Toyota Yaris

Review: 2012 Toyota Yaris

February 16, 2012 by

I’ve often considered the subcompact Toyota Yaris the Rodney Dangerfield of subcompacts-it just does not get any respect. In the sales juggernaut that is Toyota, the Yaris was second to last behind the Avalon in car sales in 2011. And with competition and new models flooding the subcompact market, Toyota had to stop treating the Yaris like a despised stepchild. For 2012, Toyota has redesigned the Yaris, but has this wallflower finally caught up to the competition, or is it still relegated to ‘also ran’ status? Read on to find out.

No one has raved about the styling of the Yaris in the past, and with the new 2012 model, I see no change in that. That said, the Yaris is certainly sharper and fresher looking than the car it replaces. Our three door Yaris wasn’t bad looking from any angle, but it’s a forgettable shape. The Yaris is meant to appeal to a wide range of buyers, and Toyota is known for conservative styling for mass appeal. In other words, the Yaris is a nice looking appliance.

What is the best thing about the new Yaris interior? The centrally mounted instrument panel is gone, replaced with a traditional gauge cluster behind the steering wheel. Inside, the Yaris was reasonably comfortable for me (but my wife complained about the seat height), and for a two door hatchback, I felt the rear seat offered a generous amount of room. Quality of materials and workmanship were first-rate. The Yaris never felt cheap inside, the two-tone seats and dash added character to the thoughtfully designed dashboard. My only disappointment was the lack of a tachometer. Nothing screams econo-car more than staring at a blank oval on the gauge cluster.

As for the Yaris’ drivetrain, it is carryover from last year’s car. The Yaris features a 1.5L four cylinder rated at 106hp, with a choice of a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Our test car was equipped with the automatic, and in 2012, four speeds is utterly archaic. Fuel economy figures 30/35MPG city/highway, about average for this class of car. But the Yaris went about its work quietly and smoothly. It was an easy car to live with driving in town. Not so much on the highway. With only four gears, cruising at 80mph was a loud and annoying experience. Ride quality was ok, steering and braking were adequate. But on a 100 mile round trip in the Yaris, I could not wait to park the car and be done with it.

The Yaris is available as a two or four door hatchback. The sedan has been dropped. Trim levels come in L, LE, or SE. Our test car was the mid-level LE. Standard equipment is nine airbags, remote keyless entry, steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth, six speaker audio with HD radio and iPod connectivity, and full power accessories. With optional cruise control, floor mats, cargo mat and cargo net, our Yaris had an MSRP of $$16,864USD including delivery.

The redesigned Yaris is far more handsome than the car it replaces, and its interior is a massive improvement. If the bulk of your driving is around town or in the city, the Yaris will serve you well. But if you need a subcompact that has to be pleasant on the highway, I’d recommend the Ford Fiesta in a heartbeat. The Yaris is an appliance to get you from point A to point B that is unfortunately let down by an antiquated drivetrain that fails to match up to its competition.

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Toyota Announces All-New Yaris Pricing

August 10, 2011 by

In a take of putting the cart before the proverbial horse, Toyota announced pricing for the all-new 2012 Yaris today-but without any firm information about the car itself. No pictures (the Yaris seen above is the UK model), no specs-just pricing. Here is what we know for sure about the new Yaris-it will continue to be available as a three or five door hatchback, but the four door sedan has vanished. Buyers will have a choice between a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Three trim levels will be offered: base L, LE, and SE, which promises an ‘enhanced suspension’. Pricing for the 2012 Yaris starts at $14,115USD for a three door L with a manual, maxing out at $17,200 for a five door SE with automatic. Production will start at the end of this month.

What shocks me more than anything is how Toyota’s Public Relations are handling the release of the car. This price announcement is the first official mention from Toyota USA that a new Yaris was on its way, and to just show a spreadsheet with pricing and little else is utterly bewildering. The Garage was at the 2011 New York Auto Show, which would have been a prime opportunity to show the car in front of an assembled global press core. Nissan was there with its new 2012 Versa, but Toyota kept quiet.

The silence about the new Yaris makes even less sense when you consider Toyota’s position in the subcompact market. For as huge as Toyota is, this is a segment where Toyota is seriously struggling for marketshare in the US. Competing against cars like the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta and Chevy Aveo, the Yaris trails them all. Nissan has sold four Versas for each Yaris sold here this year so far. Taking that into consideration, one would assume Toyota would be beating us auto journos over the head trying to get us to create some hype around this car, but just the opposite is happening.

Given the success of Toyota, it is almost hard to believe the company has such a hard time selling anything smaller than a Corolla here, especially since the subcompact car market is growing. Part of the problem is perception. Toyota is viewed by many as an older person’s brand, and that hurts when you are selling a car like the Yaris, which is typically a first time buyer. Toyota recognized that, and invented Scion as a youth oriented brand, but sales of the xB four door box and xD five door hatch pale in comparison of the Yaris. So you would think Toyota would be shouting from the rooftops about its new car, but the silence is coming off as indifference about this important market.

Is Toyota USA scared of taking away the hype from the Scion iQ? I would hope not. The iQ is a funky urban dweller, while the Yaris offers far more versatility and practicality. Is it as interesting? No, but with the Yaris, Toyota does not seek a niche market. the iQ will get the press because it’s so unique, but the money for Toyota is in the Yaris. This is not a class of car Toyota can afford to be saddled with “also ran” status as they have been. In light of devastating earthquakes and recalls, for Heaven’s sake Toyota, it’s ok to brag about your newest car.