The ETA developed their annual Green Car Buyer’s Guide after reviewing more than 1300 vehicles currently on sale in the UK. Research for the guide focused on power, emissions, fuel efficiency and even noise levels of the vehicles.

In addition to the Yaris being named the overall winner, three other Toyota models were in the ETA’s top ten with the Prius (3rd), Aygo (6th) and Auris (9th) being identified as some of the greenest vehicles available in the UK.

The Toyota RAV4 was named as the greenest vehicle in the Off Road category and the Toyota Aygo was top in the City category.

The second-generation Toyota Yaris went on sale in 2006 offering improved quality, accommodation, performance and dynamic ability. As well as being the overall winner of the ETA’s Green Car of the Year 2008 it has been named the top green vehicle in the Supermini category.

The Yaris has a strong, dynamic look and is exceptionally aerodynamically efficient with a Cd of 0.30 – among the best in its class – helping fuel economy and reducing noise disturbance when on the move.

Yaris is available in three and five-door body styles with a choice of four engines. With both manual and MultiMode transmissions, the 1.4-litre D-4D 90 can return 62.8mpg in combined cycle driving, with further ownership cost benefits from CO2 emissions of 119g/km, which place the vehicle in band B for Vehicle Excise Duty.

ETA Car Buyers’ Guide Results 2008

Overall winner:

Toyota Yaris

Overall Top Ten Winners:

Toyota Yaris
Honda Civic Hybrid
Toyota Prius
Renault Modus
Citroën C1
Toyota Aygo
Peugeot 107
Renault Clio
Toyota Auris
Suzuki Swift

Category Winners:

Supermini: Toyota Yaris
Small Family: Honda Civic Hybrid
Small MPV: Renault Modus
City: Citroën C1/ Peugeot 107/ Toyota Aygo
Large Family: BMW 3 Series 320d Saloon
Sports: Vauxhall Tigra, MY2008 2-door Convertible
MPV: Peugeot 207 SW Outdoor
Executive: BMW 5 Series 520d Saloon
Off road: Toyota RAV4
Luxury: Jaguar XJ 2.7L Diesel Saloon

It is as simple as that. Toyota has comprehensively upgraded the specification of its 1.3 VVT-i and 1.4 D-4D Yaris SR models to create one of the most impressive supermini prospects on the market.

A unique standard feature of the new Yaris SR is the satellite navigation / audio system which is both built in and fully portable. The system offers handy touch screen operation, Bluetooth connectivity and USB connection for MP3 players.

Taking as its starting point the highly specified T3 model, the SR ramps up its owner-appeal with the addition of:

• Fully integrated audio system with removable TomTom satellite navigation unit – a first in the B segment, exclusive to Toyota
• Toyota Motorsport 16-inch Pit Lane alloy wheels
• Toyota Motorsport lowered sports suspension
• Rear roof spoiler
• Chrome exhaust finisher
• Brushed alloy gearshift knob (manual versions)
• Front scuff plates

In spite of all these extra features, the on-the-road price of the SR models is just £350 greater than the equivalent T3 version and represents £1,100 extra value. And the price tag also covers nine airbags, electric front windows, remote central double locking, air conditioning, front fog lamps and the one-touch Easy Flat folding rear seat system.

In terms of specification, the new Yaris SR represents better value for money than its key rivals. Taking the three-door 1.3 VVT-i version as an example, customers benefit from up to £950 additional value compared to equivalent competitor models.

The SR is available in both three and five-door body styles with a choice of 86bhp (87 DIN hp) 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol or 89bhp (90 DIN hp) 1.4-litre D-4D diesel power. A five-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard, but customers can opt for the MultiMode transmission, which adds £500 to the price tag.

The 1.3 petrol unit produces 121Nm of torque at 4,200rpm for sporty but smooth performance. Acceleration from rest to 62mph can be accomplished in 11.5 seconds and top speed is 106mph. The engine emits 141g/km of carbon dioxide, placing it in band C for Vehicle Excise Duty.

The 1.4 D-4D engine delivers 190Nm of torque from 1,800 to 3,000rpm. This engine can return 62.8mpg in combined cycle driving, with further ownership cost benefits from CO2 emissions of 119g/km (band B for VED). Acceleration from nought to 62mph takes 10.7 seconds and top speed is 109mph.

The new Yaris SR is on sale now.

Toyota Yaris SR prices

Yaris SR 1.3 VVT-i three-door manual:£10,995

Yaris SR 1.3 VVT-i three-door M/M:£11,495

Yaris SR 1.3 VVT-i five-door manual:£11,495

Yaris SR 1.3 VVT-i five-door M/M:£11,995

Yaris SR 1.4 D-4D three-door manual:£11,995

Yaris SR 1.4 D-4D three-door M/M:£12,495

Yaris SR 1.4 D-4D five-door manual:£12,495

Yaris SR 1.4 D-4D five-door M/M:£12,995

The focus is on extra style at a bargain price: the Yaris TR comes with all the features of the regular T3 model, with the addition of some eye-catching extras. These include 15-inch Savara alloy wheels with locking wheelnuts, front fog lamps, silver-finished door handles and handbrake trim and smart scuff plates for the front door sills.

The specification also provides a suite of seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), a six-speaker sound system that can play CDs and digital music files stored on disc, electric front windows, air conditioning, leather trim for the steering wheel and gear knob and Toyota’s one-touch Easy Flat folding system for the rear seats.

With prices starting at £9,995 including metallic paint, customers save £1,350, taking into account the full cost of the additional items.

The Yaris TR is powered by a choice of 1.3 VVT-i petrol or 1.4 D-4D 90 diesel engines, with five-speed manual or MultiMode transmission. Three and five-door body styles are available in Eclipse Black, Venetian Silver and – new to the Yaris range – Decuma Grey metallic, or Chilli Red paint finishes.

Prices

Yaris TR 1.3 VVT-i 3-door manual: £9,995
Yaris TR 1.3 VVT-i 5-door manual: £10,495
Yaris TR 1.4 D-4D 90 3-door manual: £10.945
Yaris TR 1.4 D-4D 90 5-door manual: £11,445

The Chilli Red paint option is £500 cheaper (non metallic).
MultiMode transmission costs an additional £500.

It is powered by a new 1.8-litre petrol engine with Dual VVT-i technology and benefits from sports-tuned steering and suspension, a striking body kit, 17-inch alloy wheels and a premium equipment specification that offers more in terms of comfort and convenience features than any of its segment rivals. Add to that Yaris’s class-leading safety performance, with a five-star Euro NCAP adult passenger safety rating and a unique-in-class standard-fit driver’s knee airbag and you have a formidable all-round package.

Beyond the SR 1.8, Toyota is also introducing new SR versions of the Yaris, powered by the 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol and 1.4 D-4D 90 diesel engines. These combine sports styling and high equipment specification with highly competitive prices and ownership costs.

The SR 1.8 is the first Toyota to be powered by the new 1.8 Dual VVT-i petrol engine, equipped with intelligent timing for both intake and exhaust valves to deliver smoother performance and greater efficiency. Maximum output of 131bhp (133 DIN hp) is achieved at 6,000rpm, with 173Nm of torque delivered at 4,400rpm. This gives nought to 62mph acceleration in 9.3 seconds, with combined cycle fuel economy of 39.2mpg. Carbon dioxide emissions are 170g/km, placing the SR 1.8 in Band E for Vehicle Excise Duty.

The SR 1.8’s chassis and suspension are tuned for good handling and ride comfort. The suspension has also been lowered for a more rewarding driving experience and the Electric Power Steering has been adjusted for quicker and more precise response to driver input. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) are provided as standard, in addition to ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).
Design and equipment

The Yaris SR 1.8 is available in both three and five-door body styles. To complement its sportier performance, it features a rear roof spoiler, side skirts, chrome sports exhaust, LED tail lights and deeper front and rear bumpers, the front fitted with integrated fog lights. The interior is equipped with sports seats and an upholstery fabric that’s exclusive to the model. There’s also a leather trimmed steering wheel, chrome trim detailing and an amber-lit Optitron instrument display with analogue read-outs.

Building on the high specification of the existing Yaris T Spirit model, the SR 1.8 gains exclusive-design 17-inch alloy wheels, plus VSC with TRC and sports pedals. It also features climate control air conditioning with pollen filter, Smart Entry and Start system, six-speaker audio system with CD player and MP3/WMA file playing function (from disc), a reach and rake-adjustable steering column, electrically adjustable door mirrors and front fog lamps.
High equipment, high value SR grade models

The arrival of the SR 1.8 gives the Yaris a new sporty dimension and its impact is spreading further into the model range with the introduction of other new SR versions powered by Toyota’s 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol and 1.4-litre D-4D 90 diesel engines. Launched at the same time as the SR 1.8, these feature models enable customers to enjoy sports styling and high equipment specification with competitive on-the-road prices and ownership costs.

The SR 1.3 and 1.4 D-4D match the current T Spirit specification with the addition of turbine-style 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust finisher, front scuff plates and brushed alloy gear knob. Other high quality features include the Smart Entry and Start system, climate control air conditioning and front fog lamps. In spite of all these extra features, the SR models are £615 cheaper than their T Spirit equivalents.

Prices start at £12,995 for the SR 1.8 Dual VVT-i three-door, while the SR 1.8 Dual VVT-i five-door comes in at £13,495.

It’s a hard act to follow, but in engineering and styling the all-new Yaris, Toyota has not only refined the qualities that have distinguished the original, it has also made significant advances in quality, safety and versatility.

“Big Car Thinking” describes the approach that has shaped the way the new Yaris delivers exceptional levels of interior space and quality. The increase in dimensions is put to good use to provide class-leading room for passengers and their luggage. And thanks to Toyota’s Easy Flat system, the rear seats can be folded down quickly and easily to form a generous and flat-floored load space, a feature that’s unmatched in the Yaris’s class.

Clever design also makes life more comfortable for rear seat passengers: re-routing the exhaust gives a flat floor, removing the central hump that traditionally compromises the middle seat. In the new Yaris, there is space for three adults in the back.

Where safety is concerned, Toyota has met the challenges set by the Yaris’s short front overhangs and created a car that commands the highest five-star rating for occupant protection in Euro NCAP crash testing. The vehicle uses the well-proven Minimal Intrusion Cabin System (MICS) that has helped the Avensis and Corolla Verso achieve similarly high test results, with a basic framework that efficiently disperses and directs impact forces away from the passenger cell.

Up to nine airbags are available, including the segment’s first driver’s knee airbag – standard on all but the entry-level T2 grade.

The new Yaris is available in three and five-door body styles with a choice of three engines. The 68bhp 1.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine is the starting point, delivering up to 52.3mpg in combined cycle driving and carbon dioxide exhaust emissions at 127g/km. Top seller is expected to be the 86bhp 1.3 VVT-i unit, carried across from the previous Yaris, but with modifications for better performance and lower emissions.

The lightweight, all-aluminium 1.4-litre D-4D 90 diesel engine offers substantially more power and torque than before and is capable of 62.8mpg (combined cycle). A five-speed manual gearbox, revised for sharper, more precise shifts, is fitted as standard, but the 1.3-litre VVT-i and 1.4-litre D-4D 90 units can be specified with MultiMode (M/M) transmission for automatic or manual sequential gear changes.

Three grades are on offer: T2, T3 and T Spirit. T2 models come with remote central locking, driver and passenger front airbags, electrically adjustable door mirrors, CD player, electric front windows, rear seats that individually (60:40) slide, recline and fold down with the Easy Flat system and electric power steering. Additional features on T3 versions include front side, curtain shield and driver’s knee airbags, leather-trimmed steering wheel with auxiliary audio controls, air conditioning and an upgraded sound system that can play MP3 files stored on disc.

Top-of-the-range T Spirit grade introduces a keyless Smart Entry and Start system, climate control air conditioning, front fog lamps and 15-inch alloy wheels.

Prices for the new Yaris range start at £8,995 for the entry level 1.0-litre VVT-i T2 three-door model and rise to £13,295 for the 1.4 D-4D 90 T Spirit five-door with M/M.

The Colour Collection cars will feature metallic paint finish, front fog lamps, chrome exhaust finisher, alloy wheels (1.3-litre versions only) and body colour-matched door mirrors and bumpers. There are five colours to choose from: Twilight Blue, Carlo Blue, Thunder Grey, Eclipse Black and Crystal Silver.

On the inside, special features include colour keyed interior trim in blue or red (depending on exterior colour), carbon detailing for the vent dials and door inserts, scuff plates, colour keyed carpet mats, height adjustable leather trimmed steering wheel with built-in audio system controls and a leather and chrome finished gear knob.

All these items are in addition to the regular Yaris T3 specification, which includes a four-speaker sound system with CD player, remote central double locking, split-folding and sliding rear seat, electric front windows and vanity mirrors for the driver and front seat passenger. The comprehensive active and passive safety features include front and side airbags, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce distribution and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

Prices are the same as for equivalent T3 models, in spite of the additional features which have a combined value of £900 or £1,250 in the case of the 1.3 versions with alloy wheels.

The Yaris Colour Collection is available with 1.0 or 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol engines in three or five-door hatchback body styles and with five-speed manual transmission.

The 1.0-litre VVT-i Yaris is one of the cheapest new cars to own in the UK, its running costs kept low thanks to combined fuel consumption of more than 50mpg, a 2E insurance group rating and carbon dioxide emissions of 134g/km that place it in Band A for Vehicle Excise Duty.

On-the-road prices for the Colour Collection models start at £8,595 for the 1.0-litre VVT-i three-door and £9,095 for the 1.3 VVT-i three-door (including alloy wheels). Five-door models cost an additional £500 and air conditioning plus a roof spoiler is available as a £500 option.

The DVD-based system is designed to provide quick and efficient route finding and to “think” its way around any congestion detected by ETA on the road ahead.

ETA constantly monitors traffic information from sources such as the emergency services and motoring organisations via an FM radio signal that is picked up even when the car radio is switched off. When the driver is following a programmed route by means of the satellite navigation, the system uses the information received to pinpoint any hold-ups on the road ahead and determine the impact on the journey time. ETA will then warn the driver of any problems and offer an ‘avoid traffic’ option, which will automatically provide a new route to the destination.

The navigation system with ETA will be offered as a £1,350 (including VAT) option on Yaris Blue, Yaris T Spirit and T Sport models from 1st July.