Toyota Yaris 4/5

The Age

Saturday November 22, 2008

David Morley

The Yaris has excellent safety and security credentials and a reputation for being a top city car, writes David Morley.

GIVEN Toyota's powerhouse status and its apparent ability to quickly slam a model into a previously ignored market segment, it's a bit hard to believe that in the 1990s the Japanese giant was struggling for a car to sell in one of the hottest segments around.

The light car market was booming back then with the likes of the Nissan Micra, Daewoo Cielo, Hyundai Excel, Mitsubishi Mirage, Ford Festiva, Holden Barina and others vying for attention.

Sharp drive-away pricing was a large factor driving the market but it's also true that the product had never been better.

Strange, then, that Toyota simply did not have a model it could quickly and easily shove into the mix to claim a chunk of a growing sector.

Ultimately, Toyota resorted to the forgettable Starlet, which was neither classy nor class-leading. But it did win the maker a foothold in the market.

The Starlet was replaced by the much better Echo just before the turn of the century and suddenly Toyota had a worthy car to offer people looking for inexpensive little wheels.

But even the Echo had run its race by 2005 and was replaced by the further improved Yaris.

As well as making a much more convincing statement to potential buyers, the Yaris was also a more obvious fit with the rest of the line-up.

Toyota, it would seem, has never been afraid of in-house homogeny and the Yaris looked like a smaller version of the Corolla, which was also just about to hit its straps as a top-selling car in its sector.

The big advantage the Yaris had over the Echo was packaging. As well as being bigger externally, it was also roomier inside, with good front-seat accommodation and even a back seat that was useful.

Maximising versatility was also on the Yaris's agenda and as well as a rear-seat backrest that could be adjusted for rake, the seat split 60/40 and could be folded flat as well as slid forward to maximise the load space.

There was even a full-sized spare wheel.

As well as the big front seats, the Yaris continued some of the Echo's quirky theming with the central instrument binnacle and a bare expanse of plastic directly in front of the driver. It sounds weird but it actually works quite well, thanks largely to the clarity and legibility of the digital instrumentation.

No matter what trim level you chose, the Yaris was pretty well equipped with standard air-conditioning, an MP-compatible stereo with a CD player, remote central locking, power mirrors and windows and about two dozen storage spaces around the cabin. Safety was way better than average, too, and anti-lock brakes were standard, along with brake-force distribution, brake-assist and dual front airbags across the board. You also got five proper lap-sash seatbelts. There's no stability control though.

If you're buying a second-hand Yaris for a younger driver, it's worth looking for one with the optional safety package. This added front-side airbags, full-length curtain airbags and a knee airbag.

The knee-bag is still exclusive to the Yaris in this company.

The Yaris's driveline was more or less carried over from the Echo.

As well as all that lovely Toyota reliability, you also got either a 1.3-litre engine with 63kW or a 1.5 with 80kW.

The bigger engine is the way to go since it uses very little extra fuel but makes for a much more relaxed drive. That's especially true if you're opting for an automatic example, as the four-speed unit can tax the smaller engine.

Part of the problem is that the Yaris is 100 kilograms heavier than the Echo, so the five-speed manual version is definitely the performance leader. But fuel economy is excellent either way and major mechanical problems don't seem to be found in the Yaris.

Tuned for good ride comfort, the suspension still manages to give the car an agile feel and its ability to turn on a sixpence was greatly appreciated in inner-city car parks.

The extra mass helped make the car feel planted, too, and the steering was well-weighted and gave consistent feedback in corners.

The Yaris is unmistakably a small car aimed mainly at urban brawling, but with its feeling of security and excellent safety credentials, it stands up as quite a bit more than that.

NUTS AND BOLTS

Engine/s: 1.3/1.5-litre, 4-cyl

Transmissions: 4-auto/5-man

Fuel economy (city/highway): 6.0 (1.3)/ 6.1 (1.5) litres per 100km

Safety rating: (howsafeisyourcar.com.au)

LIKES

Bigger than its predecessor and many of its peers, accommodation is good back and front.

Loads of little cubby holes for storing all of life's little necessities.

Fuel economy will delight you.

Reliability is Toyota-grade.

Great level of safety kit.

DISLIKES

Smaller engine with automatic gearbox can struggle at highway speeds.

Strange interior layout can take some getting used to.

Stability control not available

NEED TO KNOW:

Durability should be good provided servicing has been carried out properly. Check the service record carefully as budget cars often get budget maintenance.

Try to establish the car's history. An ex-fleet car could have been used for courier or delivery duties and may have had a hard life.

Watch for crash damage. Cars like the Yaris that are popular with young drivers are often subjected to scrapes and bruises.

COMPETITORS

Honda Jazz - Like a little people-mover to look at, the Jazz was a tidy handler with a nippy little engine. Some examples we've seen have been knocked around aesthetically, so find a clean one. 3.5/5

Mitsubishi Colt - Upright styling maximises interior space and tricks like the column-mounted gearshift all help. Not sexy, but very useable. Not as many around as some others, so be patient. 3/5

Mazda 2

The big hitter in this class thanks to its groovy interior and great build quality. A good bet if it has to be an automatic. Good resale. 4/5

© 2008 The Age

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