Toyota Yaris Hybrid 130: test drive and prices in Scandinavia

Toyota Yaris, already Car Of The Year 2021, updates itself with the 2024 model year, which doesn’t change anything aesthetically but brings significant technological advancements, especially under the hood: it also adopts the new 1.5-liter engine with 130 horsepower, in addition to the existing 115 horsepower one, just like the Yaris Cross.

A highly focused engine designed for those seeking a bit more agility, coupled with the new infotainment system and new safety features that keep the Japanese compact, a key model in Europe (where is designed and produced), updated and efficient.

Toyota Yaris Hybrid 130: our tops and flops

The Yaris reaffirms itself as an efficient compact car suitable for everyone, easy to park in the city but also suitable for some long trips, perhaps for young couples or friends who don’t need much. With this update, it improves in infotainment finally up to standard, and in ADAS features. But it’s especially the 1.5 Hybrid now also with 130 horsepower that gives it, and gives it more brilliance and dynamism when driving.

What we like:

The design is always modern;
Consumption is really top-notch;
Infotainment finally up to standard;

What we don’t like:

It can be really noisy;
Some materials could be better;
There are no USB ports in the back or the ability to manage air flow.

Toyota Yaris: how is to drive the new 1.5 130

Let’s start with the novelty under the hood, the new 1.5-liter power proposal now at 130 horsepower, the same as the Yaris Cross and the Lexus LBX, which however adopts it with 135 horsepower (here’s our test).

If on the Yaris Cross it was almost necessary, given that the 115 horsepower was a bit undersized for that weight, on the Yaris it’s appreciated for its agility because it combines with the compact dimensions and the rather reduced weight of a car less than 4 meters long and without heavy batteries.

The result is that it now goes from 0 to 100 more quickly, in 9.2 seconds, and above all, it’s much more enjoyable to drive, as well as being maneuverable. We’re not talking about a sports car – and the numbers certify it – but about a proposal designed for those who want low consumption but also some extra satisfaction. Also because in Power mode (the third, after Eco and Normal), it actually provides some satisfaction, while still focusing on low consumption.

This is also demonstrated by the gearbox, always a CVT that becomes very noisy when performance is required. In any case, even the 130 horsepower spends most of its time in electric mode, especially in Eco mode, especially in the city.

This makes the Yaris excellent not only for private customers, who choose it as the only full hybrid option in the B segment (if we don’t consider the Mazda rebranding) and which can be obtained at a price even lower than some petrol-only proposals, but also for companies, which appreciate it as a pool car or for corporate car sharing, or as a fringe benefit for certain categories and needs.

When used normally, that is, without being too sporty, it promises consumption even lower than 4.5 liters per 100 km. The car encourages driving in electric mode and does so willingly, also renewing the WeHybrid program, which allows obtaining discounts on insurance, new cars, and assistance with points that are obtained if you drive for a long time in electric mode.

New ADAS

The other important update is on the ADAS side. The existing ones are improved, for example, the Pre-Collision System is now able to recognize a potential frontal impact, and a wider range of objects and vehicles; as well as the Intersection Collision Avoidance Support, which has a wider operating range.

New instead is the Acceleration Suppression, which intervenes to mitigate sudden accelerations in case of collision risk; and new is the Proactive Driving Assist, which avoids the risk of accidents during low-speed driving.

It also inherits from the new C-HR the internal Ambient Lights with a visual warning function in case of passage of pedestrians or cyclists before opening the door to get out of the car.

Their operation is excellent and generally smooth, the only drawback being the Traffic Sign Recognition whose audible signal is really annoying.

A new infotainment – finnally

Aesthetically, the Yaris remains the same, and there are no design novelties.

Inside, however, the new touch display up to 10.5” with (finally) updated infotainment debuts, OTA updatable and Wireless compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto.

On the richer trims, the JBL audio system stands out, not bad and certainly a plus in terms of quality compared to the standard one.

Also new are the USB-C ports, one thunderbolt and one for data exchange. Even behind the steering wheel, there is the new fully digital dashboard up to 12” for the richer trims.