2017 Toyota Yaris gets a facelift and a new UPSIZED petrol engine

The 2017 Toyota Yaris gets a facelift, some new technology, some new trim options and a new 1.5 litre petrol engine replacing the old 1.33 litre unit.

In a move that bucks the car industry’s penchant for downsizing and forced induction, Toyota revealed a few weeks ago that the 2017 Yaris was getting a 1.5 litre petrol engine to replace the current 1.22 litre. And here its, all present and correct in this 2017 facelift for the Toyota Yaris.

The Euro 6c 1.5 litre petrol engine is being built in Poland, comes with 110bhp and 100lb/ft of torque, hits 62mph in 11 seconds (nearly a second quicker than the old 1.33) and is 12 per cent more economical. Oh, and it gets Toyota’s new economy trick of flipping cleverly between Otto and Atkinson cycles thanks to new VVT.

Of course, there will also be a hybrid version of the Yaris as well as a 1.0 litre three-cylinder petrol. 

Styling titivations for the Yaris include much of what you’d expect, with new headlights and bumper at the front and new tail lights at the back – which conspire to make the Yaris look a bit sportier – with a new instrument layout and new materials inside.

Trim levels for the 2017 Yaris are Entry, Mid, Mid+, Bi-Tone and Chic, with even the entry-level Entry (is it us, or are trim level names getting sillier?) getting Automatic Emergency Braking, Auto High Beam and Lane Departure Warning.

Move up the Yaris range and more gets added, such as chrome bits, styling titivations, bigger alloys and better upholstery.

Prices for the 2017 Toyota Yaris aren’t likely to be much above the current starting point of £12k, but we’ll probably have to wait until the new Yaris has officially debuts at the Geneva Motor Show next month to find out.