When everyone was writing obituaries for the hatchback segment, Toyota has been quietly testing the Yaris hatchback in India. Even though only two out of the ten best-selling vehicles in India are hatchbacks, based on February sales figures, the segment has a substantial 26 per cent of the market share. In the case of Toyota, the question arises whether Toyota is planning to introduce a second hatchback in its portfolio after the Glanza or it is focused on testing the 1.5-litre full hybrid powertrain.
Toyota Yaris hatchback: What is it?
Not to be confused with the erstwhile Yaris sedan which received a quick death in 2021 after a short innings of three years in India, the hatchback version is a completely different model. The Yaris hatchback is one of Toyota’s best-selling vehicles in Europe. The version that was caught testing made its international debut in 2020 and is based on the GA-B platform. According to Toyota, the sub-4 metre hatchback has a class-leading turning radius and gets all LED lights including indicators. It is available in multiple wheel sizes — 15, 16 and 17-inch based on the variants.
The Yaris hatchback offers a 7-inch or 12.3-inch infotainment system based on the trim with a multi-information. It also offers connected features, a cloud-based navigation system and voice commands. Being a premium hatchback, if Toyota plans to launch the Yaris in India, it will compete against the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Hyundai i20.
Toyota Yaris hatchback: Powertrain options
The million-dollar question is whether Toyota is testing its 1.5-litre hybrid engine. Toyota recently updated the powertrain and has increased the output of the electric motor generator from 59 kW to 62 kW. Its total output has improved to 144 bhp from 129 bhp. The torque has increased by 30 percent from 141 Nm to 185 Nm. According to Toyota, the hybrid version does 0-100 kmph in 9.2 seconds and 80-120 kmph in 7.5 seconds. Apart from this engine, the Yaris is also available with the standard 1.5-litre and a 1-litre. Both the engines are three-cylinder units.
