Well, what do you know—it looks like our speculations were right yet again. Sort of. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has now officially launched the refreshed Yaris, the one we previously said might be arriving in 2021.
We may have missed a bit on the launch date, but we did get it right with the specs. The refreshed model retains the 106hp, 140Nm 1.5-liter engine and the 98hp, 123Nm 1.3-liter mill, but only the CVT gearboxes remain.
As for its styling, well, we’ve pretty much seen all of it before, so we’ll head straight to the interior. Here, the refreshed Yaris sports a new Apple CarPlay- and Android Auto-compatible infotainment system that’s standard across the range. A new smart keyless entry and a push-to-start ignition feature, as well as new synthetic leather seats and a six-speaker audio setup, are available in the top-spec variant.
No Toyota Safety Sense available here, but the refreshed model does get seven SRS airbags, vehicle stability control, and hill-start assist as standard. Added features like speed-sensing door locks and—get this—paddle shifters are exclusive to the higher Yaris variant.
Available colors include Cyan Metallic, Citrus Mica Metallic, Red Mica Metallic, and Super White II. As for its pricing, you can check out the list below:
2021 Toyota Yaris
- Toyota Yaris 1.5 S CVT - P1,114,000
- Toyota Yaris 1.3 E CVT - P973,000
“The Yaris nameplate has amassed quite a loyal fan base for being synonymous with fun driving and flashy looks, and this year we’ve elevated it with a new premium eye-catching design to suit our customers’ evolving style,” said TMP vice president of marketing services Elijah Marcial. “All without, of course, compromising on the power, convenience, and safety we’ve all come to expect from every Toyota.”
Now, the reason we’re really excited about this announcement is that the new Yaris’ arrival could mean that a local launch of the GR Yaris might actually be in the pipeline, too. We’ll find out soon enough... we hope.
