The shortest and most characterful. Three-door length is deceptive in tight bays because its doors are long.
The one she is considering
Toyota Yaris
Hybrid Style
A very sensible replacement—provided she is genuinely comfortable with the footprint of Alex’s Peugeot. It is effectively 208-sized, not MINI-sized.
Greek list price
€23,970
Current Toyota Greece configurator · standard paint/configuration; plates and road tax excluded
Lisa’s verdict
Yes—shortlist it. But test the exact things the brochure cannot answer.
The Yaris gives her the easiest drivetrain here, excellent city economy, modern safety and Toyota’s mature hybrid system. It is only about 3 cm shorter than the Peugeot, though, and roughly 24–31 cm longer than the 2006 MINI. The Style’s 17-inch wheels look good but may make potholes and replacement tyres less friendly. Most importantly, the current Style specification lists a reversing camera but not factory front/rear parking sensors.
Best reason to buyEffortless urban hybrid
Main compromisePeugeot-sized footprint
Must verifyParking sensors or accessory fit
Known-car scale
How large will it feel?
Bars use the same scale. The MINI remains a range because a 2006 registration can straddle the outgoing R50 and incoming R56 generation.
+24–31 cm vs MINI · approximately 3 cm shorter than the Peugeot.
The best real-world reference: if she parks this comfortably, the Yaris should not feel too large.
Widths excluding mirrors: MINI approximately 1.69 m · Yaris 1.745 m · Peugeot 1.739 m. The Yaris is effectively the same width as the 208.
Side by side
What changes from the cars she knows
| Question | 2006 MINI | Yaris Style | 2018 Peugeot 208 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parking footprint | Clearly shortest | Almost identical to 208 | 2.8 cm longer |
| Turning circle | About 10.7 m* | 10.4 m on 17-inch wheels | About 10.4 m* |
| Parking help | Generation/equipment dependent | Camera; no sensors shown in Style specification | Equipment dependent |
| Powertrain | Petrol automatic/manual, depending on car | 116 hp full hybrid e-CVT | Likely 1.2 petrol EAT6; exact version unverified |
| Official economy | Older petrol technology | 3.8–4.0 l/100 km WLTP | Not comparable until exact engine is confirmed |
| Boot | About 150–160 L* | 286 L | About 285 L* |
| Doors / access | 3 doors; long doors | 5 doors; easier rear access | 5 doors |
| Character | Most distinctive and playful | Modern, sharp, less special | Comfortable familiar middle ground |
*Reference figures vary by exact MINI generation and Peugeot engine/equipment. They are orientation, not VIN-level specifications.
What “Style” buys
A worthwhile €1,000 step over Active Plus—mostly for appearance and daily niceties
17-inch machined alloys
They suit the Yaris visually, but test ride comfort on broken roads and price replacement tyres before signing.
Full LED lighting
LED headlights, fog lights, daytime running lights and rear lamps. A real night-driving improvement over the lower trim.
Smart entry & start
No need to take the key out of a bag. Particularly useful for everyday short trips.
Useful cabin upgrades
7-inch digital instruments, six speakers, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting and dark rear glass.
Style vs Style Smart Connect
The regular Style has a 9-inch multimedia screen. Style Smart Connect is currently €24,620 and adds the 10.5-inch system, cloud navigation, over-the-air updates and expanded MyToyota services. That €650 upgrade is optional convenience, not necessary to get the good hybrid drivetrain.
Living with it
Where the Yaris wins—and where the MINI still does
Yaris wins
- Smooth stop-start urban driving with no clutch and no charging cable
- Much lower fuel use in traffic
- Five-door access and nearly twice the MINI’s boot space
- Modern automatic emergency braking, lane support and driver-assistance systems
- Mature Toyota hybrid architecture and strong Greek dealer/resale position
MINI keeps
- The smallest physical footprint
- More distinctive exterior and cabin personality
- A lower, more playful road feel
- Less visual mass when squeezing into an improvised Athens parking space
The decisive test
Take the Style to her actual parking routine
- Park beside the MINI, then beside the Peugeot. Do not judge dimensions in the open dealer car park.
- Reverse into a narrow bay. Check rear-corner visibility and whether the camera alone is enough without proximity beeps.
- Drive over rough city asphalt. The 17-inch Style wheels are the trim’s main comfort risk.
- Try a fast uphill merge. The e-CVT is mechanically smooth, but the engine note rises under hard acceleration.
- Use every warning control. Make sure lane and driver-monitoring alerts are understandable rather than irritating.
Bottom line
If she already accepts the Peugeot’s size, the Yaris Hybrid Style is probably the strongest low-risk all-round purchase. If she still wants the MINI’s compactness above everything else, the Aygo X Hybrid remains the closer physical replacement.
Sources and limits
Price, trim equipment, dimensions, drivetrain, consumption, turning circle, boot and warranty references were checked against the live Toyota Greece configurator and the official Greek Yaris MY26 brochure on 10 July 2026. MINI and Peugeot figures remain generation/version references until the exact VINs are checked.