#TDOTD Test Drive of the Day: Same but Different: Toyota Yaris 1.3 E

MANILA, Philippines – Toyota has taken a completely different approach in designing the new Yaris. The new one is more easily describes as ‘Vios hatchback’. And that’s a good thing. The new Vios is a great-looking car and swapping the trunk for a hatchback just ups its sportiness.

Inside, the look and feel will be familiar to current Vios owners. The previous Yaris was bashed for using low-rent plastics, but the new one improves on that by leaps and bounds. Though the dashboard is still made of hard plastics, the new Yaris has much better consistency in texturing, fit, and finish.

The Yaris is now longer by a substantial 315mm with a wheelbase stretched by 90mm. Together with better interior packaging, it equates to a larger and roomier interior. The front passengers will love the flat-bottomed steering wheel, unobtrusive dashboard, and thinned out center console which allows you to spread your legs without banging knees. Those in the back enjoy surprisingly good levels of knee and legroom (up 77mm). Three abreast wouldn’t be a problem with the flat rear floor and individual headrests and three-point seatbelts for all. Even the luggage space has been fixed with a deeper cargo hold and the flexibility of split-folding seats.

The big news is that the Yaris now offers a 1.3-liter guise. In terms of driving experience, it’s pretty much identical to a Vios. Even after pumping the tires up to 35 psi (recommended pressure for a loaded Yaris), the ride is surprisingly supple. NVH isolation is excellent as well. Aside from vast improvements in the comfort aspect, it also corners with much more confidence. There’s some body roll, but it feels more secure and less nervous, especially at higher speeds. The electric power steering is numb and lacks feedback, but it makes dashing in and out of traffic easy.

The Yaris 1.3 E comes with just 85 hp and 121 Nm of torque, which don’t sound a lot. In reality though, it’s lively and perky. Of course, as speeds build up, it loses steam rather quickly. Anything below 120 km/h is fine, but anything above that, and the Yaris will struggle. The Yaris 1.3 E checks in at 9.6 km/L in city traffic and 16.9 km/L in highway.

The Toyota Yaris 1.3 E is priced at P755,000—a surprisingly good deal. The new Yaris may have lost its cutesy image, but underneath the sharp suit, it’s still the zippy, roomy, and painless to own car that people have come to love.