Toyota Australia backflips on sub-$30,000 Yaris Hybrid for 2024 after denying plans, axing petrol versions

Toyota Australia has introduced a new entry-level Yaris Hybrid variant after telling media just two weeks ago – when it announced regular petrol versions would be axed – that it had “no plans” for a sub-$30,000 hybrid grade.

The deletion of petrol-powered variants would have seen the price of the cheapest Yaris leap from $24,800 plus on-road costs for the base Ascent Sport petrol, to $30,190 for the most affordable hybrid – based on the middle-of-the-range SX.

However it has introduced a new hybrid version of the Ascent Sport priced from $28,500 plus on-road costs – while handing the SX with a $1770 price rise to $31,960, and the ZR a $1270 increase at $34,530, as part of a styling and technology update.

It contradicts the "no plans" response given by Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss Sean Hanley two weeks ago – after the regular petrol versions were axed – when asked specifically by Drive if “there is room for a more affordable Yaris Hybrid in the line-up”.

Mr Hanley told Drive at the time $30,000 is the lowest price at which Toyota can sell a modern hybrid passenger car with the expected safety equipment – and that buyers with only $20,000 or $25,000 to spend should look at the brand’s Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.

At the time of writing, the cheapest Toyota Certified Pre-Owned vehicle listed for sale on the brand’s website is a 2016 Yaris Ascent automatic at $17,990 drive-away.

For reference, the 2016 Yaris Ascent automatic was priced at $16,820 before on-road costs when new, though $17,490 drive-away offers were frequent at the time.

Regardless, the 2024 Yaris Ascent Sport is now the most affordable brand-new Toyota passenger car, while the petrol-powered 4x2 HiLux single-cab chassis manual ute remains the brand’s cheapest new vehicle of any type, at $26,475 before on-road costs.

New for the 2024 Yaris range are updates to the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which now includes motorcycle and oncoming vehicle detection for its autonomous emergency braking system, improved intersection collision avoidance, and emergency steering assist – the latter two only available during the day.

Toyota says it has also improved the adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist features, which now work with a wider field of view.

Inside, the 2024 Yaris is fitted with the company's latest infotainment system, stepping up the touchscreen size from 7.0 inches to 8.0, and introducing new software capable of wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and in-built satellite navigation.

The SX and ZR grades also feature an upgraded, “embedded” version of the satellite navigation system.

Each variant also gains two USB-C charging ports, as well as a USB-C port that can stream media to the infotainment system. Buyers opting for an SX or ZR are also now treated to a larger, more customisable 7.0-inch driver display.

There is also a new front grille pattern – in resin on the Ascent Sport and SX, or dark chrome on the ZR – plus 'HEV' badges replacing the 'Hybrid' logos, new seat patterns across the range, including for the ZR's sports seats, and a revised exterior colour palette with eight options.

All versions of the current Yaris are powered by a petrol-electric hybrid system that pairs a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 85kW.

With drive sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the 2024 Yaris range is claimed to return fuel economy of 3.3 litres per 100km.

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.