The 2021 Toyota Yaris is the fourth-generation XP210, a five-door supermini that Toyota positioned around cabin quality, standard driver assistance and hybrid efficiency. It went on sale in Japan in February 2020 and in Europe from the summer of 2020, and it won the 2021 European Car of the Year award. It was not sold in North America. This review covers the interior, the infotainment and safety equipment, the hybrid powertrain and the performance figures that can be verified from Toyota’s data and independent testing.
The Interior
The cabin was redesigned around a lower, more driver-focused dashboard, with the A-pillars moved rearward to improve the view out. Toyota used softer materials on the upper surfaces than in the previous Yaris and rounded off many of the earlier car’s harder plastics. The front seats in Dynamic trim were sports-style units trimmed in part-synthetic leather, and rear space remained typical for the class, with a folding rear bench. A seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration was fitted from the entry Icon trim upward, which was reported at launch by Motor1.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The standard infotainment setup centered on that seven-inch touchscreen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mirroring, Bluetooth, and a reversing camera. Higher trims added a six-speaker or JBL audio system, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and a wireless charging pad in some markets. Toyota also fitted a digital instrument cluster on certain grades. The layout was conventional rather than radical, and reviewers noted that the screen and physical climate controls were easy to operate without taking attention off the road.
Safety Equipment
The XP210 Yaris was the first Toyota to feature a center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger in a side impact to stop them colliding with each other. Every version came with Toyota Safety Sense, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering control, road-sign recognition and automatic high beams. Euro NCAP tested the car in 2020 and awarded five stars, with 86 percent for adult occupant protection, 81 percent for child occupants, 78 percent for vulnerable road users and 85 percent for safety assist.
Powertrain and Performance
In Europe the headline engine was the 1.5-liter three-cylinder hybrid, combining an Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine with an electric motor and a 177.6-volt lithium-ion battery for a combined 116 horsepower. Power went through an eCVT to the front wheels, with the E-Four electric all-wheel-drive option offered in Japan. A European hybrid test car reached 62 mph in about 9.7 seconds and returned around 65.6 mpg on the WLTP cycle with 98 g/km of carbon dioxide, as recorded by Eurekar. Conventional 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter gasoline engines were also offered in some markets. For the full powertrain breakdown see 2021 Toyota Yaris Hatchback Engine Specs and Performance, and for the pre-launch speculation see the 2021 Toyota Yaris Hatchback Rumors, Exterior and Price.
Recognition and Outcomes
The fourth-generation Yaris was named 2021 European Car of the Year, an award decided by a jury of journalists from across the continent. It combined that with a five-star Euro NCAP score and the novelty of a center airbag, which framed the car as a safety benchmark for small cars rather than a sporty one. A separate performance model, the GR Yaris, used a different three-door body and a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, and is not part of this review. For buyers in Europe, Japan and Australasia, the 2021 Yaris was a hybrid-first small car with a more premium cabin than its predecessor.
Trim Levels and Pricing
In Britain the range ran from the Icon, priced from £19,910, through Design to the Dynamic at £21,920 and the top Excel, with a limited-run Launch Edition offered briefly. The Icon came with 16-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch touchscreen, a reversing camera, automatic air conditioning and Toyota Safety Sense. The Dynamic added sports seats, part-synthetic leather upholstery, 17-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and a JBL audio system. The Excel added automatically folding mirrors and blind-spot monitoring, and buyers could add a panoramic glass roof or a technology pack.
Practicality and Dimensions
The XP210 is a small car. European versions measure 3,940 mm (155.1 in) long, 1,745 mm (68.7 in) wide and between 1,470 and 1,500 mm tall, with a 2,560 mm (100.8 in) wheelbase. The Japanese car is narrower at 1,695 mm and uses a 2,550 mm wheelbase. Curb weight in Japan ranges from about 940 to 1,180 kg (2,072 to 2,601 lb). The rear seats fold to expand the cargo area, and the five-door body makes the back seats easier to reach than in a short three-door.
Later Changes to the Range
Toyota expanded the family after launch. A GR Sport trim arrived in Europe in December 2021 with retuned suspension, stiffer bodywork and recalibrated steering, but no extra power. In May 2023 the hybrid line-up gained the more powerful Hybrid 130 option. The same underpinnings also produced the Yaris Cross crossover and, in Europe, the Mazda2 Hybrid, a rebadged Yaris Hybrid built at the Onnaing plant from 2021.
How the Hybrid Drove
The hybrid paired a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine with an electric motor through an eCVT, and it could run on electricity alone at low speed before the engine restarted. The system is self-charging, so there is no plug. In Japan the same powertrain could be ordered with E-Four electric all-wheel drive. Reviewers described the car as quiet and relaxed in town rather than quick, and the verified figures support that: about 9.7 seconds to 62 mph and a top speed near 109 mph.
The GR Yaris Alternative
Toyota also built a high-performance Yaris, but it was a distinct model. The GR Yaris uses a three-door body, a turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder making 257 to 268 horsepower, a six-speed manual, permanent all-wheel drive and upgraded suspension, and it was designed to meet World Rally Championship homologation rules. It was sold in Japan, Europe and Australasia but not in the United States, where Toyota instead offered the larger GR Corolla from 2022.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Yaris_(XP210)
- https://uk.motor1.com/news/437252/2021-toyota-yaris-uk-pricing/
- https://www.eurekar.co.uk/articles/2021-04-10/toyota-yaris-1-5-hybrid-dynamic
- https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/toyota-yaris-car-year-2021
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_GR_Yaris
