Petite with plenty of pep

Appeared in The Daily Report, Monday, April 20, 2009:

By Karl W. Ritzler, Special to the Daily Report

Subcompact cars have changed.
Yes, the category still is populated with cheap econoboxes that seem like a good idea only when you look at the sticker.
The Toyota Yaris, while the automaker's cheapest offering, is hardly cheaply made. It is roomy, even in the back seat, peppy and has the new, squarish look also popularized by competitors such as the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Toyota's own spinoff brand, Scion.
It says “youth” and “fun.” But the Yaris and its pals aren't a bad idea for the rest of us when gas climbs over $2 a gallon either. Even with the automatic transmission, it delivers 29 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. Because the car is so light, just 2,340 pounds, it has good acceleration onto the freeway and easily keeps up with traffic. Even hills aren't too much of a problem. You can feel its peppiness when pulling away from a stoplight— just don't try drag racing with a Camaro.
Base prices start about $12,000 for the three-door hatchback with a manual transmission, to just over $15,000 for the test car, a five-door hatchback S version with automatic that's a new model this year. All Yarises come with the 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine.
And the test car was nicely equipped with a power package (power windows, locks, fold-flat rear seats and upgraded 15-inch wheels, $1,290 or $900, depending whether you choose alloy or the standard steel wheels). The only other options a Southern driver might want is the keyless entry ($230).
The front seats are comfortable, and the driver has a high position to watch outside traffic. Taller drivers, however, might find headroom getting a bit tight. The climate and audio controls are convenient and easy to use in their position in the center of the dash.
As an option in some models, the back seats, in addition to folding down for more cargo room, can slide fore and aft and recline.
Standard features are plentiful and just what buyers seem to want—front and rear cupholders, remote mirrors, convenient storage pockets, air conditioning, audio system with MP3 and CD player and an iPod jack. As a flourish on the S models, a ground-effects body kit, a tachometer, rear spoiler and fog lights are standard. Also standard this year are side-curtain air bags and antilock brakes.
Buyers also get Toyota's excellent reputation for reliability and a solid feel while driving.
Still, there are some compromises and quirks.
In a report issued earlier this month, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that drivers of the Yaris and other small cars could face significant injuries in severe front-end crashes with larger, mid-size vehicles, according to a report by The Associated Press.
The institute crashed the Yaris into a Toyota Camry at 40 mph, a severe crash. The institute said the smaller car sustained damage to the door and front passenger area. However, the Yaris has received good ratings in previous front and side crash tests. Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the car-to-car test had little relevance to consumers because of its severity.
In other examples, don't expect 6-plus-footers to be comfortable in the back seat on any but the shortest trips. Toyota says it will seat five, but three of them had better be children. Two adults will fit just fine, though. And the 9.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat disappears quickly on a trip to the grocery store. With the rear seats folded flat, cargo space grows to 26 cubic feet.
Toyota also has centered the driver information display in the dashboard. Aside from giving the passenger seat rider an opportunity to question your speed, it's distracting for the driver to have to look to the right.
The front cupholders also took a bit of time to find. There's no place to put a beverage on the center console, and the two front cupholders are pull-downs in the far left and right corners of the dash.
In addition to the three-door and five-door hatchbacks, the Yaris also is available as a more conservatively styled sedan.

Karl W. Ritzler is a freelance writer who contributes to the Daily Report.

Toyota Yaris

• Buy this car if: You want style and comfort in a subcompact package.

• Not for you if: You need room for big passengers or lots of gear.

• Look at me factor: The eye-catching, boxy style is all the rage.

• Competitors: Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Scion xD, Mazda 3.