How to Build a Custom Toyota Yaris

Even though the Toyota Yaris was a budget car, it still came with plenty of customization options for buyers.
Written by Sean Boehme
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Toyota Yaris comes in two different body types, the sedan and hatchback, and outside of shape, buyers also have their choice of trim level, with the XLE boasting the most features out of the entire bunch.
The Toyota Yaris was last sold in the United States in 2020, so unfortunately buyers in the U.S. will have to look at the used market if they want one. With that said, the car sold recently enough that finding a few options in good condition shouldn’t be too difficult.
If you’re going to buy a Toyota Yaris, you’ll want to make sure it's equipped with the features you need. We've put together this guide on everything you need to know about customizing your Yaris.
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2020 Toyota Yaris customization options

The Toyota Yaris is a budget car that was sold in the United States from 2007 to 2020. Although the line was discontinued in the US, the car still has a lot to offer American drivers who are on a budget. 
The Yaris is based on the Mazda 2 and has a lot of the same benefits, including great mileage and a surprisingly pleasant driving experience. Although the car is small and lacks certain modern features, it’s still a great value depending on your needs. 
If you’re looking for the 2020 Toyota Yaris as a sedan, you’ll find three trim options:
L
,
LE
, and XLE. The MSRP for a Toyota Yaris L sedan was around $15,560 while the price of the XLE was almost $19,000. Although all Yaris’ will become cheaper if you buy used, you can expect the price difference to remain about the same.
If you want to purchase a Toyota Yaris hatchback, you’ll be limited to either the LE or XLE trim. This means the hatchback’s lowest trim will cost you more, with a starting MSRP of $17,750
Outside of just trim options, buyers could also choose between a manual or automatic transmission. The manual gearbox was only available on the
Toyota Yaris L
sedan and the Toyota
Yaris LE
sedan.

What does each Toyota Yaris trim have to offer?

Unlike some other modern cars that tie many of their features into optional packages, almost everything in a Toyota Yaris is tied to the trim. The only major exception to this was the choice of transmission.

Toyota Yaris L

Only available on the sedan, the Toyota Yaris L is the cheapest trim available. With that said, it’s not totally without features. The L comes equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen display and backup camera alongside Toyota’s Low-Speed Pre-Collision System
Although the Yaris L’s 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine may not be overly impressive, it’s also standard on every trim, so you won’t miss out by picking the L.
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Toyota Yaris LE

The Yaris LE is the next step up for those who prefer a sedan and the cheapest choice available for drivers that want a hatchback. On top of the features already offered by the L, the LE comes standard with fog lights, push-to-start, and 16-inch wheels

Toyota Yaris XLE

The highest trim available for both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Yaris, the XLE delivers by far the most features of the bunch. In addition to what’s added by the LE, the XLE comes standard with LED headlights as well as rain-sensing windshield wipers
Passengers in a Toyota Yaris XLE will also enjoy the upgraded leather interior and automatic climate control.

Which Toyota Yaris trim should I choose?

Since you’ll be
buying your Yaris used
, you might not have your full choice of trims. But if you do end up with a bevy of options, you’ll need to think hard about what you need out of your car.
None of the higher trims affect the performance of your Yaris, so there is nothing wrong with opting for the L (or LE, in the case of a hatchback). If there is a feature added in one of the higher trims you can’t live without, it might be worth it to splurge a bit. 
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The best Toyota Yaris mods

Despite having three trims, the 2020 Toyota Yaris didn’t have a ton of customization options when compared to some modern competitors. If you want to make your Yaris unique, you’ll have to consider some aftermarket modifications.

Engine

One of the reasons that the Toyota Yaris has been able to maintain its status as a budget car is
the engine
. A 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 106 hp isn’t impressing anyone, and unlocking a little more performance out of the engine is the best way to get value out of the car.
Consider adding a cold air intake to your Yaris engine to increase the car's performance.

Seat Covers

Nobody is ever going to mistake the Yaris for a luxury car and a basic interior has a lot to do with that. Although the XLE did come with leather front seats, you can overhaul the entire feel of your interior by investing in great seat covers.

Car Wraps

If you want your car to stand out, one of the best ways to do it is by adding a car wrap. One of the best parts about car wraps is that they are removable, so if you get bored of the sign you can just move on from it. 
Although car wraps can be expensive, they’ll still probably cost less than a brand new paint job

How to find affordable car insurance for your Toyota Yaris

Finding car insurance for a used car can be a pain, even if the Toyota Yaris itself isn’t expensive to insure. If you’d like a way to
compare cheap car insurance
rates without spending hours of your time, try downloading the
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