Toyota Yaris 2024: Model Overview

SAUDI ARABIA : Slotted below the venerable Corolla in the brand’s Middle East line-up, the Toyota Yaris 2024 is an entry-level economy sedan. The Yaris began settling in with the second-generation model, which arrived in the region in the mid-2000s. However, it wasn’t until the third generation that we began to categorically witness an appreciable proliferation of the Yaris.

While the Toyota Yaris was available as a hatchback, it is the sedan that stood the test of time in the Gulf. This was primarily down to the more usable boot of the latter and a cabin that was better equipped to handle families. Moreover, many buyers preferred a sedan over a hatchback, with the price difference being negligible.

When it was time for the fourth-generation model to take its rightful place, Toyota decided to axe the Yaris hatchback entirely for the GCC region. This left prospective buyers with the Yaris sedan as their sole option, which played into the strength of the nameplate anyway. Unlike before, the Toyota Yaris 2024 sold in Saudi Arabia is imported from Thailand.

Variants & Price

The all-new Toyota Yaris 2024 is available in three distinct variants in Saudi Arabia: Y, Y Plus, and YX. The price of the entry-level Yaris Y in KSA is SAR 63,135, with the Yaris Y Plus variant costing SAR 69,345, and the top-end Yaris YX priced at SAR 75,670.

The prices mentioned above are inclusive of 15% VAT. All new Toyota cars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are sold exclusively by Jameel Motors, a subsidiary of the vast Abdul Latif Jameel group. The group has a vast network of showrooms located throughout the country; including Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh.

Exterior

Where the previous iteration of the Yaris had rounded corners with a rather soft appearance, Toyota has gone in the opposite direction with the new one. Gone is the friendly but unassuming look, replaced now by a smart and confident design in the all-new Yaris. The overall design is modern in the truest sense of the word.

 

One of the first aspects to draw your undivided attention is the coupe-like roofline of this car. While it may not be the most elegant execution of the concept – as the Civic does it better – it definitely elevates the appeal of this B-segment sedan. The short but sloped hood appears taut and features sharp creases to mitigate blandness.

The ‘hammerhead’ design leads to the front grille being split into two. The upper element comprises a thin band extending from the middle to above the headlights. The centerpiece here is the Toyota logo, perched neatly between the top and bottom portions of the grille. The latter is considerably bigger with a large opening that is flanked by sporty air intakes on the sides.

The sharp design of the headlights injects more character into this front fascia, and so do the LED internals with their segmented DRLs. Moving onto the sides of the Yaris 2024, the 16-inch alloy wheels sport a dual-tone theme and make their presence felt. There are sharp shoulder lines, plus noticeable creases on the sheet metal as well as the bumpers.

The stylish but stubby-looking rear of the all-new Yaris sedan gets a well-executed boot lid spoiler. The bumper also gets black plastic trim imitating functional vents, along with more plastic underneath dressed as a diffuser. Then there’s the roof-mounted shark fin antenna and wraparound halogen taillights with their running lights operated by LEDs.

The all-new Toyota Yaris 2024 measures 4,425 mm in length, 1,740 mm in width, and 1,480 mm in height. The compact sedan has a wheelbase of 2,500 mm and a boot space of 475 liters, making it quite practical. Meanwhile, the fuel tank of the Toyota Yaris can hold 40 liters of petrol.

Interior

Keeping pace with the flashy new exterior of the Toyota Yaris 2024 is an equally updated interior. The new design is easier on the eyes, finished in a dual-tone theme with good use of light beige and silver. This ensures that buyers don’t get bogged down by an otherwise endless sea of scratchy black plastic.

The soft leatherette material with faux stitching further adds to the perceived quality of this cabin. On the top VX variant, the interior is mostly black – perhaps for a sporty feel. On the contrary, it feels dark and dingy. The abundance of piano black trim will undoubtedly attract fingerprints, smudges, and scratches during everyday use.

The seats of the new Yaris get the job done and offer decent comfort, though lumbar support could be better. Those seated at the back will enjoy a good amount of kneeroom and headroom, but the middle seat is awkwardly high, narrow, and hard. However, the rear doors get integrated bottle holders for added convenience.

There are also dedicated air vents with blower control, front seat-back pockets, and dual USB charging ports. The driving position is good, and the center armrest is soft enough to rest your arm on. Similarly, the padding available for the right knee is also smooth. A wireless charging pad is located in front of the gear lever.

The leather-clad steering wheel is adjustable for tilt, while the infotainment screen is placed at eye level for better ergonomics. In-cabin storage is plentiful and easy to access – the same goes for all the controls. Viewing the front and the sides of the new Yaris is good, but three passengers in the rear seats means the view out the back suffers.

Engine & Performance

The all-new Toyota Yaris is based on the Japanese marque’s TNGA-B platform, meant specifically for its compact cars. In Saudi Arabia, the Yaris sedan comes with just one naturally-aspirated petrol engine. The unit in question is the 1NR-FE 1.3-liter four-cylinder that develops 97 hp and 122 Nm of torque.

The engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission and boasts a claimed 22.4 kmpl (4.4 L/100 km). This makes the all-new Yaris an incredibly fuel-efficient car – it is the best in its segment. The flip side of this frugality is slow acceleration and overall performance; taking over 11 seconds to breach the ton. The top speed of the Yaris is about 175 kmph.

Safety

Handling the safety aspects in the all-new Toyota Yaris are basic features like ABS with EBD and Brake Assist. These are backed up by more advanced measures such as vehicle stability control, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure alert.

The Yaris also gets front & rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and up to six airbags. Adding on to this list are miscellaneous (but useful) items like an electronic parking brake, auto brake hold, and front passenger door lock.

Conclusion

The all-new Toyota Yaris 2024 is perhaps one of the best cars in the affordable compact sedan segment in KSA. It brings with it all the values attached to the Toyota brand while offering buyers a good value proposition. With prices starting at just over 63,000 riyals, the entry-level Yaris Y is cheaper than its main rivals.

Even the fully-loaded Toyota Yaris YX variant is priced more aggressively than any car in its segment. This, along with its renewed design and equipment, has made buying a new Toyota Yaris a bit of a no-brainer. That is, of course, if you are not that keen on outright performance.