2009 Toyota Yaris Review

By Matt Brogan | November 05th, 2008

2009 Toyota Yaris Review and Road Test

Yaris loves big city life

Model Tested:

2009 Toyota Yaris YRS five-door hatch, 1.5-litre, five-speed manual – $17,990 (RRP)

Options:

Safety Pack $750 (fitted); Metallic Paint $300

Economical, Safe, Built for City Driving, Price
Instrumentation Position, Clutch Feel, Boot Space

CarAdvice Rating:

- by Rose Harris

In the current economical climate where every dollar is being watched like a hawk, a new car purchase can unfortunately see safety take a backseat to price. However, Toyota have managed to combine a four-star ANCAP safety rating with an affordable price tag in the new Yaris range to bring the much loved favourite to the top of the table in the light hatch stakes.

The Yaris YRS five-door hatchback was built for city living. Its economical fuel consumption and operating costs combined with the compact nature of its design makes it the perfect vehicle for the daily work commute, the uni student or budget conscious couple.

The safety features include anti-skid brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, Toyota’s impact-absorbing Safe-T-Cell, front SRS airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners as standard.

Add on the optional Safety Pack and the Yaris provides even more peace of mind with front-seat side and full length curtain airbags. With its four-star rating, the Yaris is a leader its segment, doubling the score of some of its nearest rivals.

However, when it comes to family living you may as well forget about it. I attempted to use the Yaris as a dedicated daily vehicle for my family (two adults and two kids) and found it too be a bit of a squeeze.

While the back seat comfortably accommodates two child seats, jamming a standard three-wheel pram in to the boot is only just possible after removing the pram wheels and taking out the boot floor panel so the pram is sitting directly on the spare tyre.

And you wanted to actually bring the groceries home? No way. The Yaris was obviously not built to accommodate the cargo load that comes with transporting a family. That said, if rear passengers aren’t a consideration, the 60:40 split fold rear seats can be slid forward to make more boot space or folded down to further enhance the cargo area.

Next Page…

There is no disputing the fact that Yaris is a popular little car, leading the market sales in the light passenger car division year-to-date, although it took me a while to warm to the stylings. When I first got in, I was surprised to see the instrument panel was still located in the centre of the dash (as per the Echo predecessor), and not behind the steering wheel where I am so used to looking.

I guess it is all just a matter of what you are accustomed to, but I found having to divert my eyes left and down to check the speed (rather than straight down) was a little distracting. The concave LED display is however quite simple to read with a tacho, fuel gauge, odometer and large digital numeric speedometer.

At first I wasn’t a fan of the speedo, but as I got in to some serious driving, I found the big green numbers in my peripheral vision were a constant reminder of my speed and made me much more conscious of sticking to the limit – perhaps it has some merit afterall.

The 1.5-litre engine carries an ample 80kW of power for city driving, but with only 141Nm of torque, does take a bit of pedaling from standstill. Keep busy on the gearbox though, and allow it to rev and you’ll find Yaris has plenty of guts to buzz in and around the city.

In the five-speed manual I tested, I found the clutch to be rather stiff for a light car and finding and holding its friction point was awkward, which resulted in quite a few stalls – much to the amusement and frustration of my colleagues. The Yaris is an economical little car though, consuming just 6.1 litres per 100km (combined).

To avoid the stalling, I found myself revving the car slightly to make sure it would take off rather than jolting to a stop, which I imagine isn’t going to be great for the clutch long term. So for me, it’s auto all the way, especially in peak hour.

Next Page…

Yaris did however provide a reasonably quiet ride once on the run and felt quite stable on the road. It didn’t feel overly light-footed nor top heavy as can some small cars, which further enhanced my view of this being the ideal city vehicle. With easy maneuverability, the compact nature of the Yaris is an obvious advantage when swinging in to tight parking spaces.

While it may be pretty typical in the looks department, there is nothing to really dislike about the styling on offer, but similarly, there’s nothing overly unique about it either. It is however neat and has that ‘zippy’ feel to it which carries across in to the interior decor.

Functional and practical, but a little more plastic, there are just a few reminders of the inexpensive nature of the car. The dash top sunglasses keepers have a ‘plasticy’ sound when you close them, the glovebox feels rather weak and the cloth trim of the seats has a sandpaper-like feel.

I did like the stereo though and found it pumped out sufficient sound for a small car. The head unit also has MP3 compatibility and the ability for you to plug in your iPod or MP3 player. Air-conditioning and ventillation is effective, and the control knobs are nice and big, and very easy to use when driving.

I like the positioning of the driver’s side electric window controls too. They are mounted high on the arm rest so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road for long to adjust the windows. The go-kart sized steering wheel carries simple volume and track selection controls and a mode button as well.

I didn’t have any major issues with visibility, despite the rear pillars being quite thick. I did however find the doors took a bit of closing, they needed a good hard push to lock in properly.

It is a little perplexing to me as to why Toyota haven’t included cruise control in the Yaris, even as an option. Keeping costs down is obviously a main factor, but some of the Yaris’ competitors do offer cruise and it of course aids in keeping the car economical.

Overall, while the Yaris doesn’t measure up to the family challenge, it is definitely a great city car for singles or a couple just starting out. From just $15,190 it’s also a great first car that I’m sure Mum and Dad wouldn’t mind pitching in for given the level of safety on offer.

With Toyota kicking plenty of goals in the new car market, the Yaris is sure to keep reeling in those in search of saving those extra cents at the bowser.

CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive:
How does it Look:
How does it Go:

Pricing:

YR Hatchback: 3-door $15,190 (M) / $16,790 (A)
YR Hatchback: 5-door $16,390 (M) / $17,990 (A)
YRS Hatchback: 3-door $16,840 (M) / $18,440 (A)
YRS Hatchback: 5-door $17,990 (M) / $19,640 (A)
YRX Hatchback: 3-door $19,390 (M) / $20,990 (A)
YRX Hatchback: 5-door $20,540 (M) / $22,190 (A)
Rush LE 5-door Hatchback: $18,390 (M) / $16,890 (A)
YRS Sedan: $18,240 (M) / $19,890 (A)
YRX Sedan: $20,790 (M) / $22,440 (A)

Specifications:

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder VVTi
Power: 80kW @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 141Nm @ 4200 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Brakes: Disc/Drum with ABS, EBA & EBD
Driven Wheels: Front
0-100km/h: 12.1 secs
Top Speed: 175km/h
Fuel Type: 91RON ULP
Fuel Tank Capacity: 42 litres
Fuel Consumption: 6.1 litres per 100km (Combined)
CO2 Emissions: 145g per kilometre
Safety: Front Airbags (Safety Pack optional)
ANCAP Rating: Four Stars
Spare Wheel: Full Size Steel
Turning Circle: 9.4 metres
Towing Capacity: 700kg (Braked)
Warranty: 3 years/100,000km
Weight: 1030kg (Tare)
Wheels: 15-inch steel

Road Test the Rivals:

Alex

Looks better than before but I sill think this is one of the last superminis I would ever consider. There are just so many other better value better looking better to drive superminis out there now. I’d certainly rather a Mazda 2.
http://aca McKenzie

The Yaris is 5 star rated not 4 stars !!
VW Freak

Whoa McKenzie, get your facts right. ANCAP awards the Yaris 4 stars, for 2 reasons – no VSC and optional side/curtain/knee bags. You might be referring to Europe models, where all the bags and VSC are standard.

Anyways, Mazda2 is the class leader in this segment now, as stability is available as an option.
http://www.caradvice.com.au Matt

McKenzie,

The results clearly state ANCAP rating, as follows:

ANCAP – Four Stars
http://aca McKenzie

My mistake, it is 4 stars … sorry
http://aca McKenzie

5 stars Europe, 4 stars Australia.
Fasthonda

The shape of the car is atrocious it looks like a fat insect.The interior looks like it came out of a childrens’ toy pedal car.
The overriding factors that I can think of as to why people would buy this car is the price and that it tends to appeal to young women,in other words,it’s a “girls” car.
The only redeeming feature on this Yaris is ……the paint colour!
GTRmon

Alright car considering, but that interior is truly horrible. Toyota has a thing for nasty interiors. The Starlet before it is testament to that.
It would be interesting to know if Toyota still has shortage problems with these. Girlfriend went to buy one in Feb, but there was a 3 month wait on them (for the full safety pack I think), bought a Swift instead.
VW Freak

The Swift interior isn’t much better. There has never been a shortage problem with Yaris. If you want the safety pack, it’s a factory order, hence the 3 month wait.
http://integra LSD

Another bland average car from the kings of boring cars…Toyota. You would have to be desperate to but one of these when there is plenty of way better cars in this class……….Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 are a couple of standouts in this class. Geez……..Toyota make some very ugly cars and this is one of them !!!

Jason

Don’t knock the Toyota’s they are great cars. Not ugly at all!!!!!

Mitch

looked at these when buying a small car but got a swift instead. much better buy

http://dodge franz chong

I went straight to my Nissan Dealer where I bought my Tiida from this time four years ago to test drive the Micra and signed up right away.6000 FOR MY CAR against theirs as a trade in value and standard automatic.$14990 drive away and taking delivery next week.A much better buy.I couldn’t justify spending close to seven grand more on the Yaris being on a limited service workers income too.

Tom

Can’t possibly fathem who would buy one of these… well actually i can, someone looking for cheap problem free motoring.

I would honestly feel like i have just bought my way into years of torturous driving if i just took delivery of one of these things.
Non-plussed

While i’m sure the yaris is sufficient for the average buyer out there, if they bother to look a little harder you can get alot better. Whether it is a Getz (which is cheaper and has ESP) for the budget conscious or the mazda 2 for a good all rounder, the yaris is off the pace. I see a very mild update has been brought out, small grille change etc. seems to be all it has going for it.

When ford launches its new fiesta early next year it will be another nail in this pretty mediocre car. It ain’t cheap either, because you actually have to spend nearly $17k to get the 1.5 engine in this review, its 1.3 for the base car and it is pretty damn slow. A Fiesta has a 1.6 in the manual models at least that outpowers the 1.5 and you can get that for less than $16k. I would urge anyone out there thinking of buying a yaris to look elsewhere IMO.
Joe

I have to agree with most of the other posters here. Why would anyone buy one of these little heaps. If you’re after reliabilty only, since when are cars like Mazda2′s, Swift’s & Fiesta’s supposed to be unreliable. And these other cars run rings around the Yaris in almost every other area.I just can’t believe they sell these in the numbers that they do! They’re not even made in Japan any longer. Go figure!!
coconut wireless

I bought a yaris for my partner and in the last 12 months nothing has fallen off, no engine nor suspension problem. i would say the interior design is very functional with all the compartments to put stuff in and I believe this is the only small car that has got adjustable rear seats ie moving it back and forward.

after all Toyota builds cars that are practical and bit of aftermarket bling and wheels can spice up any dish..
VW Freak

Joe Says:
November 5th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

“I just can’t believe they sell these in the numbers that they do! They’re not even made in Japan any longer. Go figure!!”

Huh? The Yaris is still built in Japan (ones for Australia anyway).
Myke

You’d hope that they would come from Japan, for the price they are charging, $15,190 for a 3-dr 1.3, rip-off. The update looks bloated at the front too.
Andrew M

In response to Coconut,
what is the point of moving the seats back and forward??

i assume you mean sliding them back and forward???

is this incase the leg room isnt tight enough for you as is???
Andrew M

^^^
to follow up,
how much cargo space can you grow, and how hard it it for your passengers to travel with out leg room??
NotTheStig

Overpriced and underspecified. Toyota has this perception of boring but reliable and expect buyers to pay a premium for it.

The review says the Yaris is “Safe” but the extra airbags are optional (and very few people buying a budget car would pay extra for those) and ESP is unavailable.

I wouldn’t let my daughter buy one (or a Barina !) and that says it all in my eyes.
Falcodore

WOW, its got a ‘safe ‘t’ cell. The mazda2 has ‘triple h’ safety zone and is a more fun (and better) to drive AND looks better, the 2 is the class leader in every way except advertising budget… enough said!
realcars

Yukis.LOL
Bob

I rented a Yaris for a week, a 1.3 manual when interstate. I owned a 2.0 Manual Focus at the time to put my next few words in to perspective. The Yaris was the worst car I have ever had to drive. The lack of low down torque meant that all economy was left behind every time I have to keep up with the traffic, resting within 1,000rpm of the redline most of the time to extract the little killerwasps that just didn’t want to be extracted. It felt very light on its feet when driven and that wasn’t helped by the extremely light doors that acted like sails every time you opened them ina breeze. The overall feeling was of a very small feeling, light, tinny car that despite its perceived featherweight, still lacked any useable torque, even as a manual.

Interior plastics felt and looked cheap. Whilst they might have been packed together tightly, so are Pamela Anderson’s assets in a tight dress. In the end she’s still cheap and ugly, despite the expensive build quality, just like a Yaris. The exterior is up to individual opinion but any car with few redeeming features anywhere else can’t be saved even if it looks like it was penned by Ian Callum – which a Yaris most certainly is not!

It was a car I really wanted to find merit in, given how popular they are, but I honestly just couldn’t find much at all to like. In fact the only thing I did like was returning it. Just horrible. I’ve driven far better small cars, most of European origin. Perhaps I just don’t have the taste for Japanese superminis, give me any Fiesta, Pug 206 or even a Belgian Barina anyday over a new Yaris.
Frenchie

Whats the difference between the YRS and YRX?
justDrive

Bob, I agree with you. And to add to this, I had a pretty scary experience with a Starlet I used to drive.

Going home on a hot day with the A/C on, I came up a hill and had to brake because some idot cut me off. When I put the accelerator down, the next I know, I had no power at all despite the fact the engine was running. I even put the pedal to the metal and nothing happened – it just struggled at a snail’s pace. It was only until I got to the top of the hill that the car picked up speed. Luckily the drivers behind me slowed down, if not, I would have been hit from the back at high speed.

Anyway, I drive a Maz3 now. Although I haven’t driven a 2, I think it would be a lot safer car to drive in terms of acceleration, especially up hills.
Falcodore

Bob, please dont denigrate Pam Anderson like that, she’s nowhere near as tacky or cheap as a toyota LOL
Falcodore

Is the ‘killerwasps’ ad the most annoying ad on TV or is it just me?
realcars

Sure is.

So is the new Hilux add going on with the unbreakable theme of course. I couldn’t think of any thing worse than driving one of those things around all day.Oh my back.
Yea baby

Given the age of this car relative to the other competitors with fresher designs, it not a bad result. I’d take the Mazda 2 or new Fiesta but the Yaris is better than any of the Korean offerings.

http://dodge franz chong

Cars like this are meant to be a good alternative to Public Transport but having said that I would take a Micra or this over some Korean offerings.

James

Its a fine small car period.

I would rather spend money on the Mazda 2 as its slightly cheaper.

But with discounts anyways, I would probably end up getting this over the Mazda.

Fiesta?…. err..

And its just funny how some are bagging on its performance…. lol, completely over your head…. its designed for people who wants a reliable, cheap to run car…. and yes styling is obviously biased towards females….. as the majority of its market is well…. females, young females too.

It is overpriced… no doubt, but thats because Toyota Australia can charge that much and not really affect sales negatively…. the benefits of a well built vehicle, and reputation (obviously).

but the people bagging on its performance, looks etc… just absolutely dont get it… its not for you… but for the intended market… they like it.
FRUGAL_ONE

The Yaris like most but not all BIGT products is underdone and over priced.

Mind you the haonda Jizz is even worse value.

For mine, just $1k more you can buy a larger, better equipped and more powerful Hyundai i30, really liking that vehicle, never thought it would take the Corolla of my wish-list

Cheers

F-0
JODE

I had an echo and loved it so much I now have a 1.3 Yaris I find it really versatile and it had more than enough power I stick to the speed limits and its fine. The manual gear box is nice and responsive the steering is direct, all the dash controls are in the right place, it has a nice rev counter and digital odometer. The small space at the back can be used for comfy seating or extra luggage, there are cup holders galore and a good stereo also three glove boxes, It has a full size spare tyre which i think is wonderful. It is wonderful on petrol/environment has a good safety rating , it is everything i could want in a small car but heh what would i know,I am a chick and the Yaris was built for ..well..ummm..chicks
Listek

What is it about blogs that promote such maladjusted and missinformed diatribe? Do you people read the tripe you write? The Yaris is the best selling car in its class as it’s clearly head and shoulders above all else in a hotly contested market sector. Period. The people who buy them are not fools, they’ve done their research and purchased on merit. Unlike the majority of fools writing the above comments. Grow up and look at things objectively.
Mark

I totally agree with Jode & Listek. I have owned many cars, including a 240Z, V6 & V8 Commodores and lots more. I bought a new Yaris YR 3 door in 06 to do a daily 3 hour mostly highway commute. Also did some 6 hour country trips in it as well. 28000km in 6 months and not one problem. Heaps of room, fun to drive, good stereo & it cruised easily at 140+ kph. Brilliant car. My brother who is a Motor Mechanic by trade agrees – After driving mine, he bought a Yaris Sedan. 60000 kms without a problem. They even have a camchain and not a timing belt. Highly recommended.
NotTheStig

Perhaps you haven’t had a problem but I certainly wouldn’t want to be in one if you have a accident.

Mark – do you really think you are safe driving at 140km/h in a light tin can ? You don’t value your life at all…

Listek – are you really that silly to think that because something sells the most, it is the best ? – you are seriously deluded…

It is a good car – for grannys going down the bowling club or driving around town at low speed. Nothing else.
Greg Shaman

I think many of the criticisms of the Yaris mentioned in the previous posts are not warranted and are mostly coming from people who never even driven one. The missus has one and I end up driving it once or twice a week.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be getting such a small car but it’s her car, her choice. I’m used to sports motorcycles, wagons and AWDs. Still, I must admit, the yaris is not a bad little runabout.
We have the YRS auto which has no problem keeping up with traffic. It actually has a reasonably solid feel and the doors close with a satisfying thud. I tried out a few small cars and with my 6’2″, I just couldn’t find a comfortable position in most, no matter what adjutments I tried. The Swift for example just didn’t feel right. The Yaris had angle and TELESCOPIC adjustment for the steering wheel, which made the trick. As nice as the Mazda3 is, the Mazda2 just feels like a tiny car while the Yaris feels more substantial than what it realy is – in a nice sort of way. The looks? Nothing special but it’s not too bad, either. It’s a matter of what floats your boat.
Inside, controls just fall into the hands. Everything felt natural after just a couple of drives. (In contrast, after 5 years of driving it, I still have to hunt around for the controls on my Freelander.)
Suspension and road holding is not bad. It does start to show its limits above 100kmph but around town, it’s just fine. Steering is too light and braking is a bit spongy but they both do the job well enough. If there is one design flow, its the accelerator. It’s just WAY too sensitive in the first few mm of travel. What were they thinking of??! Again, it’s something that you can get used to after a few drives.
Overall, if you look at individual aspects, the Yaris is not best at anything (except maybe resale value). You’ll find something with larger boot space, better steering more powerful engine etc. Those other cars however, will also have some serious flaws, while the Yaris is consistently either very good or at least competent. If my earlier Camry is any guide, Toyotas are reliable, too.
If you take the new price into account, I think it offers better value than the competition.
If you want a versatile, comfortable little car, you should try it out, yourself. If you have a single-minded requirement for just one thing, like maximum storage space, by all means, it’s worth looking elsewhere.
Greg Shaman

BTW, just because grannies, young chicks or gays drive the Yaris and you are none of the above, it doesn’t make the car any worse (or better), by itself.
Sure, you wouldn’t be doing doughnuts in the Yaris, but if you are keen on sporty performance, why would you even consider the Yaris, anyway?? If you want Volvo level safety, by a Vol… err, buy a Merc. The point is that when taking the price into account, the Yaris is an OK car. Perhaps, it’s not for everybody but no car is and most people could live with one. Just don’t be a wood duck and pay RRP at the dealer!!
wiki

if the oil prices were to go up today all the male egos would go down the drain. people dont buy cars like yaris because its a mans car or a girls car. its cheap gets the job done and is certainly more reliable than a commodore or a falcon. its not a fun cars to drive if your looking for high Kw’s and pin sharp conering but if you want to save a lot of money than yaris like the mazda 2 and the swift are the way to go.
mick

I recently bought a base model 3door 1.3ltr yaris. I own a security company and we have a regular nightly patrol run, the yaris has just completed 30,000kms (does 220kms each night.) So far it has been a trouble free very cheap to run reliable vehicle. I did a lot of homework before the yaris was considered and toyotas reliability stood out above the rest. It may not be fast and sporty but it does what i expect it to do and that makes it a winner to me.
.,.

It’s Boot space is so tiny that it is almost useless…If you guys want practicality do not buy Yaris
Heather

I have a 2006 Yaris. No it isnt fancy but what a fantastic car. All depends what you are into. We have to travel nearly 2 kms on a dirt road and it handles it so well – nothing rattles or has fallen off – love the centre digital display, the steering wheel music controls and very good air conditioning. I have an auto and it goes along really well. I test drove the Honda, Getz, Mazda and Kia and this was by far the better car. Yes, it would be nice if there was more boot space and it is not a family car – nice if the interior was more expensive looking – but really to get from A to B you cant go wrong.
g

way to many around. swift sport much better…looks and drive.
confusedd

Im really confused now. Ive just read the list if comments above..i was really keen on buying a yaris( just an hour ago ive been calling all the toyota dealers) but nw i seen to be leaning towards the mazda 2 or a honda fit possibly?
Byron

This car makes me sick. Literally. How you can put the speedo in the middle of the dash & accept that as been safe, i don’t get. I couldn’t drive a car without the speedo in front of me. It’s completly stupid. All the dials surrounding the speedo look just as bad. Exterior is pretty sh*t, it’s done cheap;y, wprse that a Barina. Lol. I’d rather a Fiesta, Getz or Barina. Whats the go with the value on Yaris. Not cheap for a small car. You don’t get much for what u pay. Yaris would be my last choice for a small car. Most other small cars don’t have the speedo in the middle. Idk how it sells. Probably fleets & Daddy’s little girl, who must be blind buying this. Pretty sh*t job Toyota. I’d look elsewhere. Go HOLDEN!

Can someone explain why manufactors put the speedo in the middle of the dash?

JJ04

^ So you look at the road ahead of you instead of down at the dash

MichaelR

Been test driving small cars for a suburban run-about last week end. Mazda 2 was the nearest in price but pedals so close together, you’d have to be bare foot. Also it struggled to get up medium hills around Hornsby with only two passengers. Honda Jazz in the 1.3l engine looked good but had little power and $4k extra for the 1.5 was steep.The Yaris sedan seems roomier, maybe not powerful but I’ve had two NRMA guys (don’t ask) say Toyotas never break down so how can you pass them up? Price seems to be $20K manual; can I get better?
MichaelR

confusdd: what did you decide?
liz

I am about to buy a new car, and I learnt in a yaris and i found it good and easy to maneover. It does grind up some hills, but you expect that in all small cars. Its a great little city car, and its certainly not marketed as a family car, so those who complain there isnt enough room for families, get a different car thats marketed towards families.
Id have to say that the Micra is more of a girls car than Yaris…just have to look at the bug lights to prove that point.
I found the brake to be a bit spongy the other day when i was test driving one, i didnt stop until after the line and other cars had to move including a police car which wasnt good lol. But its nice and easy to move and good enough for me.
Plus you got the reliability of toyota. I had considered a Mazda but they got the reputation of being expensive to run and maintain/service/parts.
http://bent Evolution

liz

Do yourself a favour and check out the price of Toyota spare parts, expensive! Also don’t be fooled by Toyota’s Service Advantage – ie fixed price servicing. To maintain your warranty you must service every 6 months. Compare this with Mitsubishi (and others) service every 12mths, also Mitsubishi have 10 year warranty for engine, automatic transmission etc. Mazda is a very good choice, also drive the Ford Fiesta, heaps of fun!
The Other Brad

Have a look at the recent “Australia’s Best Cars” review. Was quite surprised to see how Toyota’s parts had shot up comapared to 2008.
Denis

I just don’t know.. maybe alot of jealous people out there? Matter of fact, I am a “Buy Amercan” kind of guy. I really think Ford has got it. They made money last year and didn’t get the bail out like GM and Chrysler. My Mustang is built in Flat Rock, Michigan. It is a 2007 and I have no complaints at all. It does exactly as it is supposed to do. It looks very cool and hauls ass. This brings me to the Toyota Yaris topic. I bought one in 2008. I comute to work about 180 miles a day. The Yaris holds 11 gallons of gasoline. I regularly make the trip on 2 tanks a week. I normally fill about 440 because that is where the gas staion is. Generally I am well into the 400′s when the last line on the gage starts blinking. FYI.. the car easily gets 40+ miles per gallon. I bought it when gas was $4.50 a gallon. This car has the upgreaded radio and power package. I replaced the wheels but that is the only modification made to it. I defy anyone that is bitching about how bad the Yaris looks or the quality that has a Mazda, a Fiesta or any other car to out perform the Yaris for it’s intended purpose.. which is to get you from one place to another.. safely and economically. It does these things without flaw.

Tomas79

Denis I agree with you, the thing is there is a lot people on this site with an anti-Toyota obsession, and it has become rather fashionable, to knock anything wearing the Toyota badge, irrespective of how idiotic the argument is…

lyn

it is very obvious who have driven a yaris and who havent or like one comment just plain geolousy, i have had my 1.5 yaris since 2008 and absolutely love it. it has just been written off due to hail damage and i was devestated, after looking for a replacement i cannot honestly say i would want any other car. it is reliable, has lots of guts and the interior is way from boring compared to the other cars, it is quite unique. would someone on this site with any real knowledge of the yars please comment
Janet

Geeeezz… does anyone have anything NICE to say? I owned a Toyota Yaris Hatch and had a car accident so it had to be written off. I was completely gutted though because I felt very safe even when having an accident in it! They are solid cars, reliable, and i find the ‘fat insect’ look very normal looking. If we’re going to be calling cars insulting names, then i think the Mazda 2 looks like a long nosed witch! I don’t think it should matter what the brand your car is. If you feel safe in it, and it does what you require for it to do, i’m pretty sure thats what we have cars for!
rob

I looked around for at least a few months while considering my options. My criteria were, easy to get parts for (so more vitz being driven than mazda2′s or swifts), cheap to run and reliable (just having spent close to 4grand on repairs on my audi in the last two year had left me with a bad taste in my mouth).
I’m very happy with my 2005 vitx 1.3. Its zippy, very cheap on gas and reliable! What more could one ask. Oh boot space, who needs it. Being a surfy, I put a roof rack on it and i was good to go. Surfs up!!
Kelly

lol…what a read…seriously all u ppl that bag it…go jump ok…nobody is forcing u to purchase one.

I own a 2008 YRS yaris and honestly after test-driving and researhing ALL the small cars that were on the market at the time, the yaris was the best. ( and yes i may be female, but that doesnt mean crap)…anywaysss all the smaller cars on the market were freaking ugly or felt like plastic….eg (in my opinion) swifts are tissue boxes on wheels, getz are plain and boring, micras are plastic and extremely ugly etc etc.

I have driven this car to qld and back 3 times
from sydney and i have done the trip in 7.5hrs oneway in the yaris. The car drove like a dream non-stop, had enough gutz to overtake and was a quiet and comfy ride. But the best part is the fact that i only needed to fill up ONCE per journey and i was driving with the air-con too!….from a full tank i think u get roughly 600ks…get fuel economy like that from other cars?….prove me wrong. lol

Lookwise, i think its simple and compact, i got mine in black, and put 17″ chrome wheels on it, lowered it slighty and it looks great, better than other small cars with larger wheels. Inside is easy and simple…the spedo is awesome so clear and precise!…When sitting in the drivers seat i feel alot higher up and in-level with other cars, giving me illusion that in fact i am driving a bigger car…other small cars drivers seat feel too low down…its zippy and efficent…its quick off the mark and i easily keep up with other traffic!

Bootspace…pfftt…if u have a family…clearly its not for u…it fits the shopping in snuggly and if u do have a bit more than that then fold the seats down? derr….to put it into perspective…i fit a 50″ TV (still in the box) inside the yaris with the rear seats folded down…i was told by the shop that i would need to have it delivered, but i knew it would fit…and i was right!….whilst inside the yaris it comfortably seats 4…i have even had 3 baby seats in the back and the kids werent squashed at all…the car is big inside for a small car…and it gives the illusion of being even bigger due to the large windows of the yaris.

I feel exteremly safe in the yaris, i have reverese sensors which are very sensitive but i love it, makes parking a breeze…the system is fantastic and i love the steering-wheel mounted controls. When driving in heavy rain the yaris is great, wipers are fantastic and handling is too. I also feel alot safer due the fact it doesnt feel like im sitting in a coke can like its other compeditors.

I am a very happy yaris customer and i wouldnt consider any other smaller car. Now that yaris offer the cosmipolitian colour (hot pink) its even more of a winner. It put its other compeditors on show!!!
James

There good little cars.
http://amaar amaar

When to switch to fat Changer speed car Alcorella 2009 Is there a fat breadwinner is changed
http://carradioscheap.blogspot.com/feeds/4635387883601185579/comments/default Jonecheap car radios suggest

My brother recommended I might like this web site. He used to be entirely right. This submit truly made my day. You can not imagine simply how a lot time I had spent for this info! Thanks!