2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Redesign, Interior, Specs – Toyota’s latest collab is a lot less exciting, but no less important to the brand’s image. The new 2026 Yaris-iA subcompact hatchback is underpinned by oily bits built by Mazda and used in that company’s subcompact offerings in other markets. 2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Redesign
In acknowledgement of the subcompact class’s falling fortunes in most of Canada, only Toyota’s Quebec dealers actually stock the new Yaris-iA hatch, a nod to that province’s disproportionate attraction to small, inexpensive cars. In the rest of Canada, this car is available by special order and subject to a higher delivery charge.
2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior and Interior
Interior space is good for the Yaris-iA’s size, especially given that Toyota’s numbers suggest this car is roomier inside than the Corolla hatchback. The front seats are on the narrow side – that’s pretty normal in a little car – but the Yaris-iA feels like it would be a fine vehicle for long-haul driving. The car’s width means that, while there are three seatbelts in back, you’ll do best to limit occupancy back there to two adults.
2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Specs
Yaris-iA’ user-friendliness benefits from Mazda’s infotainment system design, which uses a console dial to control the dash display. It’s easier to use than touch-based setups because it diverts less of the driver’s attention away from the road. 2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Specs
My top-trim Yaris-iA XLE test car sticks with manual air conditioning controls that consist of three knobs and four buttons. All I missed was the automatic temperature control function that some of the Yaris-iA’s competitors offer. However, the Yaris-iA XLE does include heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Engine and Performance
While I acknowledge this is hardly a valid criticism of an economy car, acceleration is one of the Yaris-iA hatch’s few weak points. Acceleration from a stop is all right, with the little motor happily buzzing through the transmission’s first three ratios. Once you reach highway speeds, though, the Yaris-iA starts to run out of juice; this is not the car for daring two-lane highway passing moves.
2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Fuel Economy
My Yaris-iA tester posted average fuel consumption of 7.3 L/100 km in a week of city driving, matching its Natural Resources Canada city rating. Its highway estimate is 5.9 L/100 km. 2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Redesign
Those figures are big improvements over the outgoing Yaris-iA hatch, whose economy suffered from an outdated four-speed transmission and a relatively low-tech engine. This new car’s motor benefits from Mazda’s SkyActiv suite of fuel-saving tech and design elements.
2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Safety Features
Toyota leaves its Safety Sense suite out of the new Yaris-iA, so its least-expensive car now only includes a low-speed forward collision detection/avoidance system. While I think many Yaris-iA buyers – especially nervous and new drivers – will appreciate that, the lack of the old car’s lane-departure warning and automatic high-beams is a step backward. 2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Redesign
Mazda offers more advanced safety features on the Mazda2 in other markets, so we surmise that Toyota opted out of those in the Yaris-iA to keep the price down.
2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Price and Release Date
The new hatch starts at $16,790; the automatic transmission is a $1,200 extra in the base trim, and my XLE test car goes for $19,450. South Korea’s Hyundai and Kia are typically winners in terms of value, but the mid-range Hyundai Accent Preferred offers little not included in the Yaris-iA XLE for a similar price. In fact, you have to move up to the Ultimate trim at $21,649 to get a heated steering wheel, though that trim also includes passive keyless entry and LED headlights. 2026 Toyota Yaris-iA Redesign
The Kia Rio LX+ is a close match features-wise for a few hundred dollars less, but if you want more stuff, you’ll once again be spending well over $20,000. Over at Honda, the cleverly packaged Fit is about $1,000 more than the Yaris-iA XLE with sim