No stranger to South Africa, the Yaris launched in 2005 with four iterations of the hatchback being sold since it was introduced to the local market. This year an all-new Yaris hits the market– tailored to specifically cater to the needs of the ever-evolving South African customer.
Here are three of our favourite features from the new super-sized compact car.
Bigger and Bolder
In a world where we are encouraged to upsize our ‘fast-food’ meals, adopt smartphones with tablet-rivaling screens and consume a multitude of media on cinema-sized televisions – the underlying trend seems to be; ‘bigger is better’. In this spirit, the new Yaris has also grown in stature and is poised to offer even more than before. Dimensionally the new Yaris grows by 165mm lengthways and 5mm in width – providing a notable boost in exterior size and corresponding interior space.
Connectivity for Millenials
A standout feature on Xs, Cross and Sport models is the advanced new touchscreen infotainment system. In addition to the standard AM/FM, USB, and Bluetooth functionality, the new audio system features full Smartphone integration and support via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto + protocols. Whilst CarPlay uses standardized Apple applications with Siri integration, Android users are able to fully customize which ‘apps’ they would like to ‘mirror’ on the audio screen. In tune with smartphone operation, users are able to customize the home screen layout via a ‘drag and drop’ technique. Additional apps can be added via Wi-Fi connectivity.
In addition, a built-in satellite navigation system is also included – allowing users to maintain turn-by-turn guidance even when their smartphone is not connected. The system includes speed limit information and provides a GPS-sourced vehicle speed read-out in real time.
Comfort and Utility
The new Yaris features a multitude of storage areas to make any journey a pleasant affair. Two cup holders are provided up front, whilst a centrally-mounted console box, front and rear door pockets and large bottle holders in the door cards round up the in-cabin niches. An additional driver-side storage binnacle is also provided. Luggage capacity has increased by 8% (versus the outgoing model) to 310 litres – making the Yaris an excellent travel companion.
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