- Mitsuoka updated its retro Viewt hatchback for the Japanese market.
- Yaris-based model drops its base engine, gains more standard tech.
- Pricing opens at $23,200 and reaches $30,100 for the loaded hybrid.
Coachbuilding is a strange business, and Mitsuoka is one of the few outfits still committed to it. The company has handed its retro-styled Viewt Story a round of model year updates in Japan, aligning it with the Toyota Yaris it’s built on. The little hatchback gains better standard kit, but it also costs more now that the base engine has been dropped.
The Viewt Story retains its unique styling that has been unchanged since the debut of the latest generation in 2023 when it transitioned from Nissan Micra to Toyota Yaris bones. The bodywork still cribs from the classic Jaguar MK2, all round headlights, chrome bumpers, and a stately retro grille. For this year, Mitsuoka has reworked the palette slightly, which now runs to 15 shades.
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Inside, the Yaris-sourced dashboard picks up an 8-inch infotainment screen, up from seven, plus a standard rearview camera. Curiously, Mitsuoka skips the 10.5-inch display that joined the Japanese-market Yaris with its recent 2026 update.
The coachbuilt specialists do throw in a few flourishes of their own. Buyers can option custom leather in eight colors, along with a “special flower set” mounted beside the center console, which is as quirky as it sounds. The hybrid variants now get an electric parking brake with auto hold, and every Viewt Story trim comes standard with Toyota’s Safety Sense driver-assist suite.
The most consequential change is mechanical. The entry-level 1.0-liter three-cylinder, good for 68 hp (51 kW / 69 PS), has been retired, mirroring a move already made across the regular Yaris range. The new floor is the naturally aspirated 1.5-liter three-cylinder with 118 hp (88 kW / 120 PS), paired with either a six-speed manual or a CVT and offered in front- or all-wheel drive.
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The other option is the self-charging hybrid setup pairing a 1.5-liter engine with a single or dual (E-Four) electric motors for a combined output of 114 hp (85 kW / 116 PS).
The revised powertrain lineup has pushed the starting price up to ¥3,691,600 ($23,200) for the FWD gasoline model with a manual gearbox. At the other end, the flagship Viewt Story Hybrid LX with E-Four AWD climbs to ¥4,803,700 ($30,100).
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For comparison, the standard Toyota Yaris currently sells for between ¥1,697,300 and ¥2,994,200 ($10,700 to $18,800) in the Japanese market.
