In Australia and New Zealand, the first gens were known as Echo, for both hatch and saloon, but all subsequent generations have been badged Yaris. In NZ, we allow used cars to be imported from Japan, so we also see the Vitz (hatch) and Platz (saloon). I was living in the UK when the Yaris was launched, and I remember the first one I saw was a gold three door in the shop window at Harrod’s.

I have to agree…. I think it’s one of the best all round super minis ever made.. but then I’m a bit biased as you know! When first shown at the Birmingham motor show in 1998. it was a massive step change from the previous starlet which was worthy but downright dull. I think the early cars lacked a lot of equipment like ABS brakes and even power steering I seem to recall, both of which were added later. Our second generation car is now 13 years old, and I’ve just replaced the tires based on age and the battery that gave up the ghost after 11 years, apart from that just regular routine servicing and it runs like clockwork.

Still lots of these from the earliest to the latest on the roads here in New Zealand. Vehicle rust is far less of a problem over here, thankfully. I had the funcargo version, ( ex Japan, used) known as the Verso in the UK l believe. Thanks for all your interesting reviews sir.

The Absolute Best Supermini ever made. This model Yaris was never bettered. Some Superminis may have been more accommodating, more practical, more economical or better value but none had the build quality or bombproof reliability and longevity of the Yaris.

I had one of these many years ago and it was a great car. Mine had the GS spec, but it was a 3 door model. Whilst it wasn't the quickest car on the road, I found the engine was always very willing and I did a few motorway trips to Scotland from Kent with no problem keeping up with traffic. After I traded it for a much newer Renault Clio with various electrical gremlins, I was soon wishing I had just kept the Yaris

Dependable transport. Driven several over the years, they just keep going, but rust is now starting to kill a few off, but a very likeable supermini. Another excellent video sir.

This takes me back - my first car was a 2001 Yaris 1.3 CDX 5-door. Interestingly the CDX also only had winding windows in the back - an odd feature omission. This Y-reg Mk1 Yaris might've actually been built in Japan, as it was in 2001 that production of the European market models switched to France, although my one was a Japanese built one - you could tell with the 1.3 versions because the engine code and plastic cover was slightly different to the French-built 1.3s.

I've owned my 55 plate T Sport for 11 years. It's been completely reliable, the interior still looks smart and mechanically/electrically, everything works as it should. The only major expense I've had was a new clutch at 80k, which was more a consequence of my driving than a weakness of the car.

Those beach huts ❤ Always liked the Mk1 Yaris , never driven one .

This takes me back Sir. My late grandfather's second last car was a 1.0s Yaris, he had it for 6 years and only covered 10k in it it was so basic it also never came with Power Steering. When I first met my good lady wife, she had a Yaris GS 3 door in a darker shade of blue, remember driving it to Scarborough after work one evening for a weekend break and was quite impressed with it. Thank you for a trip down Memory lane Sir with this review.

I own its twin - same year too. Nvr wanna part with it. Amazing car!! ❤

Good Evening Sir!!

What a lovely examplel. The Yaris certainly was a big improvement over the Starlet. I always considered the central speedo to be a great idea in terms of adapting these to be left or right hand drive. Toyota abandoned this from the mark 3, so perhaps it wasn't.

I was browsing Auto Trader, as you do, looking at some very low mileage versions of these. 51 plate 1.3 cdx (still with rear windy windows) 19000mi up for £4000. So the early non rusty ones do seem to be going up. At least half the low mileage versions seem to be autos. There are a few, what looked to be, bargains listed. Of course it was often an older demographic that bought these, sometimes as their last car. I really liked the digital speedo, back when it was not a common thing. They seem to have dumped around 2010 for a boring one.

I have driven the 1.0 Yaris and the 1.3 I was selling my massively unreliable, bank busting Vauxhall Astra and was also changing job….which paid less. The Yaris series 1 was highly recommended…so a test drove one. It was horrible. The steering was very heavy, the brakes were poor, but worst of all the clutch was very sharp and engine wasn’t flexible. So you had to rev the engine….(it’s close to silent at idle btw) just to move up in a traffic jam on the flat. When you rev the engine it gets loud very quickly. I didn’t buy it. A Polo or Corsa is much nicer and easier to drive. Other points to note… These were below expected size at the time because Toyota didn’t yet have a city car…so the Yaris is a bit smaller than other superminis of that period (this has all now changed with newer models). The instruments being in the middle takes some getting used to. I also borrowed a family members 2003 series 1 1.3….apart from being a bit quicker in a straight line and having a few more gadgets fitted, in every other way it’s identical to the lesser 1.0. Including that sharp clutch. So yes they do go on and on….because Toyota……and to prove a point, a neighbour has a poverty spec series 1, with the 1.0 engine and black plastic bumpers……complete with cosmetic damage…..and yet it still runs (yr 1999 I think)…no ABS or power steering. But I urge anyone considering one as a 1st car (OMG, I just remembered someone I know just bought a 2001 example for their first car) to try before you buy and compare with something else. These cars are hard work to drive by modern standards. PS They also made a MK1 Yaris - Verso….a very tall odd shape mini van or people carrier style? Body with the same engine & running gear. The front end was a standard Yaris which is why it looks so odd. Ideal if you wear tall 🎩

Well, it was a sensible city car - pretty cheap and durable, no joke tech features.

Great little car. Get some decent rubber on them , and the road holding is great , cheap Chinese tyres will destroy it. They are only narrow anyway. The vvti engine will happily rev into the 7k region and will disillusion many larger cars. Good in the twisties, economical my 1.0 regularly does 55mpg , used to average 62 mpg on E5 but down a bit now. I guess if I drove more economically I could get more but it so much fun. No one will try and steal it it has no street cred. Insurance is virtually nil parts cheap what's not to like ?

@5:24 The Verso or Funcargo is not funny but ultra practical. 🤗 It is only funny if people choose the "penny pincher" edition over the 1NZ-FE. 🤫

the lower ratio engines use less fuel that higher ratio engines.

Thank you for calling them wheel trims instead of hubcaps when a hubcap is something completely different!

a one in a million rust free yaris. base model as u said, no rattly dashboards u have had yet? but u do wear nice shirt and jacket mmm .

yaris indestructible