Draped in camouflage, the Toyota Yaris mid-size sedan is already being tested in India and will break out of its cover at the upcoming Auto Expo 2018 next week. Competing against the likes of the Honda City, the Hyundai Verna and the Maruti Ciaz, Toyota’s new sedan will position itself above the Etios in the car maker’s portfolio for India. The car has been teased on the manufacturer’s website and will go on sale in India in the second half of 2018.
To be badged as the Yaris in India, the sedan will be quite similar to the Vios, which is its identity in certain ASEAN markets. Styled to please most and offend none, the India-spec Yaris will make its debut powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine which will crank out about 107 bhp and will be paired with a 5-speed manual and 7-speed CVT gearbox. Since Toyota doesn’t really have a small capacity diesel motor which meets existing emission norms in India, a diesel motor may or may not be introduced at a later stage. However, a hybrid setup could be introduced to go hand-in-hand with the Government’s push for clean cars.
A proper 3-box design, the Toyota Yaris’ USP will be a well-built, functional and spacious cabin. The centre console will be dominated by a touchscreen setup for infotainment. AC vents and rotary controls for the HVAC system occupy space below that, everything bordered with satin silver finished inserts. A 3-spoke steering wheel will offer controls for telephony and other stuff, behind which, three chrome-ringed dials will provide all the information to the driver in a crisp, analogue format.
The India-spec Yaris could take the honours for the most comfortable car in its segment, as elsewhere, it boasts of the widest cabin in its class. Safety features on the car could include up to 7 airbags on the top-spec variant, while all others will get ABS, EBD, Brake Assist and a couple airbags as standard. Modern kit on the outside could include projector headlamps, LED tail lights, smart looking alloy wheels and shark-fin antenna. Expect the Yaris to be priced competitively and for the faith, a typical buyer has in the brand, this one could find many takers. We’ll be at the Expo to bring you all the latest news and new launches, along with tons of images. Stay tuned!