Small car, right time

I first became aware of the Toyota Yaris a couple of years ago while traveling in Europe. I was surprised that a small three-door-liftback economy car could turn heads with its cute styling. Yaris is Toyota’s bestseller in Europe, where it has been on the market since 1999 and has won numerous awards including “Car of the Year” for 2000.

Now, Yaris is coming to America, replacing the quirky, unloved ECHO. It’s built on an all-new platform that’s wider and longer with stiffer construction and greater refinement. A four-door model is also all-new.

Yaris’ most desirable features are low price, Toyota’s outstanding reputation for quality and resale value, cute styling and excellent gas mileage. As gasoline prices are topping $3 a gallon, the timing couldn’t be better.

It joins the growing subcompact car category that includes the Chevrolet Aveo, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and the just introduced Honda Fit and Dodge Caliber. This summer Nissan will introduce its subcompact car, the Versa. All are a new breed of so-called “tall cars” — small on the outside with a high roofline that creates a fairly roomy interior. Their fuel-sipping 4-cylinder engines generate adequate performance and excellent gas mileage. Thanks to improved styling all are quite attractive. We especially like the looks of the Yaris and Caliber.

Both Yaris models are front-wheel drive and powered by a small but sophisticated 1.5-liter 106 horsepower engine mated to an excellent shifting five-speed manual transmission. Gas mileage is rated at 34 miles per gallon in the city, 40 on the highway (39 mpg when equipped with the optional automatic transmission).

My three-door liftback tester with five-speed manual transmission averaged just over 37 mpg in combination city and highway commuting. The best performance is reached at higher engine revs — meaning lots of shifting and down shifting — but the light-touch clutch makes driving in traffic quite effortless.

The Yaris easily got up to 65 and 75 mile per hour highway speeds with only moderately loud engine noise in the cabin. Yaris uses Toyota’s new, quick electric power steering that helped us zip around and through traffic. Parking is a cinch.

The ride is generally compliant, but hitting an occasional pothole or sharp bump is jarring. Large windows make for good visibility, as do the oversize outside mirrors. Brakes are impressive but pedal distance feels long.

Thankfully, economy no longer means unattractive styling. I think Toyota hit a home run with the exterior look of the Yaris. While I never thought much of the ECHO, Toyota’s previous entry-level compact, Yaris is distinctive and cute — in much the same way as the Mini and New Beetle. With a sloping wedge shape, large front halogen multi-element headlamps, creased hood lines and large black grille, Yaris avoids the generic “bank commercial” car without a name.

The rear hatch extends down to the bumper, allowing ease in loading heavier objects without a high lift. Two struts assist the liftgate; opening and closing takes minimal effort. The hood, however, uses a prop rod to stay raised.

Interior room seems to defy the laws of mathematics with more room than seems possible from the outside. Perhaps it’s the tall roofline, but at 6’6” this too-tall driver had ample leg, hip, shoulder and headroom. I’ve driven luxury sedans with less room. The seats felt good, not always the case in an economy model. There’s no center armrest, which is noticeably missed during longer drives.

The backseat, while roomy, isn’t the easiest to access. There’s a walk-in lever on the passenger’s seat but not on the driver’s.

The dash seems quirky because the gauge cluster isn’t where it’s supposed to be — like, in front of the driver. Rather it sits atop the center of the dashboard, I suppose making it easier to build the Yaris for either a right- or left-hand drive market. There are three glove boxes and two cupholders, all crafted into the dash. I like the straightforward center stack that accommodates the audio system and climate controls. It’s simple and easy to use.

The base price of my Yaris 3-door liftback was just $10,950, plus $580 for delivery, processing and handling. The four-door sedan starts at $11,825, plus $725 for an automatic transmission. A higher-line “S” sedan costs $13,325; $725 more for the automatic. The S looks sportier with side rocker panels and front/rear spoilers under the bumpers.

Standard features on the base liftback include air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering, intermittent wipers, folding rear seat, and color-keyed bumpers, door handles and outside mirrors — but no radio. You’ll want the optional power package ($1,680) that gets you 15-inch alloy wheels, power door locks/windows/mirrors, 60/40 split rear seat, rear window defroster and an AM/FM/CD with MP3/WMA playback capability. Other extras on my tester included anti-lock brakes ($300), driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side-curtain airbags ($650), remote keyless entry ($230) and carpeted floor mats/cargo mat ($150). Total price: $14,540.

 

While most Americans will want the Yaris with the additional equipment, those options bring Yaris within a few hundred dollars of the more refined, larger and more powerful Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Scion tC.  

Yaris has not been crash-tested by the government or private testing organizations. Toyota provides a 36-month/36,000-mile warranty, with 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage.