The 2023 Toyota Yaris Exists, Just Not Here
Toyota expanded its lineup of Yarises this year. Why can't you buy one in the U.S.A?
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Serena Aburahma
The Yaris Ativ debuted in Thailand in August, and it doesn’t look anything like the economy hatchbacks seen in the U.S. The four-door car looks aggressive and (dare we say) cool. And it’s not the only Yaris with style either.
Jerry
, your car insurance super app, looked into the Ativ and other Yarises that will change your perspective on the Toyota.2023 Toyota Yaris Ativ—not the cheap car you know
In America, the Yaris is a small, unpopular car that Toyota cut from their lineup years ago. For Thailand, it’s something else entirely—especially in the upcoming model year. Toyota unveiled the new “Ativ” model this summer, and it gives the Yaris line a little extra practicality and style.
The front grille gives off a powerful vibe familiar to Toyota’s new generation of vehicles. Top trim levels offer all the current car tech you’d expect in a car twice the price, with things like LED headlights, a dashcam, and adaptive
cruise control
, all for only $19,500 USD.Different packages also highlight different aspects of the car’s design.
Thunder Gearz
says the “PRESTO” option gives the car a sportier look, while the “LUSSO” package goes for a little more subtlety. One thing about the Yaris Ativ is familiar, though. Its powertrain only delivers 94 horsepower. That lack of umph would probably discourage U.S. buyers.
Other unfamiliar Toyota Yaris models
Toyota has been more creative with the Yaris name than most Americans realize. After it was dropped from the local lineup, the auto giant started a new, fourth generation of the car, and the results might make you wish you lived elsewhere.
Gone is the bubble-shaped body, replaced by a sharp-looking
hatchback
. Toyota leaned into the car’s new sporty look by developing a performance model under the company’s “Gazoo Racing” division. Its turbocharged three-cylinder engine can produce up to 268 hp—plenty of power for a car that only weighs 2,822 pounds.
Toyota also turned it into the Yaris Cross, a subcompact crossover for Japan, Europe, and Australia. Available as gas or hybrid, the Yaris Cross continues the badge’s reputation for being economic and green.
How to buy a 2023 Toyota Yaris
Don’t get too excited if you miss the Yaris and are impressed by the new versions listed above. Because of U.S. regulations, it won’t be legal to drive a 2023 Yaris in this country for another 25 years.
Instead, you could opt for a 2018 model, the last one sold here. Doing so will save you a lot of money. Some are going for as little as $13,800.
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