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The 2025 Toyota Yaris range of configurations is currently priced from $25,880.
Our most recent review of the 2025 Toyota Yaris resulted in a score of 7.6 out of 10 for that particular example.
Carsguide Journalist Chris Thompson had this to say at the time: The Toyota Yaris is as much car as many people should really need, and it's a refreshing antidote to the largely unnecessary shift towards SUVs as the ‘default vehicle’.
You can read the full review here.
This is what Chris Thompson liked most about this particular version of the Toyota Yaris: Space- and fuel-efficient, Capable platform, Borderline sporty styling
The Toyota Yaris 2025 prices range from $25,880 for the basic trim level Hatchback Ascent Sport to $35,305 for the top of the range Hatchback ZR Hybrid TWO-Tone.
There are eight colours for the standard Yaris range: Glacier White, Frosted White, Stunning Silver, Massive Grey, Ebony, Atomic Rush, Coral Rose and Bronx Bronze.
The GR Yaris comes in Glacier White, Liquid Mercury, Tarmac Black and Feverish Red.
These are quite different vehicles in terms of their physical size. While older generations of the RAV4 were known as compact SUVs, the current model is resolutely mid-sized. None of which is to say that the Yaris is cramped but it is a size-division smaller, so if you often carry people in the back seat or your family is growing, the RAV4 might be a bit more future-proof.
However, in driveline terms, the Yaris is the one that is truly future-proof thanks to its hybrid driveline. If most of your driving is around the city and suburbs, you might be surprised at just how efficient a modern hybrid can be. On the highway, there's less to be gained form the hybrid layout, so take that into account, too.
The other thing to consider is what happens a few years down the track at trade-in time. The RAV4 is question is already one generation older than the Yaris, and the hybrid Yaris is almost certain to be worth more as a second-hand proposition five years from now. Which means the latter will probably be the cheapest to own over that time in a wholistic sense.
If you were leaving the vehicle standing for a whole year, this would be a bigger problem, but I don’t think three months of inactivity would be too harmful to the car. Plenty of people (particularly Victorians) were forced to lay up their work cars during Covid restrictions, and I haven’t heard of mass problems as a result.
You’re already ahead of some of those folks by having a garage in which to store the car, but there are also a few things you can do to reduce the impact of not moving for three months. Make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure (to avoid flat posts when you return) and fill the fuel tank to reduce the chance of moisture forming in the fuel system. Wind the windows up but leave the bonnet catch undone so you can access the battery when you return.
You can also disconnect the battery but if you do, you’ll have to reprogram or re-code the radio when you return. A better way is to leave the car hooked up to a quality battery trickle-charger. Make sure you use one that is heat and fault-protected.
An even better plan of attack is to organise a trusted friend take the time to drive the car for you every few weeks. Provided they get the car up to operating temperature each time, it should be ready for action when you return.
There are still plenty of great small cars around within your budget, Agnes, and they all have good safety packages (or we wouldn’t recommend them). Look at offerings such as the Suzuki Swift Navigator (with the optional autonomous emergency braking) for around $17,000 (plus on-road costs) or the Kia Rio S at around $19,000 or Kia Picanto S (one size smaller than the Rio) at closer to $16,000. Both the Kias also feature the brand’s excellent seven-year warranty, capped-price servicing and free roadside assistance which is great peace of mind.
The Volkswagen Polo is a classy drive but a little more expensive at closer to $21,000 for the 85TSi Comfortline. Actually, to be honest, you’ve missed the boat on bargain small cars by a couple of years. Firm favourites such as the Toyota Yaris and Mazda 2 have both been updated relatively recently and have recorded big price jumps in the process. The cheapest Yaris with an automatic transmission is now around $23,000 (it was less than $17,000 back in 2018) while the Mazda 2 Maxx went from being a sub-$17,000 proposition in 2018 to a $23,000 car by the time you add an automatic transmission in 2020.
Toyota Yaris Model | Body Type | Specs | Fuel Consumption |
---|---|---|---|
Ascent Sport
|
Body Type: Hatchback | Specs: 1.5L ULP CVT AUTO |
Fuel Consumption:
4.9L/100km
|
Ascent Sport Hybrid
|
Body Type: Hatchback | Specs: 1.5L Hybrid CVT AUTO |
Fuel Consumption:
3.3L/100km
|
An 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen that can be used with wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is the main feature in the Yaris, though there are also other features depending on variant.
Some of these features include sports seats, a head-up display and automatic climate control.
The Yaris' interior is built for function, with several small storage spaces and basic materials. Aside from shallow shelves for small items in the dash, the Yaris' interior is very standard in terms of its layout and ergonomics.
The GR Yaris version, however, has a completely different interior that focuses on driver ergonomics over convenience.
The Toyota Yaris has a 1.5-litre hybrid three-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels with 85kW and 141Nm.
The performance-focused GR version has a 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo engine with 221kW and 400Nm to drive all four wheels.
The standard Yaris has a 270-litre boot with a space-saver spare tyre underneath, while the GR Yaris has a 174-litre boot.
The Toyota Yaris is a five-seat light hatch, with two seats at the front and a bench seat for three in the rear. While it's a small space in the second row, an adult could fit for a very short trip relatively comfortably.
The performance version, the GR Yaris, has a smaller rear seat that can only seat two, and it is a two-door so entry and exits are a little more awkward.
The Toyota Yaris isn't very powerful, but isn't very heavy, so it might be possible to achieve a sprint to 100km/h in less than 10 seconds.
The GR Yaris however has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 230km/h regardless of gearbox.
The Yaris' 36-litre fuel tank (91 RON minimum) combined with claimed 3.3L/100km fuel economy suggests you could get more than 1000km of driving range out of a single fill, but realistically it's likely you'll not reach that in the real world.
Toyota claims the GR Yaris sips 8.2L/100km of fuel (which needs to be 98 RON by the way) as a manual, or 9.1L/100km for the auto. Its 50-litre tank means you might be able to get more than 500km out of a tank of fuel if you're careful with the right foot.