2020 Toyota Yaris officially unveiled

Toyota has revealed the new Toyota Yaris, a supermini rival to the latest Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa that will be in showrooms from the summer of next year. Toyota has sold four million examples of the Yaris since 2000 and will hope the new one builds on the success of the outgoing, third-gen model, which was available as a hybrid.

The new Yaris sits on an adapted ‘Toyota New Generation Architecture’ known as the GA-B platform, which was first used for the Toyota C-HR and then again for the RAV4 and Corolla models. Extra strengthening to the chassis of the Yaris means that the steering response is quicker than before, and suspension tweaks including softer springs, as well as a stronger body shell, mean that the ride quality should be more comfortable on rougher urban roads.

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The fourth-generation Yaris is one of the shortest superminis at 3,940mm, in a class where rivals such as the SEAT Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo are longer than ever. Despite this, the wheelbase of the new Yaris is slightly longer, by 55mm, than that of the old car.

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The new Yaris has been sharpened up in places, particularly around the nose where there’s a new grille and headlights, but it’s still recognisably a Yaris. The car is lower and wider than the third generation model, as well as more sporty, thanks in part to flared wheel arches.

The 2020 Yaris features a brand new hybrid powertrain with a heavily revised CVT transmission that should improve refinement. The hybrid system now uses a lithium-ion battery pack that’s 27% lighter than the nickel-hydride version in the outgoing model. This is paired with a three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine. CO2 figures could be as low as 65g/km. Toyota expects the total output of the hybrid model to be around 115bhp. The new battery should improve the power delivery of the 79bhp electric motor and recharge more quickly.

As well as the Yaris Hybrid, which Toyota expects will account for four out of five Yaris sales, two non-hybrid petrol engines will be offered. A 1.5-litre petrol paired to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic, as well as a less powerful 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol, will be added to the range after launch.

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Inside, Toyota has given the new Yaris a 10-inch head-up display, as well as the world’s first centre airbags to be mounted on the inner edges of the front seats. The front seats are also mounted lower by 36mm, while the rear seating area is particularly packaged for children. Due to the design of the roofline, six-footers will likely find rear headroom restricted and, although Toyota haven’t revealed the boot capacity, it’s likely the latest Renault Clio will offer more luggage space.

Prices have yet to be announced, but the new Toyota Yaris will be available to order in summer next year, with first deliveries expected to start in September 2020.

Read our review of the current third generation Toyota Yaris Hybrid, or see where the Yaris features on our list of best reliable small cars.