It’s no secret that a lot of subcompact cars are growing in size. Take the Toyota Vios as an example. What used to be a smallish, nonsense sedan has grown to be as big as the Corolla of the 1990s. With this growth, however, Toyota is left with room to play—and offer a new segment entry.
This it does in the form of the newly launched Yaris Ativ. The latest B-segment sedan was recently unveiled in Thailand and offers a bit more of that economy car vibe without necessarily feeling cheap. It takes a page from the Vios, including styling cues like the overall profile.
The front end, for instance, features a larger lower grille, slimmer headlights, and much a lot of similarities with the rest of the modern Toyota family. The side is dominated by more prominent character lines, while the rear features a sleek set of tail lights.
The same can be said for the cabin—which would look right at home for anyone who a latest-generation Vios. Although this car is Toyota’s entry into Thailand’s Eco Car program, the top-spec model gets goodies like a 7-inch touchscreen, 4.2-inch multi-info display, automatic climate control and keyless entry and ignition.
Setting the Yaris Ativ apart from Toyota’s best-selling sedan is what lies under the metal. This comes in the form of a 3NR-FE 1.2-liter four-cylinder mill with dual VVT-i. It generates 86hp and 108Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels via Super CVT-I gearbox. And yes, safety isn’t lacking either. The Yaris Ativ gets Vehicle Stability Control Hill Start Assist, and no less than seven SRS airbags.
The Toyota Yaris Ativ will be available in the Thai market.
