Is the Toyota Yaris Mk3 the best budget used hatch available in 2023 ? | Long term review and test.

I review the Mk3 Yaris and discover that this is probably the best little car you can buy on a budget in 2023 UK

[Dr.Gunsmith]

My 2009 Toyota Prius had 300+ thousand miles and was still going strong, then went to a Auris hybrid and it’s even better with over 120 thousand on her and not much ever has gone wrong.

[LUKBA]

I have one in the US exactly like that, 2012 I bought it new $14K, now it’s 300K miles. That’s about half million Kilometers. I get teased a lot for in the US it’s seen as small, but it’s very reliable, only issue when it got old I got code for engine coil misfire 3 consecutive cold winter years on very cold day, now I warm it up in very cold days.

[ancientslav]

I owned two Yaris cars. First, after my ford focus, fiat panda 1.1 and opel corsa 1.3 diesel, which I owned somehere from 2016 to 2019, I tried to get the most reliable small petrol hatchback possible. I learned of Yaris, and got a 2012 Yaris 1.33 VVTI for 8.500$. It was in perfect condition, loved the drive, urban or highway, all good. I had to sell it, pay back money, and from whats left, I got me a 2006 Yaris 1.0 VVTI. Difference aside looks, were mostly acceleration and speed on motorway. Both brilliant cars tho, 0 issues.

I had also a cx-5 2.2 diesel, it broke down and had bazzilion issues. Another ford focus 1.8 just stopped one day, engine fail and pointless to repair. Then I crashed and destroyed my 2006 yaris. Now, weeks without a car (company lend me one for time being), searching, trying out cars (second hand mostly cause of the $$$), Im just desperate. aAll the older sub 2012 cars are in my budget, and they all suck. Look bad, bad condition, engines sound bad, the wear and tear is visible too much and reliability from what I hear is just too bad. What did I expect? To buy a good decent car for 5-7000$. Most used cars dealers lie, theylower the miles/km under 200k, clean them so you cant see the faults. Also, private sellers also hide faults from you. Its really hard to trust in a used car. you never know, who or how it was driven and taken care of. This is a basic reality for anyone who wants to get a used car. Everyone went thru it. Im just sick of it.

So after weeks of the most depressing car search, I decided to spend my saved 6000$ all I have actually after 2 years in my poor ass country and high payments for everything :P and get a small loan of 4 to 5000$, and get me a used 2012-2016 Yaris 1.33 from an official toyota dealer. They have these used cars, all serviced and set up by them. You get it even with 1 year warranty and pay them 200-300$ annually to prolong that warranty and they do all the maintenance on the car. That Yaris is in my dreams now too. I dont blame people who have lots of money when they buy a 120K mercedes or such, but Im just a regular guy and want nice drive and no nonsense car. I just dont find those expensive luxury cars my style either. Not that I could afford them anyway.

PS-I wanted a petrol fiesta 1.25, Rio 1.2, Corsa 1.2 or other small hatch, but they just., ...dont speak to me at all. And the swift 1.3 I tried was just no it

[nambreadnam]

My Yaris Mk3 cost me £6000 in 2018. Now fully paid off and in that time I've had a blown light and some trouble with the windscreen washer jet pumps. It's probably cost me about £200 in faults in 6 years.
Built like a tank too. It's had several dings and just shrugged them off. In a world where we're pushed to pay through the nose every month for cars we'll never own, this thing has been great.

[leespender]

Hello from Australia the Yaris is very popular here last week i bought a 2014 model 1.3 Manual 5 speed it has done 85, 000 Km/52, 000 miles and it is still like a brand new car to drive i really enjoy driving it and as you said it is very well built not one rattle or anything annoying even on rough roads mine has the same taillight assembly and after last nights heavy rain i found no water getting in as yet so i will keep an eye on it thanks for the tip and i also love that large single windscreen wiper cheers mate

[SuprakF]

It's very good car. I have bought 3Door 1.4 D4D mainly for every day commuting to work 90% highway, 10% normal road. Fuel consumpsion is great, it's great at corners and with 16" wheel also very stable at highway speed.

[Uncle_Hairy]

Great review! I got 2014 2-door here in US. Now I know why there was water in my trunk.
I added sound deadening to reduce the noise and handmade engine splash shield to keep the bay clean

[dmc]

I've got a 1.33 vvti Yaris. It is over 8 years old now. Haven't had any real issues. Still under the Toyota Relax warranty until 10 years old. Good video btw.

[Tango]

Can’t go wrong with a Toyota Paul, I bought an avensis new in 2006 I had the car for just over 6 years, put 112.500 miles on it and all I did was a yearly service fuel and tyres. Fantastic brand

[katiektentvods]

I got a Base Model L with the bare essentials, mainly no fog lights, and no cruise control. Which was not fun for a bit, but now I get to work on it and learn more and get a better understanding of cars and I'm planning on keeping this car for 20+ years too which is going to me a goal of mine

[Motorsportsgeek]

I love my 2 door 2014, I'm 6.2 and theres so much space. I wasn't comfortable in the 4 door version, much more room in the coupes.

[baldvale]

10:19 is there a storage tray under the passenger seat at the front end and a car jack at the back end like the MK2

[SouthCoastFinest]

I have the exact same model (Trend) but in metallic silver. In terms of bang for buck it's undoubtedly the best car I've ever owned and your review was spot on, if you look after these cars they are bulletproof.
They are so easy to service and maintain by yourself, oil, air and cabin filters are all easy to change. I've changed the brake discs & pads and also replaced the brake pistons & seals myself (as I had uneven pad wear) and saved myself an absolute fortune in doing so.
The only negative I have against it is the buttons on the steering wheel and electric mirrors do not have backlights meaning you are fumbling to find them in the dark, also my Aircon doesn't work due to the previous owner not running it regularly 🙄 The fact that the Aircon doesn't work is the only reason I'd ever consider buying something else but a major house renovation stops any kind of justification to that.
I'm going to retrofit some heated front seat kits to my Yaris after successfully installing a set to my girlfriend's Hyundai i10, very impressed with the results. I'm also looking to install some puddle lights under the wing mirrors and I've changed out all interior light bulbs and headlights to LED's just some small upgrades to give the Yaris some modern up to date features.
It's a small car but certainly doesn't feel like it when driving, fun to drive, cheap to run, dirt cheap to service if you do it yourself

[oldschoolwaverider]

I had a 2005 yaris 1.3, and then an SR 2008 Yaris 1.3 had 83k when I took it to trade in for my current 2016 Yaris 1.3 all were/are VTTI but the current one is not SR still nippy and the only one with 5doors and 6 gears. I like them all! 47quid to fill from empty and very economical

[ivan.flrs]

sensational review. thank you so much for this! I'm just about to go test drive one and watching this has been extremely helpful

[konradc]

Just helped a friend get a low mileage 14 plate Icon+ with 1.5 engine and cruise control, and dual zone climate control. It replacing a slightly older model that was written off. The new Yaris has no spare wheel and no Satnav, that the older Yaris had. Then the next day I was in my friends Nissan Micra, a 15 plate 1.2 triple cylinder (non-turbo), did a 260 mile round trip. I drove the return trip and the cruise control on that was great. My friend never used the cruise control!

[garyy]

I have the 2012 Yaris zr 1.5 best car I have ever owned coming from big v8 and turbos.

[bruceshaw]

I've driven Toyota for over 35 years, I'm driving a 4 door yaris 1.3 2013 and like all the others it's great I've had it for 9 years and at my age it will probably see me out, the only thing I don't like about it is the split fold rear seats when down don't give you a flat boot floor . I've got sat nav on mine and reversing camera,

[robhargraves]

I didn’t realise there was a 3 door version, apart from the GRMN

[TheGarnier]

Breaks my heart that they stopped making these in 3 door