Would you buy a 2023 Toyota Yaris Hybrid GXL 2WD or a 2018 Toyota RAV4 GXL?

These are quite different vehicles in terms of their physical size. While older generations of the RAV4 were known as compact SUVs, the current model is resolutely mid-sized. None of which is to say that the Yaris is cramped but it is a size-division smaller, so if you often carry people in the back seat or your family is growing, the RAV4 might be a bit more future-proof. However, in driveline terms, the Yaris is the one that is truly future-proof thanks to its hybrid driveline. If most of your driving is around the city and suburbs, you might be surprised at just how efficient a modern hybrid can be. On the highway, there's less to be gained form the hybrid layout, so take that into account, too. The other thing to consider is what happens a few years down the track at trade-in time. The RAV4 is question is already one generation older than the Yaris, and the hybrid Yaris is almost certain to be worth more as a second-hand proposition five years from now. Which means the latter will probably be the cheapest to own over that time in a wholistic sense.

I intend to leave my 2012 Toyota Yaris in the garage while I am elsewhere in Australia for three months. Is there anything I need to do?

If you were leaving the vehicle standing for a whole year, this would be a bigger problem, but I don’t think three months of inactivity would be too harmful to the car. Plenty of people (particularly Victorians) were forced to lay up their work cars during Covid restrictions, and I haven’t heard of mass problems as a result. You’re already ahead of some of those folks by having a garage in which to store the car, but there are also a few things you can do to reduce the impact of not moving for three months. Make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure (to avoid flat posts when you return) and fill the fuel tank to reduce the chance of moisture forming in the fuel system. Wind the windows up but leave the bonnet catch undone so you can access the battery when you return. You can also disconnect the battery but if you do, you’ll have to reprogram or re-code the radio when you return. A better way is to leave the car hooked up to a quality battery trickle-charger. Make sure you use one that is heat and fault-protected. An even better plan of attack is to organise a trusted friend take the time to drive the car for you every few weeks. Provided they get the car up to operating temperature each time, it should be ready for action when you return.

What car should I buy to replace my 2006 Toyota Corolla?

There are still plenty of great small cars around within your budget, Agnes, and they all have good safety packages (or we wouldn’t recommend them). Look at offerings such as the Suzuki Swift Navigator (with the optional autonomous emergency braking) for around $17,000 (plus on-road costs) or the Kia Rio S at around $19,000 or Kia Picanto S (one size smaller than the Rio) at closer to $16,000. Both the Kias also feature the brand’s excellent seven-year warranty, capped-price servicing and free roadside assistance which is great peace of mind. The Volkswagen Polo is a classy drive but a little more expensive at closer to $21,000 for the 85TSi Comfortline. Actually, to be honest, you’ve missed the boat on bargain small cars by a couple of years. Firm favourites such as the Toyota Yaris and Mazda 2 have both been updated relatively recently and have recorded big price jumps in the process. The cheapest Yaris with an automatic transmission is now around $23,000 (it was less than $17,000 back in 2018) while the Mazda 2 Maxx went from being a sub-$17,000 proposition in 2018 to a $23,000 car by the time you add an automatic transmission in 2020.

What cars with high seats and a big boot do you recommend?

If your dad was happy with his previous Yaris, then I think the new model would suit him just as well. Don’t be put off by the lack of a sedan, as the hatchback version is actually even better at swallowing things like wheelchairs. You’d be amazed at just how practical a conventional hatchback is. The real shame is that Toyota no longer sells the three-door version of the Yaris (they’re all five-doors now). Because the three-door model had longer doors, they made getting and in and out even easier. The only catch was that they opened pretty wide (which is why disabled car-parking spaces are extra wide as well).

Toyota Yaris 2011 and Honda Jazz 2005: Engine longevity

A few factors determine engine longevity, so let’s start with the first of those, the basic materials and design of the engine in question. Both the Toyota and Honda have advanced small-capacity engines that are made from quality materials. So that’s in their favour. The second factor is servicing. A lack of regular maintenance including fresh oil and filters will kill engines fast, so that’s crucial. And finally, how they are driven will also play a part. An engine that only does long distances in the country will always last longer than one that is subjected to frequent cold starts and stop-start traffic. An engine that is regularly revved to redline between the gears will also potentially die younger than one that is driven sensibly and with a bit of mechanical sympathy. The bottom line? There’s no short answer. But I have seen small-capacity Honda and Toyota engines clock up 250,000km and more with correct maintenance. Things have certainly changed from the 1950s when the average car engine needed a rebuilt every 100,000km and what was called a de-coke and valve-grind every 30,000km. Ask your grandfather about it.

Toyota Yaris: Is it suitable for off-road driving?

Driven very, very carefully, a Toyota Yaris would probably make it up the Oodnadatta Track, but it would be a very slow process and the car may never feel the same again. Even a proper off-road four-wheel-drive can suffer at the hands of outback roads like these, and the corrugations have to be experienced to be believed. That theory also presupposes that the track is in relatively good condition at the time and it hasn’t been raining in those parts. Given that the vast bulk of your driving is, indeed, in Yaris territory I can see your point. Perhaps renting a four-wheel-drive for the Oodnadatta Track holiday would be the way to go.

Toyota Yaris 2006: Doors will not open

It sounds like part of the mechanism that operates the door latch has broken or melted or fallen off or in some other way failed. I’m not sure about the specifics of the rear doors on a 2006 Yaris, but the solution is to get inside the door and operate the latch mechanically to open the door. But that can be easier said than done. If you can lower the window in that door, you might find a locksmith or specialist safe-breaker who can use a hook to manipulate the latch. But in many cases, the only solution is to remove the interior door trim to get at the broken mechanism. The problem there, of course, is that the door trim will be hard up against the door jamb and the rubber deals, so removing it can be a huge problem. In some cases, you’ll be able to remove/lift one corner of the door trim to gain access, but I can’t guarantee that the trim won’t be damaged in this operation. Once it’s damaged, of course, all bets are off and you can cut a hole in the trim to gain the access you need to trigger the latch. And the better news is that there are plenty of Yarises in wrecking yards waiting to give up their door trim to replace the one you’re about to butcher. And if memory serves, all Yarises had the same colour interior, so finding a matching door trim won’t be too difficult.

Toyota Yaris 2008: Why aren't my brake lights working?

As you can fix it by turning the car off it could be a computer problem, or something related to the computer. Take it to a mechanic and have it checked.

What is the cheapest Toyota?

The cheapest new Toyota is the Yaris Ascent Manual listed at $15,390. For more info on the latest models check out our pricing and specs page, and you'll find all Toyota reviews and news here.

Toyota Yaris 2005 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Toyota Yaris 2005 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Toyota Yaris review: 2005-2016

22 Aug 2016 · by Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy road tests and review the 2005, 2006, 2011, 2014 and 2015 Toyota Yaris as a used buy. The Toyota Yaris is a smaller brother to the big selling Toyota Corolla but is still a reasonable ...

Toyota recalls 300,000 cars in Australia for faulty power window switch

21 Oct 2015 · by Joshua Dowling

This will go down in automotive history as one of the weirdest automotive recalls of all time.

Toyota Australia recalls 180,000 vehicles over airbag shrapnel fears

14 May 2015 · by Richard Blackburn

Toyota Australia has recalled more than 180,000 vehicles over fears that faulty airbags could spray shrapnel when deployed.

Toyota does a recall on a recall

12 Jun 2014 · by Joshua Dowling

Toyota issues its seventh recall in six months, doubles up on one from last year.

Toyota recalls 6.58m cars, including 300,000 in Australia

9 Apr 2014 · by Karla Pincott

Toyota has issued a global safety recall on 6.58 million vehicles, with the impact hitting the popular Hilux ute, RAV4 SUV and Yaris small car.Statements issued by Toyota Australia today said that ...

Used Toyota Yaris review: 2005-2013

27 Mar 2014 · by Ewan Kennedy

Toyota Yaris is the smallest car in the Japanese giant's range that's sold in Australia. It replaced the popular Toyota Echo in November 2005, in turn Echo had superseded the not particularly popular ...

Used city cars review: 2005-2011

12 Mar 2013 · by Paul Pottinger

IT wasn't too long ago that the cheapest class of new car was something of a driveaway then chuckaway choice.Hyundai's Excel was a game-changing device that appealed not so much for its compact, ...

Used Toyota Yaris review: 2005-2010

3 Dec 2012 · by Graham Smith

Small cars are in, in fashion that is, since downsizing became sensible in this gridlocked world. In the shrinking process they became serious cars for most people rather than cars just for the ...

Used Toyota Yaris review: 2005-2009

6 Jan 2011 · by Graham Smith

Spiralling petrol prices mostly fuelled the demand for affordable, well-built small cars that were economical and practical, and Toyota responded with the Yaris.The Yaris took over from the Echo as ...

Massive recall Toyota Yaris

29 Jan 2009 · by Neil McDonald

The recall involves cars built between June 2005 and April 2007 and is part of a world-wide recall of 1.3 million cars.The carmaker says in severe front-end collisions, the seat belt is at risk of ...

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