AUSTRALIAN motoring journalists were sent into a frenzy when news broke that the new Toyota Yaris range would kick off from north of $20,000, with some variants even surpassing the $30,000 mark.

For reference, the old Yaris kicked off from $15,390 plus on-road costs and topped out at $22,670 before options.

The new fourth-generation model meanwhile now starts at $22,130 plus on-roads with the flagship ZR Hybrid nudging $33,000.

They are some significant price hikes, all of which Toyota Motor Company Australia (TMCA) stand by and attribute to the new model’s all-new nature, its advanced TNGA platform, significantly higher levels of safety equipment and new powertrains, including a hybrid system.

But the question still remains, is the new model really worth that much?