2020 Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris offers exceptional fuel economy, practicality as well as reliability quotient of Toyota. A 1.5-liter inline-4 gas engine is offered on the new Yaris which puts out 106 horsepower. Its price starts at $17,750 for the base trim and for $18,750, you can get the upper trim. The Toyota Yaris is competing with veterans of the hatchback segment such as the Kia Rio, Chevrolet Spark, and the Honda Fit.

The Yaris Hatchback is a freshly built car for the 2020 model year and comes with two trim levels named ‘LE’ and ‘XL. The base ‘LE’ trim has a lot to offer in terms of features and practicality while the ‘XLE’ which costs $1,000 more adds some creature comforts and aesthetic bits and pieces.

16-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights, manual air conditioning, push-button starts, fog lights, brake assist, cloth seats, backup camera, power door locks, and Rear window defogger are some standard features on the base trim. 

Which Trim should you buy?

The ‘XLE’ trim of the Yaris Hatchback seems to be the perfect choice to go for as it offers a lot more features such as automatic climate control, leatherette seats, and rain-sensing windscreen wipers. It also gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio, cruise, and phone controls.

The 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback has a 1.5 L naturally aspirated inline-4 engine under the hood. This modest powertrain produces 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque. Unlike rivals, there is no CVT or manual transmission but a 6-speed automatic transmission that is paired with the engine. And the only available powertrain is the FWD which is a normal setup for cars in this segment. 

With the preceding arrangement, the Yaris Hatchback sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 9.4 seconds and covers the quarter-mile distance in 17.2 seconds. However, even with these timings, the Yaris is not the worst performer since the Chevrolet Spark is the one that comes last in the race by reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 10.5 seconds. 

Looking at the power and performance figures, the Chevrolet Spark has the least engine output because it has the smallest engine among the bunch which churns out only 98 hp and 94 lb-ft of torque. On the other hand, the Honda Fit offers the most powerful engine which makes it the fastest hatchback in the segment. Furthermore, the biggest engine can be found in the Kia Rio which is just slightly slower than the Honda Fit. 

How well does the 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback handle?

The Yaris handles just like an FWD entry-level Hatchback is expected to handle. The steering feedback is on a softer yet confidence-inspiring side. There is a small amount of understeer while going hard through the corners but only if you push it hard. The Yaris feels nimble and tiny while going through the cityscapes making it a very city-friendly car.

The engine response doesn’t feel sporty or quick, rather it feels much more refined and smoother compared to rivals such as the Chevrolet Spark. Two driving modes: Normal and Sport have been given for you to enjoy the new Yaris with slightly different ride quality which becomes a little harsh in the sport mode. 

2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback Braking Performance

The brake pedal in the Yaris Hatchback is firm and responsive and has the right amount of bite. The front rotors are 10.2 inches in size while the rear ones are 9 inches. However, the braking distance is not the best in the segment as it requires 124 feet to come to a halt from 60 mph. 

The Kia Rio has the biggest front brake rotors which work with the second smallest rear brake rotors and provide a braking distance of 119 feet despite being the heaviest in the competition. At the same time, the lightest hatchback, the Spark stops from 60 mph over a distance of 120 feet. The worst performer is the Honda Fit which requires 126 feet to come to a state of rest from 60 mph.

As per the EPA estimation, the combined fuel economy offered by the 2020 Toyota Yaris is 35 miles per gallon, one the highway it gives 40 miles per gallon, and in the city, it delivers 32 miles per gallon. Add that to an 11.6-gallon fuel tank and the Yaris will give you a combined range of 406 miles. 

The Kia Rio is the most fuel-efficient car in the segment. It is followed by the Toyota Yaris. The thirstiest engine belongs to the Honda Fit which has a combined fuel economy of 30 MPG. Meanwhile, the smallest fuel tank is offered in the spark which results in the worst range among the rivals. 

One look inside and many of us would be confused with the striking resemblance that the Yaris Hatchback’s interior has with the one inside the Mazda CX-3. Since the Yaris is a brand-engineered product of Mazda and Toyota meaning that it shares many of its components and features with that of Mazda’s cars. The dashboard layout is sleek and clean with a dual-tone finish. Seats get standard cloth upholstery which can be replaced with the Leatherette upholstery on the XLE trim. On the XLE, the steering wheel gets a control button and leather wrapping. The cabin is also decorated with metallic trim. 

The front seats have a 6-way manual adjustability for the driver and a 4-way manual for the front passenger. The side bolsters offer a good amount of lumbar support and there is adequate space in the front row for the occupants to sit comfortably. The rear seats have a 60-40 split pattern. Manual air conditioning, manual tilt and telescopic steering column, power door locks, two cup holders, one 12V power outlet, and Smart Key System which provides h Push Button start, remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, panic, and trunk-release functions are standard cabin features in the base Yaris. You can have a few more amenities if you get the XLE trim. 

The Yaris is not as spacious as the Fit and the Rio but it is better than Spark which offers 83.0 cu-ft of passenger volume whereas the Yaris has 86.7 cu-ft of passenger volume. Furthermore, the smallest trunk is given on the Spark and the biggest one is offered on the Rio which has the leading rear shoulder. That said, out of all hatchbacks, the Fit has the best-in-class cabin space. Some of the noteworthy interior features are listed below:

• Cloth sport front bucket seats 
• Rear 60-40 bench seats
• Automatic climate control
• Keyless entry and ignition 
• Day/night rearview mirror

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback has a 7-inch touchscreen. The audio system is of good quality and gets 6 speakers. Bluetooth, two USB ports, SiriusXM, and an HD radio are some standard features. With this new generation of the Yaris, Toyota has given standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. You can get the navigation system under the upgradable accessories. Highlights of the infotainment features are:

• 7-inch touchscreen
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 6 speakers audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Voice recognition

Since the 2020 Yaris has been made by Mazda, it shares exterior resemblance with the Mazda 2 Hatchback which is not available in the United States. That said, the 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback is a fairly handsome car in the segment with exterior proportions. And, the new Yaris is physically bigger than the last generation model. The only drawback in the exterior design seems to be the sloping roofline as it takes away some valuable amount of headroom from the interior. At the front, a bold black grille with a chrome surround is given. 

At the same time, halogen headlights are provided as a standard exterior feature which can be replaced with the LED headlight on the XLE trim. At the rear end, the rear spoiler and Chrome-tipped exhaust add a little sporty appeal to the Yaris. Moreover, power heated body-colored side mirrors, roof-mounted shark-fin antenna, and Integrated AM/FM antenna are few other standard exterior elements. It also offers rain-sensing windscreen wipers as a convenience feature on the XLE trim. Lastly, 16-in. Dark Gray split-spoke alloy wheels are offered on the 2020 Toyota Yaris. 

The Chevrolet Spark is the smallest hatchback in the competition. The largest wheelbase is possessed by the Kia Rio while the shortest one is given on the Chevrolet Spark. Meanwhile, the longest hatchback is the Toyota Yaris and the tallest one is the Kia Rio. Furthermore, the Honda Fit has the least ground clearance which will allow it stability but road bumps will be its nemesis. Some of the noteworthy exterior features are listed below:

• 16-inch alloy wheels 
• Chrome tipped exhaust 
• Rear spoiler with center brake light
• LED headlights
• LED daytime running lights
• Heated power side door mirrors

The 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback received an overall safety rating of 5 stars from the NHTSA and the IIHS assigned it ‘Good’ ratings in all crashworthiness tests. Though the 2020 Yaris is structurally safe, it does not have advanced safety features even as options. Other than the low-Speed Pre-Collision System, there are just basic safety features such as cruise control, a backup camera, tire pressure monitor, brake assist, Brake Override System, six airbags, and an electronic stability control system. Some of the standout safety features of the are listed below:

• Low Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Side Impact Beams
• Pre-Collisions System
• Backup camera 
• Cruise control 

Toyota Yaris Hatchback vs Honda Fit

The Honda Fit is more spacious inside as it offers 95.7 cu-ft of passenger volume while the Toyota Yaris has just 86.7 cu-ft under its account. And even though both hatchbacks have the same capacity engine, the Honda Fit has the punchier engine in comparison. However, to counter that, the Toyota Yaris provides a higher fuel economy. Finally, stuck with only one transmission option, the Yaris is jealous of the Fit which has CVT and manual transmission options. 

Toyota Yaris Hatchback vs Kia Rio

Toughest contender against the Toyota Yaris, especially in the safety section, the Kia Rio is not only faster than the Toyota Yaris but also has a roomy interior to have the upper hand in the competition. Additionally, the Rio offers a better driving range than the Yaris. It is quick on its feet and also costs less which allows it to keep the odds of getting selected. 

Toyota Yaris Hatchback vs Chevrolet Spark

The Chevrolet Spark’s engine performance is dull and it is not as quick as the Toyota Yaris but it does provide decent fuel economy. However, if we compare the number of features on offer, the Chevrolet Spark has the upper hand. It is also offered in more trims which allows customers greater freedom of choice. But fuel storage capacity and cargo space make the Spark lose its advantages. 

For potential customers looking for a zippy entry-level Hatchback at an attractive price range and trusted reliability and safety quotient, the Toyota Yaris Hatchback proves to be the best candidate for the purchase. However, if you want all these pros plus added features and a more powerful engine, go either with the Honda Fit or Kia Rio.