A 2 Dressed up to a T: 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback

Badge-engineering is nothing new under the sun, especially for those of us who lived through Detroit’s offerings in the 1980s. Here in the 21st century, all hands are getting in on the action, with Toyotas appearing as Subarus and Nissans appearing as Chevys. This time around, the Big T is continuing to forge a relationship with Mazda, applying its Yaris nameplate to a small Hiroshima hatchback.

They’ve done more than just slap a badge on the thing, of course. Like the Yaris sedan, Toyota has grafted a tribute to the whisker fish to the 2’s nose during a fit of reconstructive surgery.

Your author will cop to reading the press bumf very carefully, since it was released on April 1st and also included a prank shot of this “Yaris Adventure.” All the same, I can think of several small business owners in my town who would deploy this fictional pickup for fuel efficient errand running.

Anyway, Toyota describes the Yaris Hatch as a “cab-rearward” design (surely a nod to April 1 while also reminding one of the old Chrysler LH sedans). Its guppy mouth mimics that of the Yaris sedan and looks ready to hoover up those Cheetos that were dropped under the couch. It is longer than the old model, stretched to 161.6 inches on a wheelbase that is up by 2.4 inches. Toyota says it will have a trunk area spanning nearly 16 cubic feet, meaning college students across the nation can pack in more beer and pizza books and toiletries.

As is Toyota’s wont lately, the 2020 Yaris Hatch will be available in mono-spec LE and XLE models, meaning the content in each of those trims is a like-it-or-lump-it affair. There will allegedly be a selection of seven “vibrant” colors, making this a good contender for a future Ace of Base post.

Standard infotainment kit is robust, featuring a 7-inch touchscreen with CarPlay and satellite radio baked right in, even on the LE. Navigation, too. Color-keyed trim, aluminium wheels, and fog lamps on the base car won’t belie your cheapskate buying decisions, nor will the standard heated sideview mirrors.

Power will come from a 1.5-liter four banger making 106 horsepower. The company says it is mated to a standard six-speed automatic, making no mention of a stickshift. Pity. They do take the time to point out it’ll have a Sport mode and, it must be said, at least it is not a miserable CVT.

Toyota will show off its new hatchback at this year’s New York Auto Show, which kicks off just a couple of weeks from now. TTAC will have boots on the ground, so be sure to hit us up for shots of all the hottest models… and this Yaris hatchback.

[Images: Toyota]