The Toyota Yaris is reportedly being updated in Japan, with fresher technology and potential price rises to go with it.
Japanese website Creative Trend reports hybrid-powered versions of the Yaris – a Mazda 2 and Suzuki Swift rival – have been updated in Japan with a 10.5-inch centre touchscreen now standard, a feature that has been offered in European-market Yarises since 2024.
Both the Yaris and Yaris Cross SUV spinoff currently sold in Australia feature an 8.0-inch centre screen as standard, while previous Japanese models used a 7.0-inch display.
Further changes for the Yaris Hybrid in Japan – not yet visible on the Toyota Japan public website, and reportedly set to be announced on February 20 – are said to include an electronic parking brake with an automatic hill-hold function; current Australian models use a traditional handbrake lever, with Hill-start Assist Control fitted across the range.
Toyota Australia hasn’t confirmed any changes for the current-generation Yaris. However, the latest local update arrived in May 2025, when the hatchback received upgraded safety technology.
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This update followed the Yaris range becoming hybrid-only in Australia in 2024, aside from the GR Yaris performance flagship which gained an optional aero package locally late last year.
The majority of Toyota’s local car and crossover SUV lineup also became hybrid-only in 2024, including its top-selling RAV4 SUV.
This left only a handful of models, including the popular HiLux ute, LandCruiser range and Gazoo Racing (GR) performance cars, available with non-hybrid powertrains.
The current Australian Yaris Hybrid range starts with the Ascent Sport at $28,990 before on-road costs, rising to $32,390 for the mid-spec SX and $34,590 for the flagship ZR, also before on-road costs.
The Japanese upgrades will be accompanied by price rises, according to CreativeTrend, of between ¥200,000 and ¥300,000 ($A1875 to $A2813).
The report also claims there are no changes to the 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol hybrid powertrain or continuously variable transmission (CVT).
In Australia, the Yaris Hybrid produces peak outputs of 85kW and 141Nm, claims combined fuel consumption of 3.3L/100km, and is offered exclusively with front-wheel drive.
A more powerful hybrid powertrain is offered in the European-market Yaris Cross – which also went hybrid-only locally in 2024 – but hasn’t been confirmed for Australian versions of either the SUV or the Yaris Hybrid hatch.
A new Mustard exterior colour will also be available, while Coral Crystal Shine – not currently offered in Australia – will be dropped in Japan.
Other Japanese-market changes include black mirror caps, which are already standard on Australian Yaris Hybrid SX and ZR grades, while the two-tone paint option remains exclusive to the flagship model in both markets.
Despite a sales increase of 23.8 per cent in 2025, the Yaris remains a relatively low-volume model for Toyota Australia, with 2810 sales for the year. This figure was eclipsed by key rivals including the MG 3 (8350 sales), Mazda 2 (4346) and Suzuki Swift (3446).
Sales of city-sized hatchbacks have continued to fall in recent years, declining a further 5.0 per cent in 2025. The Yaris was also outsold almost four-to-one by its SUV spin-off, the Yaris Cross, which recorded 10,928 sales.