Updated 2024 Toyota Yaris hybrid not for Australia – yet

The 2024 Toyota Yaris hybrid has received a technology, styling and performance upgrade in Europe – but it is yet to be confirmed for Australian showrooms.

The mid-life updates to the Yaris – nearly four years old globally – in Europe bring larger widescreen interior displays, mild visual tweaks, improved safety features, and a more powerful petrol-electric hybrid system.

However, it is not slated for Australia for the time being, as European-delivered examples are produced in France – while Australian models are built in Japan.

“We are always looking at ways to improve our local Toyota Yaris product offering, but we have nothing to announce today,” a Toyota Australia spokesperson said in a statement to Drive.

Most updates for European-made Toyota vehicles carry across to their Japanese-made counterparts, though there can be a delay of a few months.

The focus of the updates is the option of a more powerful hybrid model – branded ‘Hybrid 130’ which combines the current 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a more powerful electric motor and retuned power-control unit.

The new Hybrid 130 system develops 96kW (130 metric horsepower) – up from 85kW (115hp) in the current model, which remains available as the Hybrid 115 – while the torque produced by the electric motor has increased from 141Nm to 185Nm.

Toyota claims a zero to 100km/h acceleration time of 9.2 seconds – half a second quicker – and improved overtaking performance when accelerating from 80 to 120km/h, while “only a modest” increase in CO2 emissions.

It is unclear if this more powerful hybrid drivetrain will be available in Australia, as not all hybrid versions of Toyota models sold in Europe make it to local showrooms.

There is a more powerful 2.0-litre hybrid version of the Toyota Corolla available in Europe – which Australia only gets in the Corolla Cross SUV – but it is only produced in UK- and Turkey-made Corollas, not Japanese-built models like Australian versions.

The European Toyota Yaris has received a big technology upgrade from newer Toyota models, with top-of-the-range models featuring two large screens claimed to be the biggest in the city-car class.

There is a choice of 9.0- or 10.5-inch infotainment touchscreens – up from 7.0 or 8.0 inches previously – running Toyota’s new software, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a ‘Hey Toyota’ voice recognition system, satellite navigation, and Wi-Fi software updates.

Ahead of the driver is a choice o 7.0- or widescreen 12.3-inch digital instrument clusters – up from a small 4.2-inch display and digitised speed and gear readouts in top models today.

The new screens include support for a smartphone app, which allows owners to remotely lock/unlock the vehicle, turn on the air conditioning, locate the car, activate the hazard lights, or enter the vehicle using their phone, instead of the key fob.

There have been mild exterior changes to European models for Model Year 2024, pictured here on a Premiere Edition model with Neptune Blue paint, and a new 17-inch wheel design.

Toyota says other models in the range will gain new five-spoke wheel designs, a “new pattern” for the seat upholstery, and a new Juniper Blue paint colour.

A GR Sport model – with unique 18-inch wheels, retuned suspension and steering, and a different grille insert, rear bumper, red interior stitching and badges – remains available to Europe, but yet to come to Australia.

The Yaris hybrid’s suite of advanced safety technology has been updated to match newer Toyota models.

The autonomous emergency braking system can now detect motorcycles, “intervenes to slow any sudden acceleration when it recognises the risk of a collision with a vehicle ahead”, and can bring the car to a gentle stop if the driver is incapacitated.

The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist systems has been retuned to respond faster, while the lane departure warning “now recognises when the driver has moved out of lane while trying to avoid an obstacle … and temporarily cancels the Lane Departure Warning”, Toyota says.

The 2024 Toyota Yaris is due to open for orders in Europe this month. Australian arrival details are yet to be confirmed.

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