Likes
- Very well priced
- Solid, fuel-efficient engine
- Decent performance for the class
Used Toyota Yaris review
2011 - 2020
Dislikes
- The interior can’t hide the fact it was made on a budget
- Early models lack active safety features
- Tight second row
Stuff you should know
The Toyota Yaris, spanning 2011 to 2020, represents a popular subcompact vehicle in the Australian market. Known for its reliability and fuel efficiency, the Yaris is a preferred choice for urban dwellers and those seeking a smaller, manageable footprint.
Introduced in late 2011, this generation continued the trend of offering both hatchback and sedan variants. The design saw an update, including a more prominent front grille and streamlined rear.
In 2014, the Yaris received a mid-cycle refresh, introducing a more modern look and updated features. This generation embraced the hatchback model more, with the sedan variant becoming less common.
Across these years, the Yaris typically utilised engines ranging from 1.3-litre to 1.5-litre. This allowed for a balanced performance, suitable for city driving and moderate highway use.
The average fuel consumption remained competitive, sitting around 5.7L to 6.4L/100km, depending on the specific model and engine choice.
The Yaris steadily introduced more advanced technology and safety features over the years. By the latter half of the decade, models often included Toyota’s Safety Sense suite, offering features such as a pre-collision safety system, lane departure alert, and automatic high beam.
Infotainment systems saw updates as well, with later models including touchscreen displays and smartphone integration capabilities.
The Yaris has always been a popular choice in the Australian market due to its affordability, reliability, and practicality. Its reputation as a cost-effective, easy-to-maintain vehicle makes it a favourite among first-time car buyers, students, and urbanites.
The Toyota Yaris demonstrated consistent evolution in design, technology, and safety features. This decade of production solidified its standing as a go-to compact car for Australians looking for a blend of reliability, efficiency, and modern amenities.
What goes wrong
Exterior:
- A handful of owners have reported the clear coat deteriorating and peeling off.
Interior:
- Some Yaris models had infotainment system issues, including touchscreen freezes and audio or navigation problems.
- Owners have reported issues with the air conditioning system, including malfunctions due to leaks or a failed compressor.
Mechanically:
- The Toyota Yaris semi-automatic gearbox may exhibit issues like unresponsiveness, strange noises, shaking, or grinding due to potential oil leaks or worn-out gear shift and clutch servos.
- Many Yaris owners report clutch slippage and related issues, often due to leaking oil, a worn disc, a warped flywheel, or overheating.
- There are reports of issues with the engine consuming oil and the CVT transmission struggling to shift or slipping between gears.
- Some Yaris owners reported issues with noisy brakes, suspension problems, especially rear shocks, and certain models faced recalls for safety concerns including airbag deployment failures.
Recalls:
- October 2012 – Toyota recalls 297,931 vehicles including Camry, Aurion, Corolla, Yaris, RAV4, Kluger models due to a sliding electrical contact module fault in the driver’s-side power window master switch causing a potential “sticky” feel during operation, which might result in inoperability or overheating if a commercial lubricant is applied.
- April 2014 – A fault in certain Toyota Yaris vehicles involves a spring mechanism in the front seat track that may break, potentially leading to the seat not being fully engaged and posing an increased injury risk in case of an accident.
- November 2015 – Toyota recalls 260,864 units of Camry, Aurion, Corolla, Yaris, RAV4, and Kluger models due to insufficiently lubricated sliding electrical contacts in the driver’s side power window master switch, posing a fire hazard.
- June 2019 – Toyota Yaris vehicles manufactured during an unspecified period have an issue where the left rear door window glass might not be properly tempered, leading to larger fragments upon breaking, potentially raising injury risks in accidents. Around 26 units are affected.
Exterior:
- A handful of owners have reported the clear coat deteriorating and peeling off.
Interior:
- Some Yaris models had infotainment system issues, including touchscreen freezes and audio or navigation problems.
- Owners have reported issues with the air conditioning system, including malfunctions due to leaks or a failed compressor.
Mechanically:
- The Toyota Yaris semi-automatic gearbox may exhibit issues like unresponsiveness, strange noises, shaking, or grinding due to potential oil leaks or worn-out gear shift and clutch servos.
- Many Yaris owners report clutch slippage and related issues, often due to leaking oil, a worn disc, a warped flywheel, or overheating.
- There are reports of issues with the engine consuming oil and the CVT transmission struggling to shift or slipping between gears.
- Some Yaris owners reported issues with noisy brakes, suspension problems, especially rear shocks, and certain models faced recalls for safety concerns including airbag deployment failures.
Recalls:
- October 2012 – Toyota recalls 297,931 vehicles including Camry, Aurion, Corolla, Yaris, RAV4, Kluger models due to a sliding electrical contact module fault in the driver’s-side power window master switch causing a potential “sticky” feel during operation, which might result in inoperability or overheating if a commercial lubricant is applied.
- April 2014 – A fault in certain Toyota Yaris vehicles involves a spring mechanism in the front seat track that may break, potentially leading to the seat not being fully engaged and posing an increased injury risk in case of an accident.
- November 2015 – Toyota recalls 260,864 units of Camry, Aurion, Corolla, Yaris, RAV4, and Kluger models due to insufficiently lubricated sliding electrical contacts in the driver’s side power window master switch, posing a fire hazard.
- June 2019 – Toyota Yaris vehicles manufactured during an unspecified period have an issue where the left rear door window glass might not be properly tempered, leading to larger fragments upon breaking, potentially raising injury risks in accidents. Around 26 units are affected.
Exterior:
- A handful of owners have reported the clear coat deteriorating and peeling off.
Interior:
- Some Yaris models had infotainment system issues, including touchscreen freezes and audio or navigation problems.
- Owners have reported issues with the air conditioning system, including malfunctions due to leaks or a failed compressor.
Mechanically:
- The Toyota Yaris semi-automatic gearbox may exhibit issues like unresponsiveness, strange noises, shaking, or grinding due to potential oil leaks or worn-out gear shift and clutch servos.
- Many Yaris owners report clutch slippage and related issues, often due to leaking oil, a worn disc, a warped flywheel, or overheating.
- There are reports of issues with the engine consuming oil and the CVT transmission struggling to shift or slipping between gears.
- Some Yaris owners reported issues with noisy brakes, suspension problems, especially rear shocks, and certain models faced recalls for safety concerns including airbag deployment failures.
Recalls:
- October 2012 – Toyota recalls 297,931 vehicles including Camry, Aurion, Corolla, Yaris, RAV4, Kluger models due to a sliding electrical contact module fault in the driver’s-side power window master switch causing a potential “sticky” feel during operation, which might result in inoperability or overheating if a commercial lubricant is applied.
- April 2014 – A fault in certain Toyota Yaris vehicles involves a spring mechanism in the front seat track that may break, potentially leading to the seat not being fully engaged and posing an increased injury risk in case of an accident.
- November 2015 – Toyota recalls 260,864 units of Camry, Aurion, Corolla, Yaris, RAV4, and Kluger models due to insufficiently lubricated sliding electrical contacts in the driver’s side power window master switch, posing a fire hazard.
- June 2019 – Toyota Yaris vehicles manufactured during an unspecified period have an issue where the left rear door window glass might not be properly tempered, leading to larger fragments upon breaking, potentially raising injury risks in accidents. Around 26 units are affected.
Should you buy it?
Absolutely. The Toyota Yaris is an extremely popular choice in the small car category and for good reason. We say this with most Toyota products, they’re not going to set your world on fire, but they get about their business in a modest manner and with a focus on solidity and reliability, rather than being overly plush. The word ‘Toyota’ has basically become a synonym for ‘reliability’, even if that results in accusations of being boring or too conservative.
There are a few mechanical issues you should be mindful of if you’re in the market for one, so it’s crucial you get one with a full service history and pay a few hundred dollars to get a pre-purchase inspection done for ultimate peace of mind.
Our tip would be to buy the newest and lowest kilometer one you can afford, and if you value safety, try and shop up the variant tree to find one with advanced safety tech.
Absolutely. The Toyota Yaris is an extremely popular choice in the small car category and for good reason. We say this with most Toyota products, they’re not going to set your world on fire, but they get about their business in a modest manner and with a focus on solidity and reliability, rather than being overly plush. The word ‘Toyota’ has basically become a synonym for ‘reliability’, even if that results in accusations of being boring or too conservative.
There are a few mechanical issues you should be mindful of if you’re in the market for one, so it’s crucial you get one with a full service history and pay a few hundred dollars to get a pre-purchase inspection done for ultimate peace of mind.
Our tip would be to buy the newest and lowest kilometer one you can afford, and if you value safety, try and shop up the variant tree to find one with advanced safety tech.
Should you buy it?
Absolutely. The Toyota Yaris is an extremely popular choice in the small car category and for good reason. We say this with most Toyota products, they’re not going to set your world on fire, but they get about their business in a modest manner and with a focus on solidity and reliability, rather than being overly plush. The word ‘Toyota’ has basically become a synonym for ‘reliability’, even if that results in accusations of being boring or too conservative.
There are a few mechanical issues you should be mindful of if you’re in the market for one, so it’s crucial you get one with a full service history and pay a few hundred dollars to get a pre-purchase inspection done for ultimate peace of mind.
Our tip would be to buy the newest and lowest kilometer one you can afford, and if you value safety, try and shop up the variant tree to find one with advanced safety tech.
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Models, pricing & features
Tech specs
Body Styles
- 3 door Hatchback
- 5 door Hatchback
Engines
- 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YR, Ascent)
- 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YRS, ZR, YRX, SX)
Power
- 63kW – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YR, Ascent)
- 80kW – 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YRS, ZR, YRX, SX)
Torque
- 121Nm – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YR, Ascent)
- 141Nm – 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YRS, ZR, YRX, SX)
- 120Nm – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Ascent)
Transmissions
- 5-speed Manual (YR, YRS, ZR, Ascent, SX)
- 4-speed Automatic
Fuel Consumption
- 5.7 – 6.4L / 100km
Length
- 3885 – 3930mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 3885 – 3945mm (5 door Hatchback)
Width
- 1695mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 1695mm (5 door Hatchback)
Height
- 1510mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 1510mm (5 door Hatchback)
Wheelbase
- 2510mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 2510mm (5 door Hatchback)
Tare Mass
- 1000 – 1030kg (3 door Hatchback)
- 1000 – 1030kg (5 door Hatchback)
Kerb Weight
- 1025 – 1055kg (3 door Hatchback)
- 1025 – 1055kg (5 door Hatchback)
Towing
- 550kg (unbraked), 900kg (braked)
ANCAP Ratings
- 5 stars (tested 2011)
Body Styles
- 3 door Hatchback
- 5 door Hatchback
Engines
- 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YR, Ascent)
- 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YRS, ZR, YRX, SX)
Power
- 63kW – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YR, Ascent)
- 80kW – 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YRS, ZR, YRX, SX)
Torque
- 121Nm – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YR, Ascent)
- 141Nm – 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YRS, ZR, YRX, SX)
- 120Nm – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Ascent)
Transmissions
- 5-speed Manual (YR, YRS, ZR, Ascent, SX)
- 4-speed Automatic
Fuel Consumption
- 5.7 – 6.4L / 100km
Length
- 3885 – 3930mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 3885 – 3945mm (5 door Hatchback)
Width
- 1695mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 1695mm (5 door Hatchback)
Height
- 1510mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 1510mm (5 door Hatchback)
Wheelbase
- 2510mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 2510mm (5 door Hatchback)
Tare Mass
- 1000 – 1030kg (3 door Hatchback)
- 1000 – 1030kg (5 door Hatchback)
Kerb Weight
- 1025 – 1055kg (3 door Hatchback)
- 1025 – 1055kg (5 door Hatchback)
Towing
- 550kg (unbraked), 900kg (braked)
ANCAP Ratings
- 5 stars (tested 2011)
Body Styles
- 3 door Hatchback
- 5 door Hatchback
Engines
- 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YR, Ascent)
- 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YRS, ZR, YRX, SX)
Power
- 63kW – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YR, Ascent)
- 80kW – 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YRS, ZR, YRX, SX)
Torque
- 121Nm – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YR, Ascent)
- 141Nm – 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol (YRS, ZR, YRX, SX)
- 120Nm – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Ascent)
Transmissions
- 5-speed Manual (YR, YRS, ZR, Ascent, SX)
- 4-speed Automatic
Fuel Consumption
- 5.7 – 6.4L / 100km
Length
- 3885 – 3930mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 3885 – 3945mm (5 door Hatchback)
Width
- 1695mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 1695mm (5 door Hatchback)
Height
- 1510mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 1510mm (5 door Hatchback)
Wheelbase
- 2510mm (3 door Hatchback)
- 2510mm (5 door Hatchback)
Tare Mass
- 1000 – 1030kg (3 door Hatchback)
- 1000 – 1030kg (5 door Hatchback)
Kerb Weight
- 1025 – 1055kg (3 door Hatchback)
- 1025 – 1055kg (5 door Hatchback)
Towing
- 550kg (unbraked), 900kg (braked)
ANCAP Ratings
- 5 stars (tested 2011)
Warranty & servicing
Warranty
3 years / 100,000 km
5 years / unlimited km (2011 Ascent, 2011 SX, 2011 ZR)
Service Intervals
10,000 km / 6 months
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of August 29, 2023
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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