Throughout the years, the Toyota Yaris hasn't been the most sparkling car around. However, Toyota-CEO Toyoda has said they don't want to...
make any boring cars anymore. And that shows with the Yaris. The previous generation already had the GRMN Yaris, which was a properly fast car,
and not a sloppy attempt to make a hot-hatch. And this fourth generation is available in GR-trim,
which literally is a rally car for the public roads, producing 260 horsepower.
Even the regular versions look like a lot of fun. Not boring at all. I already know that the drive is pretty good as well, but it's only...
available as a hybrid. Not that that's a strange thing, because the Clio also has a hybrid version. Both cars cost around the same,
so let's find out how they hold up.
Right. Throughout the years, Toyota has gathered a lot of experience when it comes to hybrid technology.
They're pretty much pioneers with their Prius, and they've kept improving it as years went by.
The complaints from the howling CVT became less and less and the efficiency of the drivetrain became better.
That's where the experience pays off the most. This Yaris is powered by a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder, which runs on the Atkinson-principle.
That means there's low compression and low amounts of torque, but that's compensated by the electric motor.
In this case, it produces a system output of 116 horsepower, in which the combustion engine and electric motor are connected through a...
planetary gearbox, which de facto means it's a CVT. The generator in the Yaris kind of acts as a second electric motor,
and it's something I have to mention, because it plays an important role in the Clio.
In reality, it has enough power to easily drive through the Netherlands. If you put your foot down, you have to wait before it kicks in.
It takes a while, so you can't drive it in a sporty way, but it's rapid enough for regular driving in the Netherlands.
It doesn't feel as heavy anymore. And that's very important to mention, because most of the recent Toyota's are very fun to drive.
The C-HR, the current Corolla, this Yaris, they've improved so much. The steering is nice and firm, I can feel what's happening,
the handling is good... Maybe they're a bit bumpy on short imperfections, and it's kind of noisy, but other than that it's real fun to drive.
Traction is good, grip is good, and that makes so incredibly different from the Yaris from two generations ago.
Toyota has really made a statement with it. Remarkably enough, the car is less spacious than its predecessor.
Very rare nowadays, but that means the space on the rear seat is relatively cramped. It's less spacious than the Clio as well.
In the front, it doesn't feel like that, because it feels like the car has been built around you.
The boots are similar, so that's a tie. But that gives the Yaris a very rapid feel to it.
And it looks the part, especially with the two-tone paint. I like that. In front of me, there's the multimedia system we already...
know from Toyota. In lower segments, I won't be as critical of it as I would be in a RAV4. For the B-segment, it's very decent and it works very well.
The climate control is operated by a separate button, so it's not hidden in the touchscreen anywhere. Also, the instrument cluster consists of...
two dials in two tunnels and a digital screen in the middle. If I look around me, there are cupholders, it has Apple CarPlay,
everything is on here. I do have to mention, this is the Launch Edition, so it costs €29.000. That's a lot of money for the B-segment,
but you get an overcomplete car for a very efficient car. I also want to mention is Toyota's Safety Sense.
That pack has things like autobrake for pedestrians and automatic cruise control. It's all standard. Toyota doesn't want to save money on safety.
That's why it's always standard. And that's a good thing, because people tend to spend money on features like extra speakers and wheels...
instead of additional safety systems. Props to Toyota for making those features standard.
Right, the Renault Clio. It's not a new car, but it does have a fully new drivetrain. Renault calls it the Hybrid e-Tech.
I've known this generation for a few years now and the drive is pretty solid. It's spacious as well, the steering is good and I like the handling.
However, I didn't really like the drivetrains. So what does this hybrid-version add to the mix? Well, first of all, power.
It produces a system output of 140 horsepower, which is more than the Yaris and that's something you notice.
And the amount of torque it produces, propels the car forward. Especially if you're driving through the city, it's a very pleasant car to...
drive with a special drivetrain. Renault themselves state that it's inspired by Formula 1, which I think is quite of a far stretch.
But this is how it works. It's powered by an atmospheric 1.6-litre engine, producing just shy of 100 horsepower.
Additionally, it has two electric motors. One of them is a starter generator. It does produce 26 horsepower, so it's relatively powerful.
Then, there's another electric motor which produces a lot of power as well. They're connected through a 4-speed automatic gearbox with straight gears.
But, without a clutch. It's a very interesting system, albeit quite vulnerable as well. But if it works, it works. You'll always set off on electricity,
and the combustion engine will kick in later. If that wants to change gear, the electric motor will synchronize the RPM's.
That way, it just sticks it in a different gear, so you don't need a clutch. Very interesting way. That reduces a slipping clutch, which is more efficient.
Also, it won't sound as revvy as Toyota's hybrid systems. That's pretty interesting.
Especially because 140 horsepower is a lot for a car like the Clio. Even despite the fact that this hybrid version is around 100 kg heavier...
than a regular Clio, this still feels very rapid. If you put your foot down, it's quick, but it has to think a pretty long time.
If you put your foot down, nothing happens until it changes back and it starts revving again.
If you let go of the throttle, the engine will remain at higher revs to charge the batteries a little bit. That feels very unnatural.
That's only when you start looking for speed. You shouldn't try to drive this as a sporty car. If you remember that, you'll be alright.
It's a lot quieter than the Yaris, which is pretty noisy. A lot of driving and wind noises are apparent in the Yaris. In the Clio, that's not the case.
However, you can sometimes hear the clunks from the gearbox in the Clio. Just remember, that's supposed to sound like that.
Other than that, the Clio is exactly the way we already know it. Just like I said, it's spacious. The multimedia is much better than it was...
with the previous generation. It's not a market leader, but it's very similar to what Toyota offers.
It's a different system and both have their qualities, but they're very similar.
Just like the prices are very similar. This RS-line is just below €30.000, so it's very close to the Toyota. However, I think the Toyota...
has more luxurious options for the money. It has more safety features, it has heated seats, and this car doesn't have any of that.
So it's about just as expensive. with the Yaris being more value for money. On the other hand, the Clio is bigger.
Then, fuel consumption. I want to drive these a tad more before I can say anything about that.
I get the impression I can easily do 20 km per litre with the Clio, but it's easier to do so with the Yaris.
Read the article in the magazine to find out my final review. The Yaris is a very efficient car, just like the Clio is pretty efficient as well.
With that, both cars justify the additional price for the hybrid drivetrains, because you will earn it back with fuel consumption.
I do want to compliment Renault with their first hybrid drivetrain. Of course, they already had the Captur and Mégane with plug-in hybrid...
systems, and this is pretty much the same system, but it's a first. And they've done a pretty good job. It's complicated and we haven't seen...
it before. It kind of reminds me of what the Honda Jazz has aboard, even though that works in a different way as well.
But it doesn't seem to me that this was thrown together just to have a hybrid car in their range. Renault has neatly thought it through...
and they came up with a new and specific system for Renault's. The Yaris might feel more dynamic, the Clio is more...
accessible. It's incredibly close, because they're two different cars with two different personalities. I like them. I'm very positive about both,
so which one is better? The scorecard will have to decide.