Many car enthusiasts consider ways to boost the performance of their vehicles, and if you’re a 2017 Toyota Yaris Ia owner, you might be wondering about adding forced induction. As a seasoned auto repair expert at millertoyota.net, I’ve been asked this question numerous times. Let’s delve into whether turbocharging or supercharging your 2017 Toyota Yaris iA is a worthwhile investment.
The straightforward answer is yes, forced induction can technically be done on a 2017 Toyota Yaris iA. However, from a practical and financial standpoint, it’s generally not recommended. While the allure of increased horsepower is understandable, the Yaris iA wasn’t engineered for forced induction, and implementing such a system can become significantly more costly and complex than you might initially anticipate. In most cases, those seeking a substantial power increase for their Yaris find that engine swaps are a more viable, albeit still expensive, alternative.
If you’re determined to explore forced induction for your 2017 Toyota Yaris iA, there are a couple of primary options available on the market. Zage offers a turbo kit, and Blitz Racing produces a supercharger kit. These are among the few, if any, kits specifically designed for this model.
Before proceeding, it’s crucial to have an honest conversation about budget. These forced induction kits are produced in limited quantities and often need to be imported, potentially from Japan. Expect to spend around $6,000 for just the parts alone, regardless of whether you choose the turbo or supercharger option. And this figure is just the tip of the iceberg.
The initial cost of the kit doesn’t encompass essential supporting modifications. To properly and safely run forced induction, you’ll absolutely need professional tuning, likely a new Engine Control Unit (ECU), custom wiring harnesses, upgrades to your fuel system to handle the increased demand, stronger engine internals to withstand the added stress, and potentially a transmission that can cope with the enhanced power output. These mandatory additions can quickly escalate the total project cost.
In reality, you’re likely looking at a total investment ranging from $12,000 to $15,000, at the very minimum, to reliably install forced induction on your 2017 Toyota Yaris iA. Even with this significant investment, you may encounter ongoing challenges with tuning and ensuring the car runs optimally. Daily driving reliability could become questionable, not due to any lack of skill from experienced mechanics, but because you’re fundamentally pushing the limits of a small engine not originally designed for such power augmentation. Forced induction drastically increases the compression within a small engine, which inherently introduces reliability risks.
Toyota themselves explored forced induction on the Yaris platform with the Yaris GRMN, a supercharged variant released in Europe. Even with Toyota’s extensive engineering resources and data, they only achieved 205 horsepower. Furthermore, the Yaris GRMN prioritized rally-style performance, compromising ride comfort and everyday reliability in the process. This example underscores the inherent challenges in significantly boosting the power of the Yaris platform.
Considering all factors, my professional recommendation is to avoid pursuing forced induction for your 2017 Toyota Yaris iA. It’s a path fraught with high costs, potential reliability issues, and a questionable return on investment for daily driving. Many in the Yaris community who have explored similar modifications often gravitate towards engine swaps, which are also expensive and complex, assuming a suitable engine can even be sourced. Online forums dedicated to Yaris enthusiasts, like YarisWorld, extensively discuss these topics, and the consensus leans heavily against forced induction due to the associated complications and low success rates in achieving dependable results.
Instead of investing heavily in forced induction, you might consider the more practical approach of keeping your 2017 Toyota Yaris iA as is and purchasing a separate, faster vehicle if performance is a primary desire. This option would likely be more cost-effective and provide a far more reliable and enjoyable driving experience.
Finally, it’s important to note that forced induction on a 2017 Toyota Yaris iA would necessitate the exclusive use of premium gasoline. If fuel costs are a concern, this modification would further compound your expenses. This is just a candid and truthful assessment to ensure you have a realistic understanding of the undertaking.
