Toyota's smallest car, the Yaris, may be just what many people need.
It also may not offer enough for many others...
The Toyota Yaris is now in its 3rd generation and the current model was available in North America starting in 2012. Unlike previous versions, for North America only a hatchback is available. The Yaris is Toyota's smallest car here and it is also the most budget-friendly. It is very popular for this reason by many, but it is also disliked for this same reason by others. It has received a face-lift for the 2015 model year.
Lets take a look:
Different Styles:
The Yaris comes in only two styles now in North America (previous generations had a sedan, a 3-door hatch and a 5-door hatch): a 3-door hatchback and a 5-door hatchback. This is probably for the best. As I have stated before, once you get to these small sub-compacts (micro compact?) it really only makes sense to get a hatchback. They only come with a 1.5L 4 cylinder engine and either a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed auto, which is way too old of a system to use in a car like this. Once again though, the 4 speed auto is used over more gears due to its ruggedness and cheap maintenance.
Styling and Comfort Impressions:
The Toyota Yaris is actually a pretty nice looking car from the outside. The face-lift also helps add a somewhat aggressive look to it. Though this appearance isn't backed up, by anything. It looks quite similar to the Prius C, and seeing how they share the same basic platform its no surprise. In some aspects I actually don't like how sporty it looks as after driving, it I found there to be no connection between the looks and the performance (much like the Toyota Matrix). But none the less, the wheels in each corner, the open-mouth grill, and the addition of some chrome in the face-lift looks good.
Going inside, the sporty and aggressive looks disappear a bit but it's not too bad. I'd say the best word to describe the interior is "clean". I could also use "boring" but that just doesn't fit as well. There aren't many cool things to look at (which could be a good thing while driving) and the whole front is condensed into a small spot.
Take a look:
It might be hard to tell in the pictures but the front console is relatively blank besides the radio and then 3 knobs for the air controls; that's about it. In a way I like this simple set up, it seems to fit well in a budget economy car like this. The sound system is actually quite good despite only 4 standard speakers - you can get an optional 2 more in the upper trim. The front seats are a bit firm but nicely supportive. The materials used may not be top quality but they don't look or feel cheap either so overall it's a well put together interior. Due to it being a hatchback, I fit decently well both in the front and the back with upright sitting positions. While the headroom is good in the front and the back the knee space is limited sitting behind myself, but not uncomfortably so.
Visibility is pretty good in most directions but the rear view is severely obstructed by unnecessarily huge head rests.
Finally, what about the trunk space? Well, with all the seats up there isn't much, just like close competitors like the Chevy Sonic, Hyundai Accent, and Kia Rio. There is maybe enough room for a few carry-on suitcases, but once the seats are folded down the space becomes much larger, thanks to a tall body as well. The back seats do not fold completely flat.
Driving Impressions:
I had mixed feelings about how the Yaris drove. It seemed to contradict itself while driving. The engine is very under-powered, especially with the auto transmission. It is somewhat loud and buzzy under acceleration, of almost any type. It runs out of steam on the highway which makes passing complicated. There is a noticeable amount of wind and road noise at high speeds. However, at the same time the Yaris is one of the most "go kart" feeling cars I have driven. The steering and overall handling is quite direct and due to the wheels being in each corner the car feels planted when changing direction. Also, unlike many other small cars, the suspension isn't softened too much to make it more comfortable. If they came out with a turbo version this has the potential to be a very fun little car. Visibility while driving is ok except for the rear view due to those headrests. The sound system is ok, not the best, but not the worst in the class.
Overall:
The Toyota Yaris is a good car, plain and simple. It looks good on the outside, it is sort of boring on the inside but not too much so. The simpleness of the inside is acceptable in a subcompact budget car like this. This is a good car for people that just need a car that will last them a long time that can get them from point A to B. While it is under powered and somewhat loud on the highway, many people won't mind considering their alternatives are usually more expensive. I would recommend the Yaris for people on a tight budget that need their car to last and don't really care about performance, or for families looking for a small 2nd or 3rd car for short drives around the city or for a car the kids can use. I do like it for its surprisingly good handling and exterior looks, but I would rather pick the Ford Fiesta or Kia Rio for better performance or if I'm going for budget, maybe the Hyundai Accent or the Mitsubishi Mirage.
Facts/ Figures:
Price ( for mid trim level): $19,000+
FWD
Max HP: 106
Max Torque lb/ft: 103
MPG (approx*): 29 city. 36 highway.
Cargo room (approx*): 15.6/ ( Toyota wont say) CuFt
Length: 156"
Width: 67"
Tank Size (gal): 11.1
Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 355
Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $12,000+
* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic.
**No pictures featured are my own, they have been taken from Google images and their rightful owners should get any credit for them. This review featured all pictures from the manufacturer's website.
Enjoy!
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J.K.
