Base MSRP Starting at: $13,325 - $14,050
Base Invoice Range: $12,525 - $13,206
MSRP As Tested: $13,325
Versions: Liftback, Sedan
Vehicle Category: Sub-Compact Sedan
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Front-Wheel Drive.
Standard Engine: 1.5-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 16-valves, I-4, 106 -horsepower at 6000 rpm and 103 lb-ft torque at 4200 rpm.
Transmission: Four-speed automatic, Five-speed manual.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 34/40.
Standard Safety Features: Dual stage driver and front passenger advanced airbags, Available front side airbags and side curtain airbags for both rows, Child protector rear door locks, Head-impact protection structure, Three-point front seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters, Three-point rear seatbelts, Available Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Daytime running lights (Liftback only).
Competition: Chevrolet Aveo, Dodge Neon, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mazda 3, Nissan Sentra, Pontiac Sunfire, Scion xA, Suzuki Aerio, Volkswagen Golf and GTI.
It seems that every time you open a newspaper or turn on TV, you see another story about how we Americans are fat pigs.
Scientific studies, government reports and publicity-loving doctors like to remind us that we're beyond simply unhealthy we're so fat we're killing ourselves.
And the automotive world has responded by creating bigger, fatter cars that look like they've spent too much time in the McDonald's drive-thru lane themselves.
If you look at Toyota's lineup, you'll notice how much bigger each car is than the versions they sold a few years ago. The new Corolla is the size of the old Camry, the new Camry is the size of the old Avalon, and the new Avalon is the size of the Hindenburg.
And thus a Toyota designer woke up one day and thought, "Holy crap! We don't sell a decent small car anymore. Let's build one."
That's how the Yaris was born.
The Yaris is Toyota's all-new economy car that looks and feels like a scaled-down version of the Camry. It's boring, but it's also quiet, comfortable, refined -- and if it lives up to Toyota's corporate reputation -- has bulletproof reliability.
In fact, I couldn't find anything about this car that was disappointing -- performance, price, drivability, looks and even storage space. It doesn't excel in many areas, but it also doesn't have anything you'll hate.
Except, perhaps, the name.
Yaris has to be among the nerdiest car names in automotive history. If a focus group helped pick it, members must have included Urkel, the entire Napoleon Dynamite cast and your high school math teacher. While other car makers have found cool new names like Crossfire, Solstice, Zephyr, Aura, Caliber, Charger and Fusion, the best Toyota could come up with is Yaris.
Yawn.
If it's any consolation, I'd rather drive a great car with a bad name than a rustbucket with a cool name. Toyota can sell more cars by building great products rather than discovering great names, which is what it has always been good at. After all, the Camry isn't a hot-selling family car because of its name, that's for sure.
The Yaris comes in two distinct body styles -- a two-door hatchback and a four-door sedan. The hatchback version starts at just $10,950, and the four-door version costs $11,825. A sportier Yaris S sedan is available for $13,325.
Every Yaris is impressive for the money because it doesn't look like a car on which Toyota took shortcuts. The exterior lines look sculpted and expressive, interior materials don't feel cheap, and the driving feel is far better than you'd expect for this low price.
That doesn't mean the Yaris is a contender for "Bargain of the Year" just yet, though. Other new, small, affordable cars are just now hitting the market, including the Nissan Versa and Honda Fit, both of which give the Yaris a run for its money. The Yaris is a good car on its own, but now is an extremely competitive time in the economy-car market.
Pros: It's exactly like a scaled-down Camry -- quiet, comfortable and reliable. It looks and drives extremely well for its low price.
Cons: Like the Camry, it's boring. And, while it's more than competent in all areas, it excels at very few.
Ratings (1-10)
- Style: 7
- Performance: 8
- Price: 10
- Handling: 8
- Ride: 8
- Comfort: 8
- Quality: 10
- Overall: 8
More Data
Where Built: USA
Major Options: Convenience package includes: AM/FM/CD with MP3 capability and MP3 mini-jack, rear defroster, 60/40 split fold 15-inch steel wheels with cover, and rear wiper, and 15-inch steel. Power package includes: anti-lock brakes, power slide/recline/fold flat multi-function rear seat door, locks, power windows, power mirrors, (requires Convenience package) cruise control, unique interior trim, and tachometer (requires Convenience package) Driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags, Anti-lock brakes, Cold area package (excludes rear defroster on Convenience package or Power package), 15-inch alloy wheels (requires Power package), Rear spoiler (requires Power package), Fog lamps (requires Power package), Remote keyless entry (requires Power package).
Seating: 4
Number of Rows: 2
Length in Inches: 150.0 -169.3
Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles Comprehensive, 5 years/60,000 miles Powertrain, 5 years/unlimited miles Corrosion protection.
Weight in Pounds: 2292 lbs - 2326 lbs.
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: Not available.
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: Not available.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: Not available.
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 11.1
Destination Charge: $580
