Category Archives: Supermini

Supermini, Toyota

Yaris a groundbreaker again

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Toyota Yaris Hybrid

By Bill McCarthy

It should come as no surprise to see Toyota breaking new ground again with hybrid technology. Its expertise is built on more than 20 years’ experience since the introduction of the first Prius back in 1997.

The firm has now sold more than 14 million hybrid vehicles worldwide – including 2.5 million in Europe. The Yaris has more than played its part, first going hybrid in 2012, and selling half a million in Europe, but the latest model is a quantum leap forward.

Yaris has gone all-in hybrid, together with it being built on the firm’s small car  Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), which, says Toyota, has improved dynamic performance together with class leading safety measures.

The new petrol engine/electric motor setup  has a 15 per cent increase in combined power and a more than 20 per cent increase in fuel efficiency and can be switched a the touch of a button to electric for a fair amount of time in urban areas, delivering zero emissions. The system also uses a new lithium-ion hybrid battery which while being more powerful, is 27 per cent lighter than the nickel-metal hydride battery it replaces.

It also looks good, one of the best looking superminis, that is both practical and perfect for tackling the challenges of city or congested driving areas. As ever its even more compact size means it is highly manoeuvrable and a breeze to park in tight streets, aided by standard parking camera.

Starting at a hefty price tag of a smidge under £20k you get plenty for your cash with even the entry Icon, featuring electric windows and door mirrors, 16-inch alloys, a seven-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a reversing camera, auto headlights and wipers and air-con.

The goodies increase though Design, Dynamic to the  Excel, with the likes of 17-inch wheels, eight-inch screen, button starter, dual zone climate control, parking sensors and for added safety, auto-braking. This limited edition model had a few more cherries on the top head-up display and premium sound system.

For a small car it has striking looks, being shorter, wider and lower than the outgoing model. It features a sporty wedge shape, with sculpted door panels, deep grille and air scoop flanked by cats-eye-like headlamp clusters, with LEDs which double as indicators.

To the rear, classy touches include privacy glass and discrete black spoiler.

This limited edition range topper also included striking two-tone red with black roof paintwork, body-coloured door handles and front bumper, piano Black upper front grille, privacy glass, red insert on boot door and piano black door belt moulding.

Inside there are plenty of soft touch materials with piano black finish and a more compact steering wheel, while the instrumentation is clearly and logically laid out. The centrepiece is the multi-media screen which is the brains of the car, together with a TFT multi-information display in the instrument binnacle which can help monitor EV activity.

 The 10-inch touchscreen on this model controls infotainment and smartphone connectivity, but, oddly, there was no navigation. However hooking up your smartphone can add navigation through the screen.

Despite its more compact shape, interior space is barely compromised, with headroom remaining the same, although tight in the rear, while the firm’s GA-B platform offers a low centre of gravity which helps deliver an enjoyable and stable drive. 

It offers sharp, agile  handling and direct steering for bombing around town, while the growl from the three-pot engine is not unpleasant. It is equally at home on the motorway, with plenty of grunt available, while road and wind noise, although noticeably present, are reasonably well suppressed.

The 1.5 litre petrol engine is supplemented by two motor/generators – MG1 and MG2. MG2 is linked to the front wheels and can be used as the power source to drive the vehicle. MG1 is deployed to start the engine and to generate power to charge both batteries (hybrid and 12V).

 Mated to the CVT transmission, the combo delivers excellent economy, with the claimed 68-odd mpg proving to be pretty close to the mark. A bonus is the brisk acceleration which propels the car to 60mph in under 10 seconds, while at the same time delivering low carbon emissions. 

While the car’s handling delivers an engaging drive, the ride however, feels slightly compromised with 17-inch alloys on this top end model and stiffer suspension allowing for some discomfort over rougher surfaces. It could be the case that the 16-inch alloys could offer a more settled ride.

Stowage capacity is a reasonable 286 litres, so long as you are not planning a camping trip, but if you are, rear seats fold in hatchback fashion to open up extra capacity.

One of the safest small cars around, engineered to be the world’s safest small car says Toyota, it is packed with safety kit and including a full complement of airbags, including  a centre airbag for the first time, stability control, intelligent adaptive cruise control and lane assist, pre-collision warning, pedestrian detection, steering control and a host of other features to keep families safe.

Factfile

Toyota Yaris Hybrid Launch Edition

Price: £ 24,005

Mechanical: 1490cc, 114bhp, three-cylinder petrol engine and 85kW electric motor driving front wheels via electric CVT auto transmission

Maximum speed: 109mph

Acceleration: 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds

Economy: 65.6 mpg

Insurance group: 14E

CO2 emissions: 92-98g/km

Warranty: Five years/ 100,000 miles

Manufacturer, Supermini, Vauxhall

Corsa adds a touch of chic

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Vauxhall Corsa

By Bill McCarthy

WHEN your top selling supermini heads sales charts for two months out of three, and sits in second place for sales over the year, you must be doing something right.

The Corsa has always been a favourite, being relatively cheap to buy and run and stylish enough to attract a younger breed of drivers.

Now you throw in a bit of French chic to the styling, it becomes even more attractive.

Most people will know by now that Vauxhall is now owned by PSA, which in turn owns Peugeot, Citroen and DS, so it will come as no surprise that the Corsa shares many of the styling, engine technology and underpinnings of its once rival, the Peugeot 208.

Now in its fifth incarnation, it  does look so much better than its predecessor, having  been completely reworked from the ground up.

 It certainly looks the part with sharp angles, new grille with larger air intakes, high waistline, smart alloys and neat light cluster, which include LED headlights.

The 17-inch diamond-cut gloss black 5-twin spoke alloys on this model are particularly eye-catching, as is the piano black contrasting roof and A pillars.

The brains of the vehicle, it also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Bluetooth connectivity and an impressive sound system

With a starting price from £15,665 on the road, it’s not the cheapest in its class, but it offers a new range of petrol and diesel engines, together with the all-electric e-Corsa, and has some nice premium touches to the interior.

There are four trim levels, SE, SRi , Elite Nav and Ultimate Nav, driven here, at the top of the range, while engines include the engines include 1.2-litre 75PS and 100PS 1.2 petrol and1.5-litre (102PS) diesel.

All have decent levels of kit with the SE entry level including 16-inch double spoke alloy wheels and a seven-inch touchscreen. This range topper’s centrepiece is the  10-inch colour touchscreen which includes Vauxhall’s Connect, connectivity system and  features 2D/3D street level mapping with European coverage and points-of-interest search.

The brains of the vehicle, it also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Bluetooth connectivity and an impressive sound system with six speakers, plus a phone charging mat.

This model also has  multi-function steering wheel, electric, heated front seats with massage function and auto windscreen wipers and lighting, together with parking camera and sensors.

 The interior is roomy enough for a supermini with good leg and headroom at the front, though less so at the back, while fixtures and fittings feel robust and well put together. Limited soft touch finish gives a premium feel in places.

The latest 1.2 litre petrol engine is an excellent power plant, refined and delivering lively performance and  decent economy. The 100PS three cylinder power plant is mated in this case to a slick eight speed auto gearbox, with the option of paddle changes behind the steering wheel. Five and six-speed manual boxes are available.

 Acceleration is brisk with the 60mph mark hit in just over 10 seconds, lively enough for most, and delivered with that signature three-cylinder raps, with real-world economy figures of  an impressive 47mpg and emissions of 134g/km. Drivers can also select one of three drive modes, economy, normal and  sport, which stiffens up throttle and suspension responses, depending on the mood.

Handling is good with the car feeling agile and responsive, particularly on sharp corners, while the new steering set up is more responsive than its predecessor.

This type of car needs to be  practical the Corsa now features a bigger boot with 309 litgres capacity which increases to more than 1,118 litres, when the split 60/40 rears seats are folded down.

Importantly, it is packed with safety kit not previously seen in cheaper cars including the full set of airbags and features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane positioning assistant, traffic sign recognition, side blind spot alert and flank guard  and driver drowsiness system.

The best Corsa yet, well, you’d be surprised if it wasn’t, but there’s definitely a more upmarket feel to the car and the petrol engines are a revelation.

Factfile

Vauxhall Corsa Ultimate Nav 100PS EAT8

Price: £26,695

Mechanical: 100PS, 1,199cc, three cylinder petrol engine driving front wheels via 8-speed auto gearbox

Max speed: 119mph 

0-60mph: 10.2 seconds 

Combined mpg: 45.6-48.7

Insurance group: 17

CO2 emissions: 134g/km 

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles