since 1976
since 1976
THE affordable ‘hot hatch’ segment has been in a bit of a doldrums since the Suzuki Swift was discontinued from the Malaysian market. Things were looking up when Perodua introduced the new Myvi that looked a lot more exciting that the model it preceded.
And now, UMW Toyota Motor has added more zest to the segment by re-introducing the latest Yaris. Unlike before when the Yaris was brought in as an import model from Japan and that meant a pricey tag, the new Yaris is made available as a locally assembled model with 70 per cent of its parts sourced in Malaysia. It is the second Toyota model to be assembled at the new facility in Bukit Raja after the Vios.
That could only mean one thing; plenty of cheer in the affordable prices for the prospective younger car owners in Malaysia. With the price starting at RM70,888 on the road without insurance for the Yaris 1.5J, you couldn’t get a better windfall than that. Of course, if you want more in the new Yaris, there is the Yaris 1.5E for RM76,888 or the top dog Yaris 1.5G at RM83,888.
UMW Toyota Motor is very clear about its target market customers by highlighting the new Yaris’s bold and visually youthful image to the younger set. The new Yaris is promoted with the philosophy ‘Life Needs A Y’ (Y as in Yaris, if not Young and Youthful, and phonetically as in ‘why’) to reflect the symbolic purpose that fulfils each one’s life every day and the ‘why’ of doing what one does.
And by achieving life’s goals and resolutions, the journey in attaining it could be equally as rewarding. Simply put, UMW Toyota Motor equates that ‘philosophy’ with the new Yaris as in positioning itself as a ‘reliable, trustworthy and stylish companion throughout your drive’. A bit corny but then again, on impressionable young minds with a zest for living, these words might just gel with them.
Appointing local actress and singer Janna Nick as the Yaris Ambassador would work just as well too. She is no stranger to the Toyota brand, having been its Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) sports ambassador for the last three years. More importantly, she won in the last TGR race event to show that she is more than just a pretty face!
Of course, the product has to be appealing and good looking too. On that score, the new Yaris would win hands down. It is anything but boring and a definite breakaway from the conservative outline of earlier hatchback models. There is a vibrancy and modern cut to the new Yaris body profile that younger buyers could relate to and be happily a part of.
Power-wise, it might share the same power unit as the latest Vios – a 1.5-litre engine double cam engine with Dual VVT-i mated to a seven-speed CVT (continuously variable transmission) – but the Vios isn’t slow. And in the more compact Yaris, an advantage could be gained in better road performance.
The new Yaris is well decked with features too; auto air-conditioning and DVD AVX system with 7-inch touchscreen display that comes with USB mirroring for connectivity and Panoramic View Monitor for a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the vehicle. There are also lots of storage spaces for one’s personal paraphernalia along with a 12V socket and two USB ports for powering or charging multiple devices.
Safety concerns are easily allayed as the evaluation by the Asean NCAP has given the new Yaris a top five-star rating. All Yaris variants are sound in this area with the full gamut of active and passive safety features; they include seven SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control with Traction Control and Hill-start Assist.
There are also the electrochromic rear-view mirror, a Drive Mode switch, a Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, DVR and Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning. And ownership is made more pleasant with the full five warranty with unlimited mileage.
As we have been invited to take a drive to Janda Baik soon in the latest Yaris, we would tell you more about its road feel and performance, among other social conveniences that this new Toyota ‘hot hatch’ has to offer.
Link here. Drive to Janda Baik
