Toyota, which made a late entry to the SA light car market with the Yaris hatchback late last year, has added a four-door version to the mix. Prices for the Yaris Sedan start at R121 120.Toyota, which made a late entry to the SA light car market with the Yaris hatchback late last year, has added a four-door version to the mix. Prices for the Yaris Sedan, which will compete with VW’s Polo- and Opel’s Corsa Classic ranges, start at R121 120.
Toyota’s newcomer, which was also recently launched in Australia, the US and Canada, will start rolling out of Toyota’s local dealerships next month. It’s built on the same basic platform as the Yaris Hatch, but is 550mm longer (4,3 metres overall) its wheelbase (2 550 mm) is 90 mm longer than the 5-door model. Furthermore, the 4-door is 130 mm lower and 5 mm narrowing than its sibling.
Targeted at “price conscious young family buyers”, the Sedan has a virtually flat floorpan in front of the rear seats, nine storage compartments placed throughout the interior and the boot capacity is 426 litres, which can be expanded to 738 litres (loaded to the level of the top of the front seat backrest) depending on the particular configuration of the car’s Easy Flat seating system.
Apart from the addition of a boot section, the Sedan can be told apart from the hatchback by virtue of its curved belt-line, single-slat grille and trapezoidal headlights. The 4-door appears more svelte, grown-up and less MPV-like than the hatch version.
Compared with the central digital display employed in the 5-door, the main display in the Yaris Sedan makes use of analogue gauges. The fuel gauge, clock, odometer and trip meters make up a digital inset in the instrument panel. Also in the display area are indicators for driver and passenger seat belt fastened.
The range is also powered by Toyota’s 1,3-litre four cylinder 16-valve all-aluminium engine with a multi point fuel injection and VVTi (Variable Valve Timing – intelligent). The unit develops 63 kW at 6 000 r/min, peak torque of 121 N.m at 4 400r/min and is mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. An electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission is available with the T3 Spirit.
The entry-level Yaris Sedan T3 (with air-conditioning) costs R121 120. The T3+ offers added specification at R128 820, while the top of the range T3 Spirit sells for R140 620. The T3 Spirit A/T is priced at R150 260. Service intervals are 15 000 km and prices include a 4-year/ 60 000 km service plan and 3-year/100 000 km warranty with AA Roadside Assistance provided for the duration of the period.
Yaris Sedan specifications
Major specification items featured in the Yaris T3 specification are: air conditioner, ABS with EBD and BAS, EBD, dual stage driver and front passenger airbags, three point seat belts for all five seats, ISOFIX rear child seat anchors and top tethers, safety belt warning buzzer and lamp for front seats, full size spare wheel, colour-coded grille, electric power steering, integrated radio with RDS and four speaker system, front-loading CD player, rear windscreen demister, remote boot and fuel flap opener, headlamp on warning buzzer, map reading and dome lamps, luggage compartment lamp, tinted windows all round, 60:40 split rear seat, two cup holders in the front and one in the rear, transponder type immobiliser system and VIN parts marking.
The T3+ specification adds the following to the base T3 specification: remote control central locking with answerback and 30 second auto-lock delay, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, height adjustable driver’s seat, colour coded side mirrors and door handles, electrically-adjustable side mirrors and electric windows all round.
The T3 Spirit specification includes the features of the T3 and T3+ models and the following in addition to those: side airbags for driver and passenger, curtain shield side airbags, 15-inch alloys, full-size alloy spare wheel, front fog lights and “luxury” cloth trim. The automatic version offers an additional pphill/downhill shift control, digital gear shift position indicator and shift lock and key interlock.
