Toyota has revealed prices for the new Yaris - which is on sale now - start at £12,495.

Semi-autonomous features such as the Toyota Safety Sense autonomous braking system now standard on all versions.

The engine line-up also now includes a new 1.5-litre petrol unit which is more powerful yet cleaner and more fuel-efficient than Yaris’s previous 1.33 unit.

The new entry point to the new Yaris range is the Active, available both with one-litre and 1.5-litre hybrid power.

Key equipment features include Toyota Safety Sense, which equips the car with a Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert and Automatic High Beam, plus rain-sensing windscreen wipers, power front windows, Bluetooth and a six-speaker audio system.

Hybrid models additionally feature automatic air conditioning and projector headlamps.

Icon versions of new Yaris add new-design 15-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, air conditioning and a 4.2-inch colour TFT multi-information screen.

They are also equipped with the Toyota Touch 2 touchscreen-controlled multimedia system, rear-view camera and the Toyota Safety Sense features are expanded to include Road Sign Assist.

Icon Tech grade extends the equipment specification to include Toyota Touch 2 with Go satellite navigation and access to online services, and front parking sensors.

Design grade focuses on style, reflected in the fitting of 16-inch alloys with a contrast black and machined-face finish, plus a honeycomb mesh grille, piano black side mouldings, rear privacy glass and a rear spoiler.

The new Yaris adopts Bi-tone as a grade in its own right (having previously been an option for Design models) with a wider choice of contrast colour options: Nebula Blue joins Tokyo Red, Glacier Pearl White and Platinum Bronze, each matched with a black finish for the roof and pillars.

The special colour treatment continues in the cabin with different matching trims for the dashboard and door panels, and the upholstery designs.

Bi-tone models also add power rear windows, LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights to the Design specification.

Toyota’s range-topping Excel grade offers new-design 16-inch alloys, a rear spoiler and chrome side sills.

LED front and rear lights are fitted, with an automatic dusk-sensing function for the headlights.

The cabin benefits from automatic air conditioning and part-leather and Alcantara seat upholstery

A (fixed) panoramic roof is available as an option for Design and Excel models.

Toyota’s new 111PS (and 136Nm) 1.5-litre petrol engine replaces the previous 1.33-litre unit and produces 10% more power and a 12% reduction in fuel consumption CO2 emissions of 109g/km and 56.5mpg claimed by the brand.

Toyota claims that the new engine will propel the Yaris to 62mph 0.8 seconds quicker in acceleration than its predecessor – 11.0 seconds versus 11.8.