When can we have it? 2024 Toyota Yaris updated with more power, clever tech and a new variant

One of Toyota's most enduring current nameplates has been given an update, with the 2024 Toyota Yaris getting a new variant, more power and some clever safety tech in an update announced in Europe.

The update marks the first time the current-gen Yaris has undergone a major update since its introduction in 2020.

The announcement update applies only to the European market for now in left-hand drive, but CarsGuide has contacted Toyota Australia to find out if a Yaris update - whether this one or otherwise - is inbound soon.

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It should be noted that Australia's specification for the Yaris is sourced from Japan, so an update announcement there could be a better indication of what to expect here.

Headlining the update is a more powerful version of the Yaris's hybrid drivetrain, dubbed ‘Hybrid 130' over the ‘115' version, which increases power and torque from the hatchback's front electric motor from 85kW to 96kW and 141Nm to 185Nm.

Toyota admits to a "modest upshift" in emissions with the extra power, but boasts that the acceleration times improving in both the 0-100 km/h sprint (down 0.5 seconds to 9.2) and 80 to 120 km/h (now 7.5 seconds) is worth the change.

The new hybrid system still uses Toyota's 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine.

The two top variants, a limited Premiere Edition and the GR Sport version (GR in style, not performance), are available only in the new Hybrid 130 version.

The update marks the first time the current-gen Yaris has undergone a major update since its introduction in 2020.

In terms of other changes for the update, the Yaris's safety system has been given a boost with the ability to be updated over the air (OTA), while it now also includes a couple of new features.

A key change is that the car can now bring itself to a safe stop if it detects an unresponsive driver with its Emergency Driving Stop System (EDSS).

"If the system detects the driver has made no inputs – steering, braking, accelerating – for a certain amount of time, it will sound a warning," Toyota explains.

"If there is no reaction from the driver, it will bring the car to a gentle stop, activate the hazard lights and unlock the doors."

Additionally, new 7.0- or 12.3-inch displays for the driver and 9.0- or 10.5-inch multimedia displays have updated software, which Toyota calls "faster and more powerful".

It should be noted that Australia’s specification for the Yaris is sourced from Japan, so an update announcement there could be a better indication of what to expect here.

Its voice command system has also been improved to respond to more casual inputs - for example "Hey Toyota, I'm cold" would prompt the system to raise the temperature.

Finally, a digital key is now available for the Yaris, with "up to five" users able to link their smartphone as a key to the car via the MyT app.

Functions for this include "remote locking/unlocking, climate control operation and activation of the hazard lights for easy vehicle identification in a crowded parking".