Toyota Yaris 1.3 Review: Jack of all trades

What we like:

Small turning radius which is a huge plus. The spacious interior for a car this size.

What we dislike:

The stiff suspension that struggles to numb bigger bumps.

Ride is quiet at cruising speeds , but noise isolation isn’t the best at higher speeds. Steering wheel is light and does the job well. Suspension is a little on the stiff side but the Yaris manages to numb small bumps easily.

Toyota’s CVT transmission is smooth and makes for a non-dramatic ride, until you decide to get all sporty with the 7 speed gearbox. As a matter of fact, the CVT does get slightly raspy when stirred. 0-100km/h takes a respectable 12.6 seconds.

The Yaris negotiates bends well due to its small and agile body. Its short wheelbase and low weight contributes to its agility in the bends. Normal winding roads are a breeze to navigate through. Our favourite part of the car is its turning radius. At 4700mm, 3-point turns became 2-point turns with the Yaris onboard – intelligently thought out by Toyota for city driving.

The 1.33 litre CVT engine churns out 98bhp which isn’t the most powerful in its class, but it’s no slouch either. No complaints about the engine really as it is more than enough for overtaking manoeuvres and highway cruising, perfect for Singapore roads.

Fuel economy, as with all Toyotas is an excellent 20km/L for the Yaris. This surpasses most of its competitors in the hatchback category.

During our roadtest, we couldn’t see ourselves faulting the overall comfort or the handling of the car. This is not a heavy car by any means, and its agility to turn corners is commendable.

The 2013 Toyota Yaris is an all-round better car than its already successful predecessor. It maintains its practicality and scores very well in fuel economy. Not forgetting the ease of driving it. A worthy successor with Toyota’s reliability coupled with European built quality.

Photo location was kindly provided by the management of PUB, NEWater Visitor Centre

Credits: