First Drive: 2007 Toyota Yaris Sedan
05/02/2006
Shahed Hussain
Toyota sells the Yaris subcompact around the world, but this is the first time it has decided to sell it in the USA. Although small cars have been a Japanese manufacturer specialty, they have not received much attention lately until the recent increase in gas prices. As the Corolla moves upmarket, the Yaris fits conveniently below it as the entry-level car for Toyota. The Yaris is available as a 4-door sedan, or a shorter 3-door hatchback. The conventional sedan will likely be more popular with US customers, since economy hatchbacks have generally fallen out of fashion.
Enter the Yaris cabin and one sees an expanse of gray plastic that covers the dash and interior panels. The centrally located instrument panel has the gauges mounted high above the dash. Although some manufacturers still use this poor ergonomic layout (e.g. Saturn and Mini), it simply makes no sense to continue a misguided design philosophy in a new vehicle. The driver has to look up and to the right to scan the gauges, which simply takes too long. It seems that Toyota actually prefers the owner not to know what the car is doing.
Our test vehicle, equipped with a 4-speed automatic, struggled to accelerate with only one person on board. The 106-bhp from the 1.5L engine is barely adequate when paired with the automatic. At full throttle, the buzzy engine note reminds us that the Yaris is an economy car, although the racket subsides to tolerable levels below 3,000 RPM. Frugal buyers should consider the 5-speed manual for its lower cost and superior fuel economy. Of course, better performance is just an extra bonus.
Toyota equips all Yaris models with 175/65R14 all-season tires, which are perfectly adequate for normal driving. Round a curve at speed, and the tires quickly start to protest. Soft springs, and dampers tuned for comfort mean that the Yaris feels slightly tippy around corners. The chassis and all-season tires discourage aggressive driving, as the Yaris is clearly set up for a more leisurely pace. Mild understeer, combined with a quiet, comfortable ride ensures that most customers will be satisfied with the Yaris. Braking performance was adequate for everyday driving conditions, but we did not truly push the limits on the street. In its favor, Toyota endowed the Yaris with light, accurate steering, which clearly telegraphs road textures and tire limits.
Nonetheless, the overall driving experience in the Yaris is somewhat remote, akin to being a passenger. The Yaris is unusually uninvolving to drive, although we suspect that the 5-speed manual would better connect the driver to the car. Toyota aims this sedan at buyers in search of a low sticker price, combined with bulletproof reliability, so the driving experience is not really a priority.
Make no mistake, the Yaris is basic transport, and aspires no higher. The Yaris' intended competition are the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent, which are priced slightly lower, but don't offer Toyota's reputation for reliability and resale value. Prospective buyers should consider the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa, which are comparably priced, yet offer additional power, interiors that are more attractive and superior ergonomics.