Toyota New Zealand today launched the fourth generation of its small hatchback the Yaris, with a sporty model and a SUV style version to arrive here soon.

Priced from $25,990, for the first time a hybrid Yaris hatch will be available in New Zealand. The Yaris Hatch will be available in two powertrain options – a petrol version utilising a newly developed 1.5L three-cylinder engine and a full hybrid-electric version. They come in two variants: GX and ZR.

The new 1.5L three-cylinder engine is mated with a direct shift CVT (continuously variable transmission) in the petrol variants and an electronically controlled CVT in the hybrid variants.

The new petrol engine was designed to produce high output from frugal petrol consumption.In the hybrid-electric version, the petrol engine matched with the electric motor produces a class-leading combined fuel consumption of just 3.3L/100km.

At 4.9L/100km, the petrol version is also an extremely economical car to run with a decrease of 23 per cent  in fuel consumption on the outgoing 1.5L petrol engine.

In the next few months the  lightning-fast GR Yaris and Yaris Cross are due in New Zealand.

Toyota NZ has already seen 100 Yaris hatchback pre-sold while its allotment of 20 GR models have been bought before they arrive here.

Toyota New Zealand’s new CEO, Neeraj Lala, said while the Yaris is not the cheapest in the compact car segment, it’s the best.

It has a high safety package not found in this segment including such features as daytime pedestrian and cyclist protection, he said.

“The new Toyota Yaris arrives at a perfect juncture in time when consumers are wanting a characterful compact car that is fun to drive with premium interior touches, while also happy in the knowledge they are driving an extremely efficient vehicle with state-of-the-art safety,” said Lala.

All Yaris hatchbacks get the latest Toyota Safety Sense package. Even the entry-level car gets Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane-Tracing Assist. In a Toyota first, and for added safety, front seat centre aisle airbags have been added to reduce the risk of the driver and front passenger colliding during a side-on collision. 

The Pre-Collision System has also been updated and the new Yaris is the first Toyota to gain Intersection Turn Assist. The ZR variants also feature Blind Spot Monitor, front and rear parking sensors, and Parking Support Brake, which includes Intelligent Clearance Sonar and Rear Cross Traffic Auto Brake. 

Since it was first launched here in 1999, more than 35,000 Yaris hatchbacks have been sold in New Zealand, making it the fifth best selling Toyota.

The Yaris sits on the Toyota New Global Architecture B platform, giving it significant increase in body rigidity, resulting in overall vehicle stability while also allowing the designers to improve the ride comfort, lower the centre of gravity and reduce noise and vibration levels. 

While the exterior styling is all new, it is the changes under the skin of the Yaris Hatch that deliver the most improvements to the ride, handling and driver experience. The new powertrain delivers 88kW/145Nm from the petrol engine alone, while the combined petrol-hybrid system output is 85kW.

The Yaris Hatch hybrid benefits from more than two decades of hybrid vehicle research and development by Toyota. The switch from petrol to electric and back again happens seamlessly and is almost imperceptible to the driver. A new compact, lithium-ion battery and electric motor combination provides strong, punchy torque around town.

The new generation Yaris Hatch hybrid comes with Toyota’s high voltage hybrid warranty that covers the battery for up to 160,000kms or 8 years.

The Yaris gets Apple Carplay/Android as standard, a first for Toyota though Lala says that now 80 per cent of its customers can have the system retrofitted to their new cars.

High quality materials are used throughout the new Yaris Hatch cabin. The GX has a black interior, while the ZR has a contrasting grey and black interior with red accents. The ZR sports style seats also feature an embossed and printed ‘Y’ pattern in the seat fabric. Other upgrades for the ZR include climate control air conditioning, smart entry with push button start, digital speedometer and a heads-up display. 

Another benefit of the new  platform is the ability to maximise interior space. The front seats have been moved outwards by 10mm to create more space between the driver and front passenger, while the seats are lower in the vehicle also. More storage space has been added in the front console, under the audio unit and in front of the front passenger.

The fourth generation Yaris Hatch has a new energetic and sporty look. The wheel arches are emphasised to enhance the cars lower and squatter stance. There are also contrasting black trim elements that add to the sporty, made of fun personality of the car. 

The GX features new 15-inch steel wheels with cover, while the ZR has two-tone machine- finished 16-inch alloys.

The GX petrol Yaris is priced from $25,990 and the ZR version is $29,990. The hybrid GX is $27,990 and the ZR is $5000 more. 

For the ZR variants the two-tone paint option is an additional $500.