Toyota gives Yaris a quicker Pulse - First Drive

The new Yaris has arrived and we took it for an outing during the local launch, much like a young and carefree, creative Capetonian would. The latest Yaris now goes by the name of Yaris Pulse. We sampled the 1.5 Pulse MT ( R228 700) as well as the 1.5 Pulse Plus CVT (R249 600).

Is the new Yaris Pulse that much different from the old Yaris?
Cosmetic changes aren’t monumental. It gets some nice new trim on the inside, and the headlamps are revised. As for the nose and grille - huge improvement. Designers tried too hard with the previous Yaris - the gaping grille with harsh chrome edging was just too much. This new front design just flows effortlessly, and should be received well by the young trendies.

Some dramatic changes around the back?
Yes. Here it hardly looks like a Toyota. It’s not ungainly, but the lights are now quite Korean-looking. From the back it’s easy to mistake the new Yaris for a Hyundai, or a Kia, even. I’m also getting some Honda HR-V (not that it’s a bad thing). The line that runs from the tailgate towards the rear bumper gives it an upside-down smile, and leaves it looking a little depressed.

On the inside?
Materials look and feel upmarket, and ergonomics are good and sensible. It’s a simple, modern layout with soft-touch plastics, and all tech beautifully integrated.  The instrument binnacle is stylishly executed, and the buttons on the steering wheel are large and clear.  User-friendliness deluxe! New wind-turbine air-vents, smatterings of chrome and glossy piano black bits provide more visual interest.


Is there a new engine?
A brand new, VVT-iE 1.5-litre mill replaces the 1.3, with a couple more kiloWatts (now 82 with 136 Nm) and a 12 percent increase in fuel efficiency.

What does the Pulse Plus give you over the Pulse?
The Yaris Pulse itself is already well-specced, affording the buyer a 7” touchscreen, Bluetooth, 15” alloys, a leather steering wheel, electric mirrors, power windows (all 4), body-colour door handles and mirrors, daytime running lamps, steering switches and front fog lamps. Safety features include ABS, EBD, brake assist, hill ascent assist as well as stability control and four airbags. The Pulse Plus gets all that, plus (ahem) a knee bag and curtain airbags, projector headlamps and cruise control.

And driving it around the hills and valleys of the Cape?
In Cape Town, a small, frugal and reasonably energetic car is all you need. Small, lithe and maneuverable, the little Yaris enjoyed poking its nose into every curve. Both the manual and CVT-box variants have their merits - driving the manual  Yaris Pulse around Cape Point proved to be an entertaining affair. Planted and stable at all times, with slick & easy gear-shifts, the Yaris  always felt quick and sure on its feet. The 1.5-litre engine feels wide awake at the coast, but inland, it won’t be quite as perky. As for the boot: It won’t swallow more than overnight luggage and laptop bags for two.

Airport run
Just this morning, I had my turn in the Yaris Pulse Plus with its CVT-box. With flappy-paddles, 7 simulated gears as well as a Sport button, the hotel to airport drive had me flitting across the N2, weaving through traffic like a 20-year-old Golf GTI-driver. Sure enough, I wasn’t careless, and even used my indicators. See?  You don’t need a GTI-budget to relish the daily commute to work. The CVT-box is a little noisy, but hey, it’s lighter on fuel than the manual.

Are we buying one, then?
Toyota’s very adept at building small cars that don’t cost the earth and don’t feel cheap. The Yaris Pulse is yet another example of a very successful marriage between responsibility and frivolity. Add style, reliability and value, and you’ll have a happy, long-lasting love affair.

PRICING
●    1.0 Pulse MT: R199 000
●    1.5 Pulse MT: R228 700
●    1.5 Pulse CVT: R241 400
●    1.5 Pulse Plus CVT: R249 600
●    Hybrid: R307 200
All models are offered with a 3-year/45 000km service plan and a 3-year/100 000km warranty.The new Yaris has arrived and we took it for an outing during the local launch, much like a young and carefree, creative Capetonian would. The latest Yaris now goes by the name of Yaris Pulse. We sampled the 1.5 Pulse MT ( R228 700) as well as the 1.5 Pulse Plus CVT (R249 600).

Is the new Yaris Pulse that much different from the old Yaris?
Cosmetic changes aren’t monumental. It gets some nice new trim on the inside, and the headlamps are revised. As for the nose and grille - huge improvement. Designers tried too hard with the previous Yaris - the gaping grille with harsh chrome edging was just too much. This new front design just flows effortlessly, and should be received well by the young trendies.

Some dramatic changes around the back?
Yes. Here it hardly looks like a Toyota. It’s not ungainly, but the lights are now quite Korean-looking. From the back it’s easy to mistake the new Yaris for a Hyundai, or a Kia, even. I’m also getting some Honda HR-V (not that it’s a bad thing). The line that runs from the tailgate towards the rear bumper gives it an upside-down smile, and leaves it looking a little depressed.

On the inside?
Materials look and feel upmarket, and ergonomics are good and sensible. It’s a simple, modern layout with soft-touch plastics, and all tech beautifully integrated.  The instrument binnacle is stylishly executed, and the buttons on the steering wheel are large and clear.  User-friendliness deluxe! New wind-turbine air-vents, smatterings of chrome and glossy piano black bits provide more visual interest.


Is there a new engine?
A brand new, VVT-iE 1.5-litre mill replaces the 1.3, with a couple more kiloWatts (now 82 with 136 Nm) and a 12 percent increase in fuel efficiency.

What does the Pulse Plus give you over the Pulse?
The Yaris Pulse itself is already well-specced, affording the buyer a 7” touchscreen, Bluetooth, 15” alloys, a leather steering wheel, electric mirrors, power windows (all 4), body-colour door handles and mirrors, daytime running lamps, steering switches and front fog lamps. Safety features include ABS, EBD, brake assist, hill ascent assist as well as stability control and four airbags. The Pulse Plus gets all that, plus (ahem) a knee bag and curtain airbags, projector headlamps and cruise control.

And driving it around the hills and valleys of the Cape?
In Cape Town, a small, frugal and reasonably energetic car is all you need. Small, lithe and maneuverable, the little Yaris enjoyed poking its nose into every curve. Both the manual and CVT-box variants have their merits - driving the manual  Yaris Pulse around Cape Point proved to be an entertaining affair. Planted and stable at all times, with slick & easy gear-shifts, the Yaris  always felt quick and sure on its feet. The 1.5-litre engine feels wide awake at the coast, but inland, it won’t be quite as perky. As for the boot: It won’t swallow more than overnight luggage and laptop bags for two.

Airport run
Just this morning, I had my turn in the Yaris Pulse Plus with its CVT-box. With flappy-paddles, 7 simulated gears as well as a Sport button, the hotel to airport drive had me flitting across the N2, weaving through traffic like a 20-year-old Golf GTI-driver. Sure enough, I wasn’t careless, and even used my indicators. See?  You don’t need a GTI-budget to relish the daily commute to work. The CVT-box is a little noisy, but hey, it’s lighter on fuel than the manual.

Are we buying one, then?
Toyota’s very adept at building small cars that don’t cost the earth and don’t feel cheap. The Yaris Pulse is yet another example of a very successful marriage between responsibility and frivolity. Add style, reliability and value, and you’ll have a happy, long-lasting love affair.

PRICING
●    1.0 Pulse MT: R199 000
●    1.5 Pulse MT: R228 700
●    1.5 Pulse CVT: R241 400
●    1.5 Pulse Plus CVT: R249 600
●    Hybrid: R307 200
All models are offered with a 3-year/45 000km service plan and a 3-year/100 000km warranty.

The new Yaris has arrived and we took it for an outing during the local launch, much like a young and carefree, creative Capetonian would. The latest Yaris now goes by the name of Yaris Pulse. We sampled the 1.5 Pulse MT ( R228 700) as well as the 1.5 Pulse Plus CVT (R249 600).

Is the new Yaris Pulse that much different from the old Yaris?
Cosmetic changes aren’t monumental. It gets some nice new trim on the inside, and the headlamps are revised. As for the nose and grille - huge improvement. Designers tried too hard with the previous Yaris - the gaping grille with harsh chrome edging was just too much. This new front design just flows effortlessly, and should be received well by the young trendies.

Some dramatic changes around the back?
Yes. Here it hardly looks like a Toyota. It’s not ungainly, but the lights are now quite Korean-looking. From the back it’s easy to mistake the new Yaris for a Hyundai, or a Kia, even. I’m also getting some Honda HR-V (not that it’s a bad thing). The line that runs from the tailgate towards the rear bumper gives it an upside-down smile, and leaves it looking a little depressed.

On the inside?
Materials look and feel upmarket, and ergonomics are good and sensible. It’s a simple, modern layout with soft-touch plastics, and all tech beautifully integrated. The instrument binnacle is stylishly executed, and the buttons on the steering wheel are large and clear. User-friendliness deluxe! New wind-turbine air-vents, smatterings of chrome and glossy piano black bits provide more visual interest.

Is there a new engine?
A brand new, VVT-iE 1.5-litre mill replaces the 1.3, with a couple more kiloWatts (now 82 with 136 Nm) and a 12 percent increase in fuel efficiency.

What does the Pulse Plus give you over the Pulse?
The Yaris Pulse itself is already well-specced, affording the buyer a 7” touchscreen, Bluetooth, 15” alloys, a leather steering wheel, electric mirrors, power windows (all 4), body-colour door handles and mirrors, daytime running lamps, steering switches and front fog lamps. Safety features include ABS, EBD, brake assist, hill ascent assist as well as stability control and four airbags. The Pulse Plus gets all that, plus (ahem) a knee bag and curtain airbags, projector headlamps and cruise control.

And driving it around the hills and valleys of the Cape?
In Cape Town, a small, frugal and reasonably energetic car is all you need. Small, lithe and maneuverable, the little Yaris enjoyed poking its nose into every curve. Both the manual and CVT-box variants have their merits - driving the manual Yaris Pulse around Cape Point proved to be an entertaining affair. Planted and stable at all times, with slick & easy gear-shifts, the Yaris always felt quick and sure on its feet. The 1.5-litre engine feels wide awake at the coast, but inland, it won’t be quite as perky. As for the boot: It won’t swallow more than overnight luggage and laptop bags for two.

Airport run
Just this morning, I had my turn in the Yaris Pulse Plus with its CVT-box. With flappy-paddles, 7 simulated gears as well as a Sport button, the hotel to airport drive had me flitting across the N2, weaving through traffic like a 20-year-old Golf GTI-driver. Sure enough, I wasn’t careless, and even used my indicators. See? You don’t need a GTI-budget to relish the daily commute to work. The CVT-box is a little noisy, but hey, it’s lighter on fuel than the manual.

Are we buying one, then?
Toyota’s very adept at building small cars that don’t cost the earth and don’t feel cheap. The Yaris Pulse is yet another example of a very successful marriage between responsibility and frivolity. Add style, reliability and value, and you’ll have a happy, long-lasting love affair.

PRICING
● 1.0 Pulse MT: R199 000
● 1.5 Pulse MT: R228 700
● 1.5 Pulse CVT: R241 400
● 1.5 Pulse Plus CVT: R249 600
● Hybrid: R307 200
All models are offered with a 3-year/45 000km service plan and a 3-year/100 000km warranty.