Toyota Yaris review - Interior & comfort
This is another Toyota interior that's functional but lacks excitement
The Toyota Yaris feels fairly solid and well built, and while there are a few cheap plastics used here and there, it feels more grown up than the previous generation model. There's admittedly little in the way of flair, with dark materials and the occasional splash of chrome trim – we think more splashes of colour or interesting upholstery patterns and textures would be welcome and to an extent these can now be found in the GT Sport trim.
Toyota Yaris dashboard
The 2024 facelift for the Toyota Yaris left the dash design mostly unchanged, aside from adding a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster standard on all but the entry-level car, as well as including the same 10.5-inch infotainment display from the Corolla on higher-spec models. That said, even the nine-inch display on lesser models has plenty of features, including wireless phone connectivity.
The interior is neat and functional, and that infotainment system sprouts from the top of the dashboard putting it at a quick glance away from the road, but we think the large bezel, buttons and knobs positioned around it look rather out of place and are already starting to date.
There's also little in the way of flair, with dark plastic and the occasional splash of chrome trim. Some more splashes of colour or interesting upholstery patterns and materials would be welcome, but we've no doubt the Yaris will at least prove solidly built. The GR Sport trim does at least introduce gunmetal grey trim, red stitching and 'GR Sport' badges for some extra flair.
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It's a big improvement that the infotainment features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto this time around, so you can use your phone’s interface on the car’s screen instead of relying on Toyota’s setup. The Toyota system is a little clunky and far less intuitive than the best infotainment systems on the market, and it’s not helped by dated graphics. There is a clear display showing how the hybrid system is working, however, which can help when driving as economically as possible, and the menus are at least logically laid out with large buttons so it’s easier to use once moving.
Equipment
The Yaris Hybrid is quite well-equipped as standard. Trims start with Icon, which includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a nine-inch infotainment system, a rear-view camera, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, air conditioning, automatic lights/wipers and even wireless smartphone charging. Design gets smart-looking machined alloy wheels and LED daytime running lights – it’s a modest upgrade over Icon, but probably worth it for the marginal increase in price and improved styling.
Excel is next in the lineup, getting 17-inch alloy wheels, a larger 10.5-inch sat-nav infotainment system, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, keyless entry and start, partial synthetic leather upholstery and other niceties. GR Sport is offered with the more powerful 129bhp hybrid system and gets sportier styling, 18-inch wheels, sports seats up front and the styling touches mentioned above. There's also the option of a Storm Grey colour with or without a contrasting black roof.
A special Premiere Edition was launched with the facelift, getting 17-inch wheels, a premium JBL sound system and exterior paint with a contrasting black roof as standard. It comes in at around the same price as the GR Sport and gets the more powerful 129bhp engine, too, so it’s worth your consideration if you’re not a fan of the sporty styling.
Options
Aside from paint, the Yaris can be specified with a few packs – we’d recommend adding the Safety Pack for just £600 as it adds front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot detection, folding door mirrors and a safe-exit warning for if you’re about to open your door into the path of another road user.
