Description
Toyota tried to get a share of the U.S. small-segment market and introduced the Yaris hatchback in 2018, but the customers were up for a surprise.
It was not unusual for the Japanese carmaker to sell small-segment vehicles on various markets. Still, it was unusual for it to sell re-badged vehicles, such as the Yaris hatchback. Behind that Toyota badge on the grille, the car was a Mazda 2.
From the outside, only the headlights might give a clue that under that bodywork was a Mazda 2 vehicle. At the front, the huge grille from the lower side of the bumper reminded us of the "Jaws" movie, while the two sculptured lines from its sides might remind you of the Storm Troopers masks. Unlike its sedan sibling, the Yaris hatchback featured a sloped, curved rear end. Its tailgate tall opening was good in creating a low loading area, but it was not that wide.
Inside, it was a Mazda 2 from top to bottom, except for a few Toyota upgrades. The carmaker installed a 7" infotainment touch-screen on top of the center stack for the entire range. An additional rotary knob placed between the front seats could also control the unit. Toyota claimed a 15.9 cu-ft (450 liters) trunk size.
Under the hood, Toyota offered the Yaris with only one engine option, a 1.5-liter gasoline unit. It paired it with a six-speed automatic as standard.
Press Release
The 2020 Toyota Yaris embodies the ideal formula for modern hatchback appeal: make it fun, make it efficient and keep it affordable. Add in the latest in multimedia technology to go with practicality and value, and the new Yaris Hatchback hits all the key points its customer demands. It combines the sporty fun and premium engineering of the Yaris sedan in an audaciously styled hatchback while adding other upgrades. Toyota makes another big step for high-quality small cars by introducing the all-new 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback that will debut at the 2019 New York International Auto Show.
It will be offered in mono-spec LE and XLE grades, with standard equipment levels in both that defy the segment expectations.
Refuses to Blend In
A bold, "cab-rearward" design gives the 2020 Yaris Hatchback a distinct hunkered-down, bulldog-like stance. The front end projects a gutsy attitude with a hexagon lower front grille and sharp-eyed headlamps. The XLE grade's automatic LED headlamps incorporate daytime running lamps. A choice of vibrant exterior colors amps up the head-turning quotient: Stealth, Graphite, Pulse, Sapphire, Chromium, Frost and Icicle.
At 161.6 inches long, the Toyota Yaris Hatchback can scoot into parking spaces that most others pass up. That's a real bonus for urban dwellers, and so is the car's super-tight 32.2-ft. turning circle. Meanwhile, the new Yaris Hatchback is spacious, with a wheelbase nearly 2.4 inches longer than the previous Yaris Liftback model. The 15.9 cu. ft., trunk area is nearly the size found in a midsize sedan.
Raise Your Standards
On all 2020 Yaris Hatchback models, standard 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, body-color side mirrors and door handles, and a chrome tailpipe tip set the premium tone. The side mirrors are power-adjustable and have integrated LED turn signals, and they're also heated for quick cold-weather defrosting.
The long list of standard features includes many that are usually optional or offered only on upgrade models: Smart Key Entry with Push Button Start, fog lights, variable intermittent windshield wipers, rear backup camera, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, chrome interior door handles, and driver and front passenger sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors. There's even a first aid kit.
Max Multimedia
The standard 7-inch Touchscreen display audio system is ready to rock or hip-hop with clear, powerful sound played through six speakers. Maximizing connectivity and control, the system is equipped with standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® as well as voice recognition and Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free phone operation. The 7-inch touchscreen display screen is a touchscreen or can be controlled by the remote commander knob.
Standard SiriusXM Satellite Radio comes with a three-month All Access trial subscription (150+ channels, including commercial-free music). USB ports and an auxiliary input ensure connectivity for all types of devices, and the sporty steering wheel integrates control switches for the audio and phone.
Here's another surprise from the 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback: both the LE and XLE grades are equipped with navigation hardware; the customer simply needs to buy the accessory SD card through a Toyota dealer to activate navigation capability.
Stepping up to the XLE brings a taste of luxury with leatherette seating surfaces (choice of gray or black), automatic climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic LED headlamps, and leather-trimmed steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake handle.
Big Safety in a Small Car
The 2020 Yaris Hatchback will come equipped as standard with a Low-speed Pre-collision Safety System in both model grades (standard on the Yaris Sedan, too). The system scans the road ahead for potential vehicle collisions. If a potential frontal collision is detected, an audio/visual alert and braking assistance are designed to automatically activate. Should the driver not respond, this system may automatically apply the brakes.
The Yaris Hatchback comes standard with an advanced active safety system that includes Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), and Brake Override System (BOS). The array of six airbags includes curtain airbags that help protect front and rear seat occupants.
Taut, Toned Athlete
The taut lines of the 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback are stretched over strong, athletic bones. The body structure comprises 65 percent ultra-high tensile steels and is based on a continuous framework using straight beams wherever possible for maximum strength. The high structural integrity allows the MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion-beam rear suspension to be tuned for ride comfort and handling agility that exemplify the model's "class above" driving dynamics. Translation: the Yaris Hatchback is a hoot to drive and a comfortable commuter.
The Toyota Yaris Hatchback's tenacious handling is baked into the engineering, not just added on with fat tires and stiff suspension. A rigid steering mount provides a direct yet light feel, and the brakes are tuned to yield a progressive feel when cornering. Entering the curve, the brake pedal provides smooth operation, then leads into a more rigid feel as g-force rises.
Punching Above Its Class
Yaris gets its high appetite for fun and low appetite for fuel from a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that delivers 106 horsepower. High-compression (12.0:1) and direct fuel injection give the engine ultra-quick responsiveness that's ideally matched to the standard 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission's torque converter locks in all gears for quicker, more direct shifts and greater fuel efficiency. Another surprise in this class is a Sport Mode, which changes the car's personality with enhanced acceleration response.
The tight structure and finely tuned suspension don't work alone in providing a comfortable ride. The 2020 Yaris Hatchback employs extensive sound-absorbing measures, including a noise-insulating windshield, to block noise paths into the cabin. Sound-absorbing material inside the tailgate, parcel shelf and spare wheel well help to reduce high-frequency noise entering the cabin from the rear.
Limited Warranty
Toyota's 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limitation. Standard Toyota Care is a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.
