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.
A further Yaris Hybrid update in Japan is said to be available on the Toyota Japan public website, and will likely be announced on February 20 – an electronic parking brake with automatic hill-hold function; current Australian models have a traditional handbrake lever ( 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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Current Australian-market Yaris
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 Yaris Hybrid range, which is currently available in Australia, starts with the Ascent Sport at $28,990 before on-road costs, to $32,390 for the mid-spec SX and $34,590 (also known as on road costs) for flagship ZR.
The Japanese upgrades will be accompanied by price rises, according to CreativeTrend, of between ¥200,000 and ¥300,000 ($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).
The Yaris Hybrid in Australia produces peak outputs of 85kW and 141Nm, claims combined fuel consumption of 3 cars. It is available only with front-wheel drive and offers 3L/100km, a that has been described as “only on the market”.
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.
There is also a new Mustard exterior colour and Coral Crystal Shine – which has not been released in Australia yet – will be discontinued in Japan.
Black mirror caps are already standard on Australian Yaris Hybrid SX and ZR grades, while the two-tone paint option is still available only to the flagship model in both markets (and also for other Japanese-market changes).
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).
In recent years, sales of city-sized hatchbacks have continued to decline a further 5 in the last few years as sales for them declined. per cent in 2025, 0 percent for ? The SUV spin-off, the Yaris Cross, also sold 10,928 sales of its SUV and outsold nearly four-to-one to the same extent as it was selling for the newer model.
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