Yaris hybrid cuts running costs

Following on from the release of the new Yaris earlier this year, Toyota has shed a little more light on the planned hybrid version of its latest supermini.

The Japanese manufacturer has been busy expanding its range of eco cars, with models such as the Prius plug-in and Prius people-carrier, for some time now. To cater for more buyers interested in green motoring it has decided to introduce a petrol/electric powertrain to its latest small car, the Yaris.

The system is a downsized version of the firm’s Hybrid Synergy Drive. This combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a compact electric motor, and it's 20% lighter than the system used in the Auris Hybrid.

There are no figures for emissions and economy yet but a Toyota representative told Parkers that it expects the hybrid model to have lower emissions than any other car in its class. This would mean undercutting the Kia Rio which currently emits 89g/km of CO2.

Toyota is hoping for the Yaris to emit around 85g/km of CO2, which would make it exempt from road tax and congestion charging. Toyota also told us that it would be hoping for economy around the mid-70 mpg mark.

Despite the addition of the hybrid powertrain, the Yaris doesn’t suffer from diminished practicality. Boot space remains the same 286 litres as the regular model. This is due to the fuel tank and battery being placed under the rear seat. This is different to models like the Auris Hybrid, which drops from 354 litres of space in the standard model to 279 litres for the petrol/electric version.

The greener model also gets climate control and an e-CVT automatic gearbox as standard.

This eco version of the new Toyota Yaris will go on sale in the summer this year, with prices expected to start at around the £16,000 mark.