Review: Toyota Yaris Luna 1.5 Hybrid (2023)

As tested: €27,815

Last year, Toyota had the best-selling hatchback, best-selling hybrid and the 3rd best-selling SUV in Ireland, so they must be doing something right. Is the Yaris Hybrid a continuation of that success?

The Looks 

In this “Luna” trim, the Yaris is not what I would call pretty or handsome. It could be said that it’s a bit over styled with its bulbous rear end and fussy nose. Personally, I don’t think it is a bad looking hatchback but I could understand why someone would dislike its proportions. In higher specification, it does begin to look more attractive, with two tone paint options and nice wheels, especially in “GR Sport” trim, but it will set you back another 6 or 7 thousand depending on colour. 

The Interior 

The Yaris’s interior is a very practical affair with lots of storage areas sprinkled throughout the cabin. The main shelf underneath the infotainment is genius, allowing for easy reach of a wallet or keys. The HVAC controls are easy to use and logically designed. Everything is very well made and sturdy even if there is a touch to much scratchy plastic present. However, the Yaris is let down by a few things. Firstly, the arm rest is awful, offering very little in the way of support no matter what driving position I tried. It’s also very tight both in the back seats and in the boot, a symptom of the Yaris Hybrids batteries. The infotainment is a mixed bag. It feels a generation behind, with its large bezels and chunky buttons. It isn’t slow or complicated, but the visuals are just not there. Thankfully, it features wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is what I would recommend using. It’s worth noting that if you go to configure a 2025 Yaris, Toyota has updated the infotainment system to a more modern unit. I have used this system and while it a leap forward compared to the system in the car I am reviewing, it still isn’t quite at the level of some of the other models in Toyota’s range. In a similar vein, the gauge cluster, while not being bad or hard to read, is very basic looking. 

The Drive 

 

If you want the ultimate commuter car, and don’t need the space of a larger hatchback, then the Yaris Hybrid is the start and end of the conversation. Using a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine combined with a CVT transmission, 0.7 kWh battery and electric motor, the Yaris delivers an incredibly smooth drive. No gear changes, no engine noise in traffic and a well calibrated transition between electric and petrol drive allows for effortless progress. You can put the transmission into “B” which acts as a more powerful battery regeneration mode, but I found it more natural to leave it in “D” where the car acts like a conventional automatic transmission. Pair the drivetrain with Toyota’s suite of self-driving technology and the Yaris becomes the ultimate commuter. I tried the self-driving features on the motorway, where it performed flawlessly with no input needed from me. You do have to keep your hand/hands on the wheel for the system to work and lane changes are done manually, but on a car of this class I was still stunned and how safe I felt with the systems in use. 

However, this “ultimate commuter car” logic also carries over to the driving dynamics. It isn’t fun, interesting or engaging but, for what this car is, an appliance, it is good enough to stay out of your mind, and let you focus on thinking about the important things in life. One definite flaw is that you can feel the weight of all the batteries and motors. It isn’t dangerous or overly heavy, but you get the sense that you can’t take corners quite as confidently as if you were in a Seat Ibiza or Suzuki Swift. 

The Verdict

 If you don’t care about cars or know someone who doesn’t care about cars, and just wants an efficient, reliable, and most of all easy car to get around in, then the Yaris Hybrid is the perfect choice. However, if you plan on having passengers frequently or need to carry larger loads, I would look at something like the Corolla Hybrid or maybe a more conventional option in the super mini class.