A gray mouse ?: Toyota Yaris – used with minor glitches

If you are looking for a used small car, you can’t go wrong with the Toyota Yaris. He is a friend of the TÜV. However, you shouldn’t expect much sex appeal and the Japanese aren’t a bargain for the price.

A long life is coming to an end. The third generation of the Toyota Yaris has been available since late 2011. Its successor will continue throughout the summer. In its nine-year production period, the small car received two facelifts and caused quite a stir with its full hybrid version. In the TÜV, the little Japanese usually shows his best side.

X makes the difference

The Yaris extends over a length of around 4 meters and is offered as a three and five door model. Until his first facelift in 2014, the little one would rather be in the “gray mouse” category. You can hardly set accents inside or outside, but it stands out for its good build quality and relatively good space.

The boot volume of 286 liters is at the level of a small car. Unlike the predecessor, the rear seat can no longer move in favor of more knee room or luggage volume. Since the first update, the Japanese have been driving with a significantly improved interior. Externally, the renovated models can be recognized by the X shape of the front section. The second face lift of 2017 is visually less noticeable and can be recognized by the slightly more aggressively drawn front and rear lights with distinctive LED graphics on the rear.

Small car, small engines?

At market launch there were gasoline engines with three or four cylinders and a diesel. The three-cylinder 1.0-liter gasoline engine, initially with 69 hp, as of 2018 with 72 hp, is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. On top of that is the 1.33-liter four-cylinder engine with 99 HP and 125 Newton meters of maximum torque for drivers looking for a little more life. In 2017, this unit was replaced by a 1.5-liter vacuum cleaner with 111 hp and 136 Newton meters. As an alternative to the six-speed manual manual transmission, a continuously variable CVT transmission is available.

The Yaris GRM made a brief guest appearance with 212 hp, which was limited to 400 copies in Germany in 2018. From 2011 to 2017, Toyota also offered a 90 HP diesel. The long-running favorite in the engine range is the hybrid version which has been available since 2012 and has a system power of 100hp. Most Yaris customers choose this motorization. The standard consumption is between 3.7 and 4 liters.

Not much in the basic version.

The equipment of the basic versions is quite thin, as is typical in the class. The Yaris always comes standard with power front windows and exterior mirrors, central locking, and a height and length adjustable steering wheel. The air conditioning and radio only came with the second level of factory equipment. In 2011, the Yaris achieved a five-star rating in the NCAP crash test. In 2017, the Yaris received the so-called security package. Includes an anti-collision system, lane keeping and high beam assistant. Traffic sign recognition is also available.

Yaris owners do not have to worry before the main checkup. Taillights sometimes cause problems, but there is rarely anything to complain about when it comes to brakes. In the XP13 type, damping can cause discomfort. The little one is exemplary when it comes to the environment. Oil leakage or problems with the exhaust system are rare. Buyers of an older used model should ensure that the recall in 2013 was made due to improperly bolted brake lines.

conclusion Quality comes at a price, which is also reflected in the used car market. You have to spend a good 4,000 euros for eight-year-old specimens with the small gasoline engine. If it is a similar old hybrid model, the investment requirement is at least 7,500 euros. If you want to buy a GRMN that used to cost 34,000 euros, of course you will have to dig deeper. The riot is available from around 25,000 euros on online used car portals.