Used Toyota Yaris 2020-present review
The Toyota Yaris is economical, punchy around town and good to drive, making it an appealing used buy.
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Power
114 bhp
0-62 mph
9.7 s
Figures for 1.5 VVT-h Design E-CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
Small
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What's the used Toyota Yaris like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
George Hill
Updated: 24 October 2025
How we test cars
What's the used Toyota Yaris like?
The Toyota Yaris must be a wizard, because few can master petrol and electric power quite like it. It combines the two for truly incredible fuel efficiency and, as if by magic, this hybrid achieves that without the need to be plugged in.
Its spellbinding talents don't end there either, especially as a used buy.
Overview
The Toyota Yaris is exceptionally economical, not to mention punchy around town and good to drive. If it were more practical or just a fraction cheaper to buy, it would earn that fifth star.
Pros
- Agile handling
- Good performance
- Unparalleled economy and cheap running costs
Cons
- Fidgety ride
- Refinement at speed could be better
- Subpar passenger and boot space
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i T2 3dr
£790
Toyota YARIS
1.3 VVT-i T Spirit 5dr
£949
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i T3 5dr
£950
Toyota Yaris
1.3 T3 Multimode 5dr
£990
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i T3 3dr
£990
Toyota Yaris
1.3 VVT-i TR 5dr
£995
Toyota Yaris
1.3 VVT-i T Spirit 5dr
£995
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i T3 3dr
£995
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i 16v GLS 5dr
£999
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Engines & Performance: Every Yaris is powered by a 1.5-litre engine, a battery pack, a CVT automatic gearbox and a pair of electric motors. The total power output (sent to the front wheels) is 114bhp, enabling a 0-60mph time of 9.0sec in our tests.
This performance is more than satisfying for a small car and, around town in particular, its nippy electrical assistance is much appreciated; a squeeze of the accelerator pedal delivers moderate acceleration fairly promptly. However, when you need a real burst of pace, the set-up is rather less responsive, while engine noise becomes louder and more intrusive. It all gives you get the impression that the Yaris would prefer you to drive at a more relaxed pace.
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In 2023, a 129bhp version of the same engine also became available. Go for this setup and you'll see punchier performance, but the difference is small.
If you desire significantly more pace, there's also the Toyota GR Yaris hot hatch. This version uses a non-hybrid 257bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine that drives all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. To find out more about this model, you can read our Toyota GR Yaris used review.
Ride & Handling: The Yaris's direct steering, relatively taut suspension – even without the 'sports' suspension of the GR Sport trim level – and confidence-inspiring grip make it enjoyable to drive on country roads and urban streets alike. It feels agile and quick to change direction, being almost as entertaining as the Ford Fiesta and Seat Ibiza.
The ride is fairly firm, but its most notable caveat is that it's fidgety and can become unsettled over bumps – a VW Polo is more composed. The Yaris is quiet around town, aided by the ability to run silent on battery power alone for up to 80% of the time. A couple of issues rear their heads at motorway speeds, though; tyre roar is prevalent and you can hear some wind noise around the B-pillar. It's by no means a horrific offender, however.
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Interior & Practicality: Inside, you sit fairly high for a small car, but it's easy to find an excellent, comfortable driving position. In terms of material quality, the interior feels a cut above budget alternatives like the first-gen MG3, but its rather drab plastics restrict it from reaching the heights of more premium rivals.
The infotainment system of early Yaris models is rather clunky, but thankfully you can bypass this by mirroring a version of your smartphone's display onto the touchscreen using Apple CarPlay/Android Auto – every Yaris got this technology as standard from new. We say 'early Yaris models' because 2023 also saw infotainment upgrades: the screen has updated software and is now larger, rising from 8.0in to 9.0in and 10.5in, the latter being fitted to Excel, GR Sport and Premiere Edition trims.
Although six-footers won't exactly feel cramped in the front of the Yaris, they might struggle in the back; there isn’t a great deal of head or leg room back there. What's more, the rising window line doesn’t let much light into the rear seat area, either, making it feel even more cramped than it really is.
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Boot space is not a Yaris strong suit, either. In our tests, we managed to fit four carry-on-sized suitcases below the parcel shelf, while a fair few rivals – such as the Polo – can swallow at least five cases. There's no option to have a height-adjustable boot floor, too, meaning there's a big (160mm) drop down onto the floor of the boot from the entrance.
Trims & Equipment: The range opens with Icon, which gives you 16in wheels, a reversing camera, automatic headlights, adaptive cruise control and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity. Design trim brings LED front and rear lights, electric rear windows and an eight-inch touchscreen.
The next step up is GR Sport, which gets sportier styling, 18in wheels, front sports seats and keyless entry and start. Sitting at a similar rank, yet more comfort-focused is Excel. It does without sports suspension, and adds front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring and an air purifier.
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While all trim levels get good safety kit – the Toyota Yaris was given the maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP during crash testing in 2020 as well – luxuries aren't as plentiful. For example, none come with heated seats or a heated steering wheel.
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Interested in buying a used Toyota Yaris? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.
Tips & Advice
Make sure you’re insured for the test drive
Short-term car insurance – also called test-drive insurance – will ensure you’re legal when you’re shopping for your next car
Ownership cost
What used Toyota Yaris will I get for my budget?
At the time of writing, the cheapest examples are 2020/'21 cars in Icon trim, and you can expect to spend upwards of £10,000 on one of those. Up your budget by around £1000 to get a Design car and by a further £4000 to get a GR Sport. Spend between £11,000 and £14,000 on 2022 and 2023 cars. Expect to spend at least £18,000 on a 2024 or 2025 model.
Check the value of a used Yaris with What Car? Valuations
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How much does cost to run a Toyota Yaris?
MPG: This is where the Yaris comes into its element. In fact, it's the second most efficient car we've ever put through our scientific Real MPG test, after the Toyota Yaris Cross. It averaged a whisker under 60mpg and managed an astonishing 80mpg around town. Its official average is 68.9mpg.
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Road tax: The Yaris attracts a flat rate fee of £195 per year in road tax. Read more about road tax costs here.
Insurance and servicing: With all models occupying insurance group 13 or 14, the Yaris is cheap to insure. Toyota offers fixed price servicing – it'll cost you £310 for a full service.
A three-year warranty comes as standard from new with the Yaris, but there is the option of extending it up to 10 years and 100,000 miles if you service your car at a Toyota dealership every year. That's longer than any other brand gives you (three years is the norm).
Reliability
The Toyota Yaris has received mixed reliability feedback in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey.
While some owners report consistent dependability, others have faced issues, particularly with the hybrid system. Warning lights and battery faults were highlighted as recurring concerns, with some drivers needing multiple dealership visits.
Feedback on Toyota’s service varied. Some owners praised quick, efficient repairs, while others experienced longer waits due to parts shortages. Repair costs were occasionally noted as higher than anticipated, with some issues not covered under warranty.
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Discover more about used Toyota Yaris reliability and common problems on our dedicated reliability page.
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Our recommendations
Which used Toyota Yaris should I buy?
Design trim cars are slightly more expensive than entry-level Icon ones, but you can see the premium reflected in the kit list. Prices jump even higher as you rise up the trim range, while those with larger wheels and/or sports suspension have firmer, less comfortable rides, so we'd avoid splashing out there.
Due to the higher powered engine having only just hit the market, the prices alone are too high to recommend over the engine's lesser counterpart. What's more, the performance gain is small, as we mentioned.
Our favourite Toyota Yaris: 1.5 Hybrid Design
Tips & Advice
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used Toyota Yaris?
The Honda Jazz is arguably the fiercest rival to the Toyota Yaris. It's the small car to beat for passenger space, plus its unique and incredibly flexible rear seating only adds to that practicality. Like the Yaris, it also only comes as a hybrid.
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The Ford Fiesta is superb to drive, smart inside and well equipped. In addition, it offers a broad range of trim levels – from the affordable Trend to the SUV-inspired Active – to cater for many tastes and budgets.
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Interested in buying a used Toyota Yaris? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.
How reliable is the Toyota GR Yaris ?
Reliability rating: 92.5%
Toyota GR Yaris
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i T2 3dr
£790
Toyota YARIS
1.3 VVT-i T Spirit 5dr
£949
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i T3 5dr
£950
Toyota Yaris
1.3 T3 Multimode 5dr
£990
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i T3 3dr
£990
Toyota Yaris
1.3 VVT-i TR 5dr
£995
Toyota Yaris
1.3 VVT-i T Spirit 5dr
£995
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i T3 3dr
£995
Toyota Yaris
1.0 VVT-i 16v GLS 5dr
£999
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: George Hill
Title: Used car writer
Follow George Hill on
George Hill first joined the What Car? team as a staff writer in 2021, before becoming a used car writer in 2024 and a reviewer in 2026. In his current role he writes new car reviews for What Car? magazine and whatcar.com.
If you follow What Car? on social media, you might see him presenting the odd video on new cars too.
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