Published on March 11th, 2023 | by Subhash Nair

ASEAN Gets Yet Another Facelift Of The Toyota Yaris

While the Toyota Vios gets an all-new platform, the Yaris soldiers on with a facelift.

Toyota Motor Thailand this week launched yet another facelift of the ASEAN market Yaris hatchback. This model first appeared in Thailand in 2013. It was refreshed in 2017 and introduced to the Malaysian market later. In 2020 it was given another refresh.

On its tenth anniversary Toyota has decided no to put it on the DNGA platform like they did with its sedan sibling, but instead give it yet ANOTHER facelift.

The new update brings an extensive redesign to the front but leaves the rear end relatively the same as before. Inside it also looks very familiar to the outgoing model but with a larger infotainment unit as the new centrepiece.

Toyota split the major changes to the 2023 Yaris into three categories.

An Design in a ‘Refined and Energetic’ theme
- incorporates Toyota’s Hammerhead Design language
- sharp projector LED headlights and DRLs with “Secondary Illumination” design
- new “diffuser style” rear bumper with carbon fibre pattern
- new two tone Cement Gray Metallic, Orange Spicy Scarlet, Gray Urban Metal, Silver Metal Stream Metallic exterior colours
- new seat upholstery in “Orchid Brown”
Modern functionality for more convenience and safety
- Improvements to “Toyota Safety Sense”
- improved Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), 360-degree camera
- larger 9-inch touch screen
- USB type C ports
Increased standard equipment
- Projector LED headlamps
- 15-inch alloy wheels
- shark fin antenna
- USB type C power socket for rear passengers
- Trumpet Horn
- touch screen

So, why has ASEAN been left with another facelift of the Yaris rather than an all-new model? We’re not entirely sure.

The B-segment in Malaysia is currently dominated by the Perodua Myvi on the national car side with the Honda City Hatchback wearing the crown on the non-national car end of things. The volume difference between the two is staggering. In most other ASEAN markets, the B-segment is mostly driven by sedan models with crossovers growing in traction.

What’s more the rise of Chinese options at this price point could also be driving potential customers away from the 5-door compact class. Buyers simply have more utilitarian concerns and more upmarket options available from new, relatively unknown alternative brands.

Toyota is currently putting a lot of money into quickly catching up on the battery electric vehicle front and a new Yaris for ASEAN on the DNGA platform may not have justified the development cost. That’s our theory anyway. Why do YOU think there’s no all-new Yaris even when the Vios has been given a generational update.