Yaris lays on the extra style

Published: 17/11/2011

“Long-standing Toyota fan” Alan Candy always recommends the Yaris to anyone looking for a compact hatch. “No-one has yet come back and told me I was wrong,” he says, and the new version of the supermini hasn’t changed his mind.

For Candy, no manufacturer has produced “a better all rounder that’s so reliable, easy on the eye, user friendly and guaranteed to hold its value well”.

The Yaris has undergone a “big image change” that make it look “more mature and stylish”, thanks in particular to a “very
striking” front grille. “The interior is also radically different, while retaining Toyota’s traditional ease of use and ‘feel at home’ vibe,” thanks to an “instantly perfect driving position” and “clear, unobstructed dials”.

Candy describes the 1.33-litre engine as “perky, quiet and efficient” while the automatic gearbox enjoys the smoothest of changes that come and go like a thief in the night”. What’s more, Toyota has “ramped up the fun factor with the inclusion of racing driver-style paddle shifts for fingertip control at the wheel, in case you want a more hands-on approach to driving and some extra excitement and input. “There’s also a sequential straight up and down channel on the console, so you’re really spoilt for choice here with driving styles.”

Ride quality is “excellent”, putting Candy’s own car to shame. “This is quite a luxury,” he says. The Yaris also “excels on space”, and a speed camera warning beep is a “godsend”.

In conclusion, Candy adds: “The Yaris does everything well and there’s precious little to dislike and much to admire. Yaris marches on with a little more style and swagger, and why not? It’s still the number one choice for many. Take my word for it.” (Source: Bedford Today, 3 November)

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