BARGAIN-HUNTING NEW CAR buyers will have to search more diligently following the announcement that Toyota has abandoned the sub-$20,000 price bracket.
Toyota’s least expensive car in the Australian market was (and still is) the Yaris. The 1.3 Ascent 5-door hatch started from $15,390 (plus on road costs), rising to $18,080 for the 1.5-litre SX and topping out at $22,670 for the 1.5 ZR auto.
In a breathtaking jump, the fourth-generation Yaris starts at $22,130 (plus on road costs), near-as-dammit $7000 more. And that price puts it $1765 less than the larger Corolla.
Opting for the top-of-the-line ZR Yaris will set you back an eye-watering $32,100, or more than ($9400 more than the outgoing model).
Toyota argues that the latest Yaris is built on its advanced TNGA platform, gets significantly higher levels of safety equipment and new powertrains including a hybrid system (which carries a $2000 premium). Auto is standard on the SX and ZR models but adds $1500 to the Ascent Sport. Premium paint is another $500 and two-tone paint adds $450.
The new Yaris is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. In the non-hybrid models, it produces 99kW at 6600rpm and 145Nm of torque between 4800 and 5200rpm. The Ascent sport uses a six-speed manual transmission while other models get the CVT transmission.
The Hybrid is based on the same engine running an Atkinson cycle and produces 67kW at 5500rpm and 120Nm at 3800-4800rpm. The electric motor is 59kW/141Nm for a combined 85kW and uses a 178-volt/4.3Ah lithium ion battery.
Toyota claims the Yaris is the “world’s safest compact car” with even the base model getting front row centre airbags, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, secondary collision braking, auto high beam, speed sign recognition, lane keep and cornering assist and a reversing camera. The ZR adds blind spot monitoring, intelligent clearance sonar, parking sensors front and rear and a new parking support brake system.
We’re not convinced that Australian buyers are ready for a $22,000 city car, even if the safety and standard equipment have been increased.
Of course, Toyota is not the only manufacturer moving away from affordable new cars, usually in favour of more expensive (and more profitable) SUVs. Ford, Honda, Nissan, Renault and even Hyundai are dropping their value-packed hatchbacks. Honda’s Jazz is about to be delisted; Renault has dropped the Clio; Nissan has abandoned the Micra; Hyundai has dropped the i20 and Accent and decided not to import the i10.
They blame increasingly stringent safety requirements for the decision.
ANCAP disputes this, citing increasingly complex emissions management systems, touchscreen, wireless phone charging and other features as factors, and safety, while being a factor, only a “relatively small” component.
The most popular new car on the Australian market is the Chinese-built MG3, priced at $16,490 driveaway (and currently being offered with a $500 cashback). However, the MG3 has not been assessed for a safety rating by ANCAP, and, apparently, there are no plans to test it.
Other cars are still available below $20,000, including the Kia Picanto ($14,390), Mitsubishi Mirage ($14,990), Suzuki Baleno ($15,990), Honda City ($16,490) and, for the time being, the Honda Jazz ($15,990).