Toyota Yaris

At a glance

Who is this car for?

Any renter wanting the most reliable, no-surprises Economy option in the fleet, ideal for first-time visitors to the Bay of Kotor.

• Budget hire
• Reliability
• Easy parking

On Montenegro roads

Behind the wheel

The Yaris fourth generation is a hybrid by default in most European rental fleets, and the Montenegrin pool is no exception. The 1.5 self-charging hybrid develops 116 hp combined and is paired with an electronically controlled CVT that has nothing in common with the belt-drive CVTs that gave the layout a bad name a decade ago. Under 50 km/h in light bay traffic the car runs on battery alone almost half the time; above 80 km/h the petrol engine takes over cleanly. The result is a car that uses fuel at a rate that shocks renters used to a conventional supermini.

On Montenegro roads

Around the bay the Yaris's hybrid cycle works exactly as advertised. The Kotor–Tivat–Budva run is 28 km of speed-limited coastal road; the Yaris averages 3.8 L/100 km over that stretch because half the throttle inputs are short enough to be absorbed by the battery. The Risan run and the Perast detour sit in the same low-consumption band. On climbs the picture changes: the Cetinje hairpins above Njeguši demand sustained throttle and the hybrid advantage shrinks, real-world consumption over the Kotor–Cetinje loop settles near 5.0 L/100 km, still better than any conventional petrol rival. The Sozina motorway run at 110 km/h returns 4.8 L/100 km.

Space and load

The 286-litre boot is the smallest in the combined line-up and the shape is constrained by the hybrid battery that sits under the boot floor. One checked case and one carry-on fill it seats-up; two full-size cases require a rear seat folded. Beach kit for two travels without issue; beach kit for two plus a day's hiking equipment for a Lovćen walk starts to feel tight. For solo renters or couples on compact trips the boot is adequate; for anyone with more than two checked bags it is genuinely limiting and the step up to a Polo or Clio is worth the extra daily rate.

Best journeys for this car

The Yaris's Kotor rental customer is the fuel-conscious renter on a five to ten night bay stay. Retirees watching running costs pick it; urban professionals used to hybrids elsewhere are comfortable with the powertrain; families with compact luggage on a first Montenegro visit appreciate the low fuel bill on the circular bay drives. It is also the right pick for renters arriving at Tivat in shoulder season and spending most of their days on the coastal strip between Herceg Novi and Budva, a route where the hybrid cycle pays back clearly. It is the wrong pick for anyone heading to Žabljak or planning a sustained motorway leg.

Practical notes

Real-world economy of 4.2 L/100 km in mixed driving is the headline figure; with a 36-litre tank that translates to around 850 km between fills even in a mixed hybrid cycle, making the Yaris the longest-range car per tank in the fleet. The 3.94 m length is the shortest on the roster after the Fiat 500, and it parks effortlessly across the bay. The CVT transmission is smooth and quiet in slow traffic, better suited to Kotor's stop-start bay road than any manual. Front-wheel drive is fine year-round at coastal elevations; the hybrid battery adds modest weight over the front axle and the car is stable in the wet.

The verdict

Pick the Yaris when fuel economy matters and your itinerary is dominated by coastal bay driving at moderate speeds. Skip it if your week includes multi-day mountain drives, heavy luggage, or four adults, where the extra running costs of a larger petrol car are easily offset by a more practical boot.

Inside the car

• 1.5 petrol engine
• Manual gearbox
• Front-wheel drive
• Air conditioning