it was designed
for. Going beyond the city limits
pushes it and the driver out of
their comfort zones. Longer open
road trips are doable and the test
car proved comfortable enough
on a 200km roadie. A direct, and
it is, shift CVT (continuously
variable transmission) is a
purpose built electronically
controlled gearbox, tuned for
the gear shifting efficiency
needed to deliver on its claimed
3.5L/100km fuel economy.
Quality and fashionable
materials are not what you
typically find in a mini hatch
for the masses such as the
Yaris, nor the climate control
air conditioning, smart entry
with push button start, digital
speedometer and head-up
display. If a roomy cabin and a
decent size rear hatch is on your
list then you won’t find it, instead
it’s a tight 4-seater for those who
don’t travel with a lot of luggage.
Connectivity is well sorted
on all fronts, with a multimedia
system incorporating a
7-inch touchscreen display,
full smartphone integration
including Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto.
Almost every element of
this vehicle is executed with
precision, but then that’s
something Toyota has always
done better than most.
This is the best riding and
handling Yaris yet. Balanced,
nimble, and with deep reserves
of grip on even the poorest
road surfaces, ensure an action
packed drive over twisty terrain.
The steering is engaging with
just the right amount of road feel
and weighting, to quickly gain
the confidence of the driver, and
it is so easy to limbo into and out
of the tightest parking spots.
Finance
available
(conditions apply)
CARS WANTED
– CASH PAID
We buy small
Japanese vehicles
- Must be tidy
LOW KMS
2011 SuZuKi SPlASH 5/HATcH
$7,495
1240cc, auto, 111,000kms, alloys.
2011 mAZDA AxelA
$7,995
1500cc, auto, 184,500kms.
2009 TOyOTA iPSum 7 SeATeR
$8,995
2.4, auto, alloys, 81,000kms.
2014 TOyOTA cOROllA Gx HATcH 1.8
$11,995
Auto, NZ new, 176,000kms.
2014 TOyOTA AVeNSiS S/w
$9,995
2.OL, auto, alloys, multi air bags, 157,000kms.
2009 NiSSAN NOTe 5/HATcH 1.5
$5,995
Auto, 128,000kms.
2006 miSuBiSHi cOlT PluS
$5,695
1.5 Auto, 154,000kms, roomy hatch.
2007 HONDA JAZZ SPORT
$6,995
1.5 auto, 114,000kms.
REDUCED
SOLD
SOLD
2012 HyuNDAi i30 S/w
$8,995
NZ new, 1600cc, auto, 133,000kms, alloys.
2015 TOyOTA yARiS 5/HATcH
wAS $12,495 NOw $10,995
1.3L, auto, NZ new, low 56,000kms.
2012 HyuNDAi i30 5/HATcH
$7,995
1.6L, auto, 173,000kms, alloys.
2010 miTSuBiSHi RVR
$10,995
1800cc, auto, 2WD, 128,000kms.
2007 TOyOTA RAV 5 DOOR
$9,995
Auto, 2WD, 108,000kms, alloys.
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