• Hybrid only – but two versions available
• Perfect for town drivers
• Decent performance, especially from most powerful model

Toyota Yaris hybrid engines

There’s only one engine option with the Yaris. It’s a three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol power unit, plus an electrical motor, tied up with a CVT-style automatic transmission. That said, it is available with two power levels, depending on which trim level you go for.

Sounds complex. But it isn’t. It’s a non-plug-in full hybrid, which means you don’t need to charge it up from the mains to benefit from electrical assistance. On the flip side it doesn’t run purely on electric and the battery pack is just there to assist the petrol engine in certain situations.

Toyota reckons that the Yaris can operate in pure-EV mode for around 80% of typical urban journeys and can be driven up to 80mph before the petrol engine kicks into life – that’s 55mph higher than the previous version.

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Total output in the lower-spec Icon and Design versions is 115hp, with the 0-62mph time coming in 10.3 seconds. Truth be told, it feels a bit quicker than that time would suggest. Off the line, thanks to the electrical propulsion, it’s genuinely energetic. There are no traditional-style gears to go through, so 0-30mph is entertaining. It’s perfect for busy towns and cities.

In our extended six-month test Gareth Evans reported: ‘The hybrid system in this iteration is so impressively developed. It’s really smooth and almost silent when in electric mode, but the biggest surprise for me was the 1.5-litre petrol engine’s peppy performance. It feels like it’s got a lot more oomph than its 115hp would suggest, and it sounds distinctive too because it only has three cylinders. Just like my last motorbike.’

Since 2024, Toyota’s top two trim levels, Excel and GR Sport, have come with a new, enhanced power unit. They’re still powered by a 1.5-litre hybrid, but Toyota has fettled with the electric element of the engine so it now produces 129hp. Can you tell a difference on the road? Not massively, but the enhanced engine still works well in tandem with the CVT transmission and a little extra poke is always welcome. The 0-62mph time of 9.2 seconds also makes it usefully quick for day-to-day driving for a car for like this.

As for the CVT, it’s a type of automatic gearbox often associated with loud and inconsistent engine noises, but this is one of the best versions around. The engine is remarkably quiet, which goes some way in explaining why acceleration is not torturous on your eardrums. In fact, you really need to be pushing hard to notice that it’s a CVT.

What’s it like to drive?

• Confidence-inspiring grip
• Harsh ride on big wheels
• Safe, could handle more power

On the larger 17- and 18-inch wheels it’s too firm at slower speeds. At motorway speeds the ride is more than fine, smoothing the road out as it pootles along. But it’s constantly unsettled over a rough surface at town speeds. The GR Sport spec cars go one further with 18-inch wheels that only exacerbate the jittery ride issues – a trim to truly avoid if you value ride comfort.

The majority of cars sold in the UK have 16-inch wheels. These cars get more compliant springs and dampers, plus higher profile tyres, and in combination this delivers a smoother ride. The upside is that the Yaris really clings on around corners. Dial in a bit more lock on a tight roundabout and there is heaps of grip with a safe overall feel. But don’t imagine it can’t be fun – it is.

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Gareth added, ‘But it’s not at all straight-laced either. The underlying chassis is genuinely great fun to drive, despite a point-and-shoot automatic transmission. The 1.5-litre engine with 116hp is just right for the size of vehicle, and even sounds pretty peppy.’

The engine is pretty hushed, even when working hard, and there’s little vibration coming through into the cabin, making for a relaxed place to spend time. The petrol engine itself makes a nice thrummy sound and no longer sounds strained when worked hard even with this style of automatic transmission.

Other than that, you get a whining from the electric motor under accelerating and during braking at low speeds. Things get a little louder when the regenerative braking system generates a whirring noise that’s noticeably annoying once you’ve tuned into it. Still, the JBL sound system (available on top-spec cars) does a good job of drowning it out.

There are three drive modes to choose from – EV, Power, and Eco. EV tries to use the battery pack as much as possible. Power mode combines both sources and makes the steering feel just a touch heavier to give it a hint of sportiness. Eco dulls everything and coasts as much as possible, maximising fuel economy.

The only real downside, ride aside, is that the Yaris isn’t a particularly quiet car at speed, with lots of wind and road noise making its way into the cabin. A Volkswagen Polo is a far more serene car for longer journeys at high speed.