UMW Toyota Motor announced back in February that the Toyota Yaris will be introduced in Malaysia this year, and the model has now been sighted being loaded onto a car transporter by paultan.org reader Gan Wei Wei.
This isn’t the first time the “Vios hatchback” has been spotted, because in November last year, our photographer Sherman Sim also spotted a Yaris on a flatbed. In fact the cars seen in both sets of photos look very similar, with the same red coloured panels around the lower bumper, contrasting the Citrus Mica Metallic paint. We’ve speculated that this could be a TRD Sportivo trim level specific to our market, which also includes the 16-inch two-tone rims you see on both cars.
As for engines, the Yaris is available with a 3NR-FE 1.2 litre engine (86 PS/108 Nm) in Thailand, while the Indonesian market gets a 2NR-FE 1.5 litre unit (107 PS/140 Nm) that is also found in the Vios. Given the similarities between the Yaris and Vios, we’d like to believe that the latter mill will be one destined for our market. Similarly, a CVT is the more likely transmission option, although a five-speed manual is also offered in other markets.
The Yaris will be locally assembled at the newly-built Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB) plant in Bukit Raja, Klang, where the Vios facelift is also made. With Vios prices ranging between RM77k-RM87k, how much do you think the Yaris will go for?
GALLERY: Indonesia-spec Toyota Yaris
GALLERY: Thai-spec Toyota Yaris
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments express skepticism about the Toyota Yaris’s success in Malaysia, citing stronger sales and popularity of Perodua Myvi, which uses a Toyota engine. Many believe the Myvi offers better value, quality, and durability, making it the preferred choice. Some highlight the Yaris’s pricing, color options, and lack of manual transmission as potential drawbacks. There are also conversations about market preferences, with many stating young graduates still favor affordable, reliable vehicles like the Myvi over the Yaris. Others are skeptical about the Yaris’s sales potential, referencing past poor sales and limited demand. Overall, comments are mixed but lean toward the perception that the Myvi remains the dominant and more sensible choice for Malaysians.