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The Yaris, like the
Echo that it replaced, is a subcompact car that’s priced alongside compacts.
A demand for fuel-efficiency leaves this car selling at its sticker price,
which leaves it insignificantly less expensive than Toyota’s larger and
nearly as fuel-efficient Corolla model. And despite its newer design and
similar price to that model, the Corolla is superior in terms of interior
space, comfort, and quality, acceleration and refinement, and ride and
handling. For its own merits, a comfortable interior, a reasonable price,
strong crash-test performance, and terrific gas mileage, the Yaris isn’t a
bad car, but the Corolla is a better choice.
The Yaris rides
comfortably, but its light weight prevents a truly settled feel on the
highway or over some bumps. Handling is rather sloppy for a small car
(though safe) and the steering is numb and could react faster. Its light
weight lets the small engine deliver adequate performance around town, but
it strains at harder high-speed acceleration. It is rather noisy under
acceleration and at highway-speed cruise as well, though wind and road noise
are adequately suppressed. Gas mileage leads the group, at least.
Inside, the Yaris
offers roomy and high-mounted but small and shapeless seats in the front and
rear. The interior is very basic with many hard plastics, but it is
well-assembled. Visibility is good, but a telescoping steering column would
make taller drivers a lot more comfortable behind the wheel. (The Corolla
has received that same criticism since the 2003 model year, so Toyota cannot
claim ignorance to the issue or its remedy.) The center-mounted gauges take
getting used to and should be larger, and are not angled toward the driver
as they are in the Saturn Ion or in the Toyota Echo the Yaris has replaced.
The instruments are at least well laid out and easy to use. Entry/exit is
easy to the front and rear. The trunk is adequately roomy for a subcompact
car, and it is well-shaped.
The Yaris reviewed
here came in at $16,035, without any more than the basics. It came with the
expected features in this group (except traction control) but was the only
car in the group to not include anything more at the price reviewed.
Overall, the Yaris
offers top-notch fuel economy and general adequacy elsewhere. But unless the
highest possible gas mileage at sub-hybrid pricing is your most important
criteria, there are better choices, including Toyota’s own Corolla. Remember
not to consider a few extra miles per gallon to be a huge money saver when
other cars in this group cost nearly $2,000 and still get very good gas
mileage compared to anything but other economy cars.
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