The Toyota Yaris is a compact car built from 2007 to 2026 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 91.4% of those on record. Between 2006 and 2024 it grew 28 cm longer and gained 20 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Yaris is
The Toyota Yaris is a compact car that Toyota built from 2007 to 2026 — 20 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2020. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Toyota range: Corolla, C-HR, Mirai.
Where the Yaris is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 721 Yariss on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JTD | 2007-2016 | |
| Mexico | 3MY | 2017-2020 | |
| France | VNK | 2015-2017 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Toyota VIN decide which of these 3 lines your Yaris belongs to. What every character in a Yaris VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Toyota Yaris adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Yaris generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Yaris's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Yaris that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-2011 | 383 cm | 246 cm | 1050 kg | - | - |
| 2012-2019 | 392 cm | 251 cm | 1030 kg | +9 cm | -20 kg |
| 2020-2024 | 411 cm | 257 cm | 1070 kg | +19 cm | +40 kg |
Between 2006 and 2024 the Yaris gained 28 cm in length (+7.3%) and 20 kg in weight (+1.9%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Yaris that is 20 kg against 28 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Toyota Yaris tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Yaris owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Toyota Yaris have? Power & range
The Toyota Yaris is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.5L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Toyota Yaris, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.5L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Yaris by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Toyota Yaris. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Yaris | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 68 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 853 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,527/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 486 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Toyota Yaris?
The Yaris is a compact car, built from 2007 to 2026 across 3 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Toyota Yaris made?
Across 721 cars in our records the split is: Japan (91.4%), Mexico (6.1%), France (2.5%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Yaris have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2020. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Yaris grew 28 cm longer and gained 20 kg.
What is the Toyota Yaris warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Yaris reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Yaris?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Toyota
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 1983–2026 | 162 | 52 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 1996–2026 | 168 | 78 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota Corolla | 1981–2026 | 222 | 52 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota Tacoma | 1995–2026 | 197 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Toyota Highlander | 2001–2026 | 110 | 36 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Toyota 4-Runner | 1984–2026 | 172 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |