All new Toyota Yaris sedan 2014 was launched at Meydan with impressive digital wizardry that created an illusion of 3-D projections on plain, white blocks erected on varied planes. The illusion was for us in the media. For the entry-level sedan buyer the reality was that the Yaris sedan was back; and for the rivals it spelt ‘real competition’.
All new Toyota Yaris is back in the sub-compact sedan segment.
Models and Price: Yaris Sedan 1.3 L: S at AED 48,500 and SE from AED 51,900
Yaris Sedan 1.5L: SE at AED 53,500, the SE+ at AED 57,900 and Sport at AED 56,900
The sales floor for the youth, or the young at heart as marketers choose to put it, is now as crowded, predictably, as the segment itself. VW’s Polo sedan, Nissan’s Tiida and Peugeot’s 208 among the recently launched cars and many others are vying with each other in dishing out the cool quotient, only varying in the degree closer to the freezing point! The Toyota Yaris sedan launched yesterday at the IMAX Meydan is perhaps the one that is saying it and flaunting it most emphatically – they have even roped in Christiano Ronaldo to make their point on TV
Even the digital 3-D show put up at the IMAX using pop blocks as 3-dimensional screens on which were projected some uber-cool imagery was well, uber-cool!
Every time a new (all-new if you will) Toyota was launched last year, I have loathed the extra-wide bemused smile that greeted me, only to realize that it is something you can easily live with – like teenage braces! For the first time, in the Yaris, I thought it was a perfect fit. May be it’s grown on me over time – but the new Yaris sedan looks pretty well disposed from all sides.
Just before the Toyota Yaris was played at Imax 3D!
The all-new Yaris Sedan has settled for more practical styling, shape-shifting from the earlier curves to sharper angles and tighter lines. The new styling even makes it slightly bigger and Toyota claims its features to be from a class above. The dash sure does confirm that claim and so does the cabin features like the leather steering wheel with built-in audio controls, piano finish and moulded stitching, with the exception of a rear view camera – which is a rarely available option in the segment, if at all.
The headlamps and the rear combination lamps wrap far around to the sides, emphasizing the wide feel of whole rear body.
“Historically, Yaris Sedan has always been valued for its roomy interior, reliability, low running costs, build quality and strong residual values.” said Jon Williams, the Managing Director of Al Futtaim Motors, who was attending his first launch since he took hold of the reins last month.
New thin frames in the front seats adds 57mm of knee clearance in the rear, an additional 35 mm of rear seat shoulder width while the cargo space has been increased by 78 mm.
These traits make the new Yaris a great choice for rental and lease companies. For young families, the great news is that you don’t have to think of dumping your first car as soon as the wifey gets her blissful bump. There is enough room at the back to stretch, just how the Yaris hatchback also became family-tolerant. The all-new sedan also offers commendable boot space – class leading as Toyota puts it.
The overall length has been increased by 110mm to 4410mm, the width by 10mm and the height by 15mm. It leaves the all-new Yaris more aerodynamic with a wider and more masculine stance with increases in both headroom and passenger volume.
Keyless Smart Entry & Push Button Start System (available in the SE+ model) Audio with USB connectivity, steering mounted audio controls, 6 speakers and a multi-language set up, including Arabic.
Available in 8 colours, including three newly developed colours such as Quartz Brown, Silky Beige, and Frozen Blue, the cabin also allows two options – Black and Ivory. The new sport variant offers aero parts, sport seats, smoked metallic plating and an exclusive analogue meter.
Safety: Driver and front-passenger airbags (SRS), an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
And as tested by Toyota, the air-conditioning is six times quicker in getting the cabin down to 15º c, as against the closest competitor. So, about the cool quotient, that’s a point proved, quite literally!
