The Yaris sedan doesn't revolutionize any aspect of the drive, be it in style or efficiency. It gaily conveys you from point A to point B without incident. An urban creature first, it doesn't hesitate to venture out on the highway, but beware those side winds. There may be a solution to that, which I'll discuss a little later.
The Yaris's shape is neither compelling nor off-putting. It rather has the air of a too-serious teenager: I preferred the curvy Echo. But it does have trunk space. Its cargo capacity will suit a young family or a single person.
Compromise layout
The front doors open wide and offer decent access to the seats, but the position of the steering wheel impairs the driver when climbing in. Once seated, the driver can adjust the steering wheel vertically to find a suitable driving position. The front seats are comfortable, and the driver gets a seat cushion height adjustment.
If the exterior finish is nice, the interior finish brings plastic to mind without being too cheap. The Yaris was designed for all markets, which had an impact on the layout: whether driving on the right or left side, only a few things have to be modified during the assembly. But at what cost to the driver? Silver trim was added in an effort to brighten things up, but it's too shiny and hurts the eyes. The shift lever (automatic transmission) looks downright destitute. The competition offers a better quality of finish in this category.
The storage space falls short. We have to make do with a small centre compartment and a glove box. The cup holders are located at the tips of the dashboard, which is great for the passenger but trickier for the driver. The ventilation controls do score some points: large and round, they are easy to identify and operate. Warm or cool air quickly flows through the interior to maintain a comfortable temperature. The sound system is also good and will satisfy most people.
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| Toyota is a past master in the designing and manufacturing of small cars. |
The Yaris's shape is neither compelling nor off-putting. It rather has the air of a too-serious teenager: I preferred the curvy Echo. But it does have trunk space. Its cargo capacity will suit a young family or a single person.
Compromise layout
The front doors open wide and offer decent access to the seats, but the position of the steering wheel impairs the driver when climbing in. Once seated, the driver can adjust the steering wheel vertically to find a suitable driving position. The front seats are comfortable, and the driver gets a seat cushion height adjustment.
If the exterior finish is nice, the interior finish brings plastic to mind without being too cheap. The Yaris was designed for all markets, which had an impact on the layout: whether driving on the right or left side, only a few things have to be modified during the assembly. But at what cost to the driver? Silver trim was added in an effort to brighten things up, but it's too shiny and hurts the eyes. The shift lever (automatic transmission) looks downright destitute. The competition offers a better quality of finish in this category.
The storage space falls short. We have to make do with a small centre compartment and a glove box. The cup holders are located at the tips of the dashboard, which is great for the passenger but trickier for the driver. The ventilation controls do score some points: large and round, they are easy to identify and operate. Warm or cool air quickly flows through the interior to maintain a comfortable temperature. The sound system is also good and will satisfy most people.
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| The front doors open wide and offer decent access to the seats. |