For 10 years, the Toyota Yaris sold across Southeast Asia is vastly different compared to the international version, riding on the XP150 chassis in tandem with the Vios. A decade after its launch, the regional hatchback recently unveiled a new face that would appear to be capable of eating the competition.

The 2023 Yaris bears a new fascia design inspired by a hammerhead shark, a new corporate look for Toyota first seen on the bZ4X crossover. Almost half of the front bumper is covered in either plastic or gloss black (depending on the trim level), with the rear-end housing in a faux carbon-fiber diffuser.

There are four different trim levels to choose from: Sport, Smart, Premium and Premium S, all carrying the same familiar engine options as before. Alongside are three new dress-up parts—Lusso, Chiaro and Presto—that can be installed on all models.

New safety features have been added, including Toyota Safety Sense, blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. All models are equipped with touchscreen infotainment systems, varying between eight inches for the Sport and Smart variants, and nine inches for the Premium and the Premium S.

The updated Yaris is now for sale in Thailand, with other Southeast Asian markets expected to follow suit within the year. This comes as a bit of a surprise considering the new Vios is now based on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture, while the Yaris lags behind in a decade-old chassis. How would you feel if we got this refresh over the all-new Vios?