The Toyota Yaris is a subcompact car that Toyota has sold worldwide since 1999. In North America, the story of the 2020 Yaris is more complicated than the name suggests, because the car sold under that badge in the United States that year was not the same Yaris that Toyota sold in Europe and Japan. Buyers who remember the Yaris as a simple economy hatchback should understand which version they are looking at.
The 2020 Yaris in the United States
The 2020 U.S. Yaris was built by Mazda and was, in effect, a restyled Mazda2. Toyota and Mazda shared the car as part of a partnership, and it was sold in both sedan and hatchback body styles. It came to Toyota through an unusual route: Mazda built the sedan as the Scion iA for 2016, then it became the Toyota Yaris iA and finally simply the Yaris. The hatchback joined for 2020. Both cars were front-wheel drive.
The New Hatchback for 2020
For 2020 Toyota introduced an all-new Yaris Hatchback, which debuted at the 2019 New York International Auto Show. It measured 161.6 inches long and offered a 15.9-cubic-foot cargo area, with a turning circle of 32.2 feet. It was sold in LE and XLE grades, and standard equipment on both included 16-inch alloy wheels, heated power mirrors with integrated turn signals, a 7-inch touchscreen and smart key entry with push-button start.
Engine, Transmission and Fuel Economy
The Mazda-derived Yaris used a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with Mazda’s Skyactiv-G design and a high 12.0:1 compression ratio, producing 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque. It was offered with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA rated the automatic sedan at 32 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and 35 mpg combined, and the manual at 30/39/34.
Interior and Features
Inside, the Yaris offered a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, voice recognition and a six-speaker audio system. Air conditioning, a rear backup camera and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel were included, while the XLE grade added leatherette seating, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers and automatic LED headlamps.
Safety
Every U.S. 2020 Yaris came with a low-speed pre-collision system that could warn the driver and apply the brakes, along with an active safety package covering stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, brake assist and brake override. Six airbags were standard, including front and rear side curtain airbags.
The Global Fourth-Generation Yaris
Separately from the U.S. car, Toyota launched an entirely new fourth-generation Yaris in Europe and Japan. Coded XP210, it was unveiled in October 2019 and went on sale in Japan in February 2020. It was built on the GA-B version of Toyota’s TNGA platform and was offered with a new three-cylinder hybrid powertrain. That car is the Yaris most of the world knows from 2020, but it was never sold in the United States.
Where the Yaris Name Comes From
The name Yaris is derived from Charis, the singular form of the Charites, the Greek goddesses of charm and beauty. Toyota adopted the name for export markets in 1999, while continuing to use the name Vitz in Japan until 2019.
A Convoluted History in North America
Toyota has sold several different small cars under the Yaris name in North America. The first generation was marketed as the Echo from 1999 to 2005. The Yaris name proper arrived for 2006. From 2012 Toyota sold only the XP130 Liftback in the United States, then discontinued it after the 2018 model year; sales of the 2018 car continued into January 2019. The Mazda-based sedan and hatchback then carried the Yaris torch, and the nameplate was retired in the United States after the 2020 model year.
Sedan and Hatchback
The two U.S. body styles served different buyers. The sedan offered a conventional trunk and slightly more conservative styling, while the hatchback traded some cargo flexibility for a sportier look and a shorter overall length that made it easier to park in the city. Both shared the same engine, transmissions and front-wheel-drive layout, so the choice came down to packaging and appearance rather than performance.
What the 2020 Yaris Cost
The 2020 Yaris was one of the least expensive new cars Toyota sold in the United States, with the model line starting below the mid-teens before destination charges. That low entry price, combined with strong fuel economy and a long list of standard technology, was the car’s main appeal in a segment where profit margins are thin and many competitors had already withdrawn.
Buying a Used 2020 Yaris
Because it was built by Mazda, a used 2020 Yaris shares many mechanical parts with the Mazda2 of the same era, which can be useful when sourcing components. The 1.5-liter engine and the six-speed automatic have a solid reputation for reliability, and the car’s light weight helps it feel more responsive than its modest power figure suggests. Inspecting the infotainment system and confirming service history are the main checks on a used example.
The Yaris and the Subcompact Market
By 2020 the subcompact segment in the United States had shrunk dramatically, as buyers moved toward small SUVs and crossovers. That shift, rather than any problem with the car itself, is the main reason the Yaris nameplate did not continue in North America after 2020. Toyota’s smallest offering in the U.S. market moved upward in size and price over the following years.
