Toyota Kirloskar took the covers off its brand new offering for India. Set to launch in mid 2018, the Toyota Yaris compact sedan will jump into a highly competitive segment. We have waited for this car for ages now - yes even expecting it launch as its Vios alter-ego But finally the car was destined to be badged Yaris in India. Toyota will bet on the car's interior space, safety qualifications and styling to turn it into a volumes offering. The Yaris will take on the Hyundai Verna, Honda City and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, but only their petrol models since Toyota has chosen not to go diesel with the new car. As we had told you already, the Yaris will only have the 1.5 litre dual VVT-i petrol engine with the option of a 6-speed manual or 7-speed CVT auto.
Also Read: Toyota Yaris Launched In India; Check Out The Prices
It promises many segment-first features like 7 airbags (including curtain and knee airbags), a tyre pressure monitoring system, disc brakes on all wheels, a roof-mounted air recirculation vent with LED highlight for rear passengers, a power adjust driver-side seat, parking sensors up front (and at back - though that's available on rival cars), and gesture control for the audio. It also gets ABS with EBD, stability control, auto projector headlamps, alloy wheels, a shark fin antenna, rear camera, touchscreen navigation, faux leather seats, cruise control, paddle shift on the CVT, steering mounted controls, rear power outlets, and a start button.
Toyota Yaris' cabin comes with dual tone interior, and a well-equipped dashboard
The steering is only height adjustable but not telescopic - a bit of a surprise for me. The faux leather seats give off a luxurious feel, and are very comfortable. The configuration offers generous knee and legroom. Rear passengers will also find the seat back angle to be very comfortable. There is a drop-down armrest with built-in twin cup holders at the back too, and the seat has a 60:40 split. The sense of space is further enhanced by a flat floor at the back. The car looks ample and the styling picks up from where the current Corolla left off - very much its sibling then.
Toyota Yaris will be positioned below the Corolla Altis
The face is in line with the new global family look, but unlike the global Yaris/Vios, the bumper inserts rising into to the slim grille are all black - diminishing the car's width. There are LED DRLs (daylight running lights) set in the bumper, and also sharp line design LED parking lights on the inner side of the headlamp cluster. The wheels are 15" alloys, and the car's wheelbase visually promises what is indeed a spacious cabin. The rear lights use LEDs and look sharp and contemporary. The overall silhouette is very traditionally sedan-like, but yet the Yaris looks modern and very competitive when placed in the rival group.
Toyota Yaris gets a 1.5 litre dual VVT-i petrol engine under the hood
The Yaris will launch by early May 2018, and will be made at Toyota's plant outside Bangalore. The company promises high local content at the start, which is likely to increase going ahead. That and the fact that it's calling the Yaris it's 'value champion' indicates an aggressive pricing strategy. It will clearly sit between the Etios and Corolla sedans and will likely be priced competitively to go after high volumes. That Toyota is cutting itself out of the diesel compact sedan pie will further push the company to ensure robust sales on the petrol side. We get our hands on one in about 6-8 weeks from now, which is when you can expect our detailed product review - in time for the launch. However do watch our first impressions video of what we think of this new compact sedan here.
