Which EV to replace a Toyota Yaris petrol? | MVE

The Toyota Yaris petrol (and above all the Yaris HSD hybrid) is a special case in the world of combustion cars. It's so efficient in the city (3.8 L/100 km in urban mixed driving for the HSD) that it has often put off buyers who were considering an EV. "My Yaris already uses as little as an electric car — why switch?"

That's a debatable argument, but not entirely wrong. Electric clearly wins on per-km cost in the city, but the gap is less dramatic against the Yaris HSD than it is against a diesel or a large petrol SUV.

What Yaris drivers actually appreciate

The Yaris has a loyal following for precise reasons. Toyota reliability is real and well-documented. So is the low servicing cost. Urban manoeuvrability is excellent at just 3.94 m. And the Yaris HSD achieves 4–5 L/100 km on mixed Belgian journeys, where a Peugeot 208 petrol consumes 7–8 L.

This driver profile typically covers 10,000–18,000 km/year, mostly in urban and suburban settings, with the occasional weekend away. It's an ideal profile for the switch to electric.

Peugeot e-208: the main candidate

The Peugeot e-208 is built on the same platform as the Yaris (joke aside), but more importantly it answers the same brief: a compact car (4.06 m), manoeuvrable, suited to city life, with enough range for weekend getaways.

51 kWh battery, real-world range of 300–330 km in mixed Belgian use. DC charging at 100 kW: from 20% to 80% in 25–28 minutes. The Peugeot i-Cockpit is pleasant, and the interior is well-assembled for the category.

What it lacks compared to the Yaris: its long-term reliability reputation isn't yet established. Early generations had problems. The 2024–2026 version is more mature, but five years of track record don't equal twenty years of Toyota reputation.

Citroën ë-C3: the comfort and value option

The ë-C3 is the newest of the affordable French electric city cars (launched in 2024). It stands out for two reasons: a very soft progressive suspension (perfect for Brussels cobblestones and degraded Wallonian roads) and a starting price under 20,000 €.

44 kWh, 260–290 km real-world in gentle mixed use. That's less than the e-208, but sufficient for 90% of Yaris drivers. It accepts DC charging at 100 kW.

Its advantage for budget-conscious families: it's significantly cheaper than the e-208 for near-identical everyday performance.

Toyota isn't absent — just in a different segment

The pure electric Yaris doesn't yet exist in Belgium in 2026. Toyota launched the Urban Cruiser EV (mid-2025), a 4.30 m compact SUV on a Suzuki platform, but that's a different profile entirely.

For die-hard Toyota fans who want to stay with the brand, the Urban Cruiser EV (54 kWh, ~370 km real-world) is a serious option — but at a higher price (around 34,000 €) and in a very different format from the Yaris.

Dacia Spring: for genuinely urban-only use

If your Yaris never really left Brussels or Liège, and purchase budget is the main constraint, the Dacia Spring (16,990 €, 45 kWh, 165–180 km real-world) is the only option under 20,000 € with DC charging (30 kW — slow but functional).

Its limitations are well known: a one-star NCAP rating, basic finish, slow DC charging. It's a city car and nothing else. For Yaris drivers who never went more than 80 km from home, it is nonetheless a coherent transition on purely economic grounds.

The real comparison point

The Yaris HSD hybrid does 4–5 L/100 km in the city, which is around 4.35–5.45 € per 100 km. An electric car in the same segment consumes 13–16 kWh/100 km in urban use, which is 2.85–3.50 €/100 km on a night-time home charge. The saving is real but not spectacular against the Yaris hybrid specifically. That's the key difference from diesel or petrol SUV drivers: the Yaris was already an economical car.

The real saving with an EV is servicing. No oil changes, no timing belt, no spark plugs, no particulate filter. The Yaris HSD had low servicing costs — electric is even lower. Over 10 years of ownership, that gap often exceeds 3,000–4,000 €.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't Toyota have an electric Yaris in Belgium?

Toyota long bet on the hybrid (HSD) as the bridge to full electric. The Yaris hybrid is so efficient in the city (3.8–4.2 L/100 km urban) that Toyota hasn't felt the commercial urgency to replace it with a pure EV in this segment. The strategy is shifting: the Urban Cruiser EV (2025) and the upcoming small EV planned for 2026–2027 (project B) signal a change in direction. But for now, the electric Yaris segment belongs to the French brands.

Is the Peugeot e-208 truly reliable?

Honestly, its track record since launch (2019) was mixed in the early years. Problems with the on-board charger and first-generation interface were addressed on versions from 2022 onward. In 2026, with the mid-cycle update, the e-208 is a considerably more mature car. It doesn't reach Toyota's legendary reputation, but it's far from the disaster sometimes described.

Is the Citroën ë-C3's range sufficient for typical Belgian daily use?

For a typically Yaris-style pattern (home–work–errands, 25–40 km/day), yes, very comfortably. With 44 kWh and 260–290 km real-world in gentle mixed use, a home charge every two or three nights is more than enough. The only case where it gets tight: weekends of 150–200 km with no charger at the destination. In that scenario, the Peugeot e-208 51 kWh (300–330 km real-world) is preferable.

How much does an electric car cost to replace a Yaris?

The Dacia Spring (16,990 €) is the cheapest option with 165–180 km real-world: reserved for truly urban-only use. The Citroën ë-C3 (19,990–23,000 €) offers a good balance. The Peugeot e-208 (25,000–29,000 €) is more complete but also pricier than a Yaris HSD (23,000–27,000 €). On a company lease, EVs often work out cheaper on a monthly basis thanks to the tax advantages.

Can you do a 300 km family trip in a Citroën ë-C3?

With one charge stop en route, yes. With 44 kWh and DC charging at 100 kW (30 min from 20% to 80%), you add 200 km of range in one toilet break. It's not as simple as a Yaris HSD that covers 700 km without stopping, but it's not an expedition either. For families who do 3–4 long-distance trips a year and most journeys in the city, this trade-off is entirely manageable.

Is the BYD Dolphin a good option to replace a Yaris?

Yes, and a good one at that. The BYD Dolphin (60 kWh) has a real-world range of 350–380 km in mixed use, DC charging at 88 kW, a 345 L boot, and a price around 26,000–29,000 € after discounts. It exceeds the Yaris footprint (4.29 m vs 3.94 m) but remains very manoeuvrable. Its four-year reliability track record is still young for this market, but the manufacturer data and LFP battery architecture (stable, durable) are encouraging.

Which electric car to replace a Toyota Yaris petrol in Belgium?