It’s an important area to get right as it’s the very first point of contact you have with a motor vehicle, it’s also the critical interface between driver and car which is why fans of the new Toyota Yaris will be pleased to know that all models in the upgraded range now boast a leather-clad steering wheel and shift knob as standard equipment.
In addition, front fog lights with chrome bezels are also offered as standard fare on the Yaris menu, whether your appetite is for the saucy 1.0-litre or you have slightly more expensive tastes, in which case the dishy Hybrid model will go down well.
Towards the end of last year, the Yaris was the recipient of one of the most comprehensive mid-life make-overs Toyota has ever undertaken. The result, which incidentally earned the newcomer the Best Redesign of the Year in the CAR Magazine 2015 Top 12 Best Buy Awards, was a thorough visual refresh (inside and out), the adoption of upmarket cabin textures and materials, as well as a host of under-the-skin modifications to make the Yaris a whole lot more desirable.
Generous equipment levels feature throughout the range, with daytime running lights (LED for the Hybrid), electric windows all round, and the latest Toyota Touch Multimedia system (with Bluetooth hands-free functionality) fitted as standard.
This, of course, is on top of standard niceties such as 15-inch alloy wheels, remote central locking (with a foldable bayonet key), air conditioning, electric mirrors, power steering, steering controls, dual front and side airbags and ABS with EBD and Brake Assist and now of course, front fog lights as well as leather steering wheel and shift knob.
Kit for the Hybrid model is even more lavish with the following equipment added over and above its petrol-powered siblings:
- Combination leather and cloth upholstery
- Reverse camera with guide lines
- 7 airbags including a knee bag
- Traction and stability control
- Keyless Push Start system
- LED daytime running lights
- Exclusive Hybrid badging
Pricing, Service Plans & Warranties
- 0 : R170 000
- 3 : R196 500
- 3 Multidrive S : R207 600
- Hybrid : R277 000
Petrol models come standard with a three-year / 45 000 km service plan. For the Hybrid version, it’s a standard four-year / 60 000 km service plan. Please note that the Hybrid has an additional eight-year / 195 000 km warranty on the battery in addition to the standard Toyota warranty of 3 years / 100 000 km.