2022 Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid Review

Think small cars and you’ll be probably thinking about tiny buzz-boxes with sub $20,000 starting prices, spartan equipment levels and not much by way of driving appeal. That might have been the case over 5 years ago now, but small cars have have hit new heights both in size, tech and sadly, cost too. Enter the 2022 Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid. Cheap and cheerful? Not anymore, with Toyota asking close to $30,000 before on-road costs for Yaris we tested here.

Luckily, the Yaris’ higher price is matched with an all-new car which is much improved over its predecessor. Toyota says it better equipped than before, with more tech and features, but perhaps the biggest trump card is that the Yaris can be had with a hybrid system on most models for the first time. So does the Yaris have enough talent and smarts to live up to its lofty price increases? Let’s find out.

Price and Equipment: 7/10

With the cheapest previous generation of the Toyota Yaris setting buyers a figure in the mid to high teens, you’d think that Toyota has decided to throw the baby out with the bathwater, with the new model kicking off from $22,130 plus on-road costs – for a base Yaris Ascent in manual. An automatic Ascent Sport will set you back $23,630 plus on-roads. Next up in the range, the Yaris SX auto will set you back $27,020 before on-road costs.

If you’re after a hybrid model of the Yaris (which you should be), the SX Hybrid we’ve tested here comes in at $29,020 before on-road costs, while the top-spec ZR Hybrid is priced from a rather lofty $32,100 plus on-road costs. It’s clear that Toyota has moved the Yaris’ pricing up into a new sphere, abandoning the sub-$20k segment definitively.

All models of the Yaris range get a 7.0-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auto-folding mirrors, power windows, auto high beam and LED daytime running lights. The Yaris SX Hybrid we tested here comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, privacy glass, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, single-zone climate control, a leather steering wheel and shifter as well as satellite navigation with live traffic updates and a digital radio.

The 2022 Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid comes very well equipped when it comes to safety with a whopping eight airbags, including a front-centre airbag between the driver and front passenger. On the active safety front, the Yaris gets high-and low-speed auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, front cross traffic alert, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, driver fatigue detection, road sign recognition, and even a secondary collision braking system that prevents the Yaris from moving further after an accident if the airbags have been deployed. Only blind-spot monitoring is lacking in the SX Hybrid. From a safety front, the Yaris is peerless.

The colour seen on our test car is a deep purple called ‘Lunar Blue’, which is part of the metallic colour range that also includes ‘Crystal Pearl’, ‘Silver Pearl’, ‘Atomic Rush’, ‘Scarlet’, ‘Bronx Bronze’, ‘Cherry Blossom’, ‘Coral Rose’, ‘Eclectic Blue’ and ‘Electric Green’ for an extra $575. The two standard colours on the 2022 Toyota Yaris SX hybrid are ‘Glacier White’ and ‘Ebony’.

Not all is perfect on the equipment front we think as the Yaris SX Hybrid should come with larger 16-inch alloy wheels at this price point, along with a larger infotainment screen and perhaps even a heads-up display. A centre armrest wouldn’t go astray, either – like overseas models have.

The Yaris’ key rivals include the Kia Rio, Mazda 2, and Suzuki Swift, all of which cost less spec for spec than the Yaris, even if they lack the Toyota’s hybrid system.

A similarly specced 2022 Kia Rio 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo GT-Line comes in at $23,590 before on-road costs and includes as larger screen than the Yaris and a longer warranty, while a top of the range 2022 Mazda 2 Genki with its suave and high quality interior and standard heads up display will set you back $25,990 before on-road costs. A 2022 Suzuki Swift Sport offers more power than the Yaris, thanks to its 1.4L turbocharged engine punching out 103kW for $28,990 before on-road costs.

Performance and Economy: 9.5/10

The 2022 Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid marries a 1.5-litre petrol three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine making 67kW of power and 120Nm of torque with a 58kW/141Nm electric motor making 58kW 141Nm for a maximum combined power output of 85kW. Toyota doesn’t quote a combined torque figure.

The hybrid drivetrain sends power to the front wheels through a continuously-variable transmission (CVT) automatic gearbox. Around town, it’s a blast to drive. It might not be hugely powerful – with a 0-100km/h time of around 9.5 seconds – but the Yaris feels sprightly no matter what you throw at it. The Yaris SX Hybrid moves off from a stop super smoothly under electric power, with no shuddering or vibration like you’d find in a Volkswagen Polo, before the petrol engine thrums to life and joins the acceleration party almost imperceptibly. It all just works brilliantly, with tonnes of shove and little hesitation.

You’re also looking at one of the most fuel efficient non plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars on the market in Australia. Toyota claims the Yaris SX Hybrid will use 3.3L/100km on the combined testing cycle. Here comes a real surprise – we managed to get that number down to around 2L/100km in some inner city driving, a simply phenomenal result. We’ll go and say it – in the real world, the Yaris Hybrid is the most fuel efficient car on sale that doesn’t need to be plugged in to be charged.

Even longer freeway stints down the Mornington Peninsula saw the Yaris use 3.5L/100 with four adults onboard. The Yaris will happily run on 91 RON unleaded to keep costs down, making it without a doubt an exceptional money saver when it comes to filling up.

Ride and Handling: 8.5/10

It might come as a surprise that the 2022 Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid rides beautifully, skipping over bumps with easy while also handling much better than you’d expect. Despite its low kerb weight, it feel substantial on the road, with its rigid body and expert suspension tune dealing with bumps, potholes and broken road surfaces with ease. Thank the Yaris’ transition to Toyota’s super rigid and advance TNGA platform which underpins it.

The steering is light but oddly feelsome and the brakes feel decent even as the car transitions between regeneration and actual friction braking, but surprise number two comes from he way the Yaris handles. It feels light on its feet, changes direction keenly and is a world away from the soggy and boring experience its predecessor delivered. The skinny Dunlop Ensave tyres aren’t the last word in outright grip as they’re clearly geared for fuel efficiency but the Yaris’ chassis is so adept we can’t help but wonder if some of the GR’s charm has been deliberately injected into the little Toyota.

Refinement isn’t so positive sadly, with a lot of road and wind noise getting into the cabin at speed, betraying the Yaris as a small car at the end of the day.

The safety features work well, with lane assist keeping the Yaris SX Hybrid nicely in the centre of the lane and a well tuned adaptive cruise control system. Visibility is decent too, but we wish the reversing camera was a little clearer.

Interior and Practicality: 7/10

Inside, Toyota has worked hard to make the Yaris feel more premium and roomy than its predecessor. Overall, the design is interesting, and more flamboyant than that found in the super proper Polo, even if it doesn’t feel overly special. Sadly, interior quality isn’t the best in the Yaris, with lots of hard surfaces on the doors, and centre console, even if the dashboard is soft to the touch. Toyota has also done good job adding a bit of colour with the white strips on the dashboard.

Being a Toyota, the ergonomics are excellent and everything falls easily to hand, with super easy to use climate controls and a central touchscreen which is easy to use but feels a little basic and underdone. For a car costing this much in 2022, the Yaris should have a larger screen, with better quality and flashier graphics. Sure, this one gets the job done and is easy to use, but it feels a little too small and in bright sunlight looks hazy and not all that clear. The instruments are split into two dials – left and right – flanking a central 4.2-inch information display and they look very funky, adding a touch of flair to the Yaris’ interior.

Sadly, the lack of a centre console really jarred, as there’s nowhere to rest your left elbow when driving and the two cupholders felt a little too far back. There’s a tray under the climate controls large enough for a phone, a shelf in front of the passenger on the dash, another one under the touchscreen and decent doorbins.

Up front, there’s ample space for even taller drivers and passengers with tons of adjustment in the driving position too. Sadly, the rear seats are very cramped, as we discovered with both seats filled in the rear. There’s very little legroom, meaning knees will dig into the front seats, which might be fine for short journeys, but for longer trips a Volkswagen Polo will be much better. Even a Kia Rio has more space, especially headroom, which is lacking too in the Yaris. The rear seat bench is very upright and is clearly designed for shorter trips. but there isn’t much space and the rear backrest is quite upright.

The Yaris has a small boot with a claimed luggage capacity of just 270-litres, which is less than most of its rivals. A Polo will fit a massive 351 litres, showing just how small the dinky little Yaris is. The Yaris has space saver spare tyre under the adjustable boot floor. There aren’t any hooks

Servicing and Warranty: 9/10

The 2022 Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which extends to seven years on the drivetrain if you service the Yaris through Toyota’s extensive dealer network. Servicing the Yaris SX Hybrid comes every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. The first four services are capped at just $195 each, which is $975 for a five-year period. This makes the Yaris the cheapest car in the segment to service. Unlike Toyotas of the past, its service intervals stretch to once yearly/every 15,000km. Unfortunately no current Toyota has any form of roadside assistance as standard.

A Mazda2 over the same period of time would set you back $1,874 and you would also have to service it more often, as the Mazda has 10,000km service intervals. Although the Volkswagen Polo has the same intervals as the Yaris, servicing one over the same five years will come to an eye-watering $2,500.

2022 Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid DiscoverAuto Rating: 8.0/10

The 2022 Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid might be Australia’s most fuel efficient non-PHEV car and brilliant to drive, but it’s interior is a little disappointing considering it will set you back close to $33,000 drive-away. Very simply, the Yaris doesn’t have anywhere near the interior we’d expect at this price point. Sure, it’s nice inside, but it isnt $33k nice. It lacks the premium feel of its rival, the Polo and it’s hard to ignore the fact that a Toyota Corolla is prices very closely to it.

Still, with its cheap servicing, the Yaris SX Hybrid will be an expert in reducing weekly fuel bills and the yearly servicing bill. Add in Toyota’s legendary reliability and you have a car which will prove brilliant to own and drive, albeit with a steep initial asking price. But we’ve levelled this criticism at the Yaris’ rivals too. Perhaps we should just accept that small cars are now priced like larger ones and move on? You be the judge.