"It's a car!"
That was the old tagline for the Yaris commercials. Lest you think they protest a bit too much, the idea was pretty simple: here's a little car with everything you need, and not much more than that.
Personally, that's my kind of machine. Just the facts, ma'am, no need for 18-way seats and bodyroll-controlling hydraulics, and on-board infotainment systems that can scan your brainwaves to find the best radio station. Nope, sometimes it's better if a car is just a car.
Toyota's put a fresh new face on their smallest offering, and by "fresh," I of course mean "scary." Yikes, that's one aggressive looking little eco-pod!
So, is the machine behind the fright mask still packing the essentials, or is there something more sinister going on here?
Design
Well that's certainly a unique take up front. No one could accuse Toyota's design department of being afraid to take a risk or two. What once was a tad on the bland side now looks like a cross between a Tiki mask and a Mexican wrestler.
It's all just for show, so don't worry — the Yaris isn't going to bite. In fact, take a brief walkaround to peek at its other four angles, and the car remains as it was before, an inoffensive and handsome little economy car. It's got wheelcovers. It's got a hidden exhaust pipe. If it weren't for the meanmugging front, you'd call it cute.
Also, you won't be calling it cheap. While this is the most basic version of the four-door Yaris hatchback, it still comes with body-coloured door handles and mirrors. It's inexpensive, but the exterior doesn't trumpet it.
Environment
The inside is much the same — not costly, but not bargain basement either. Toyota has fitted the LE with pretty much everything you need in an entry-level car. There are standard power door locks and windows, cruise control, and even a touchscreen interface.
Especially for such a diminutive little car, it's quite roomy in here. Toyota ditched the centre-mounted instrument cluster some time ago, and now has massaged the dash with a bit more soft-touch material and a few extra cubbies. It's just what you need, including a little pocket for your smartphone right next to the USB plug-in.
For some reason, Toyota weighs passenger space more heavily than cargo area, so while the Yaris has usefully sized rear seats, the trunk space is a little on the small side. Lift the lid and you'll see the culprit — a space-saver spare tire crammed into a small area at an angle. The seats fold down, but there's none of the cleverness of Honda's Magic Seat system here.
Performance
Under the hood, the Yaris has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine making a modest 106 horsepower at 6,000 r.p.m. and 103 foot-pounds of peak torque at 4,000 r.p.m. The standard transmission offering is still a five-speed manual, but the only available automatic is a four-speed.
Sounds pretty low-tech, right? Well, it is, but there's something of an advantage to that. While it's not as quick as a dual-clutch or as miserly as a CVT, the Yaris' four-pot-plus-four-speed combination is bone-reliable, even if slightly neglected. Then there's the Yaris' other major party trick: it weighs practically nothing.
"Simplify and add lightness." That was the old adage of Colin Chapman's Lotus, and while Toyota might not have involved Lotus in the building of their efficient runabout, they certainly espoused those ideals. The Yaris weighs about as much as a first-generation Miata, and that makes it relatively fun to drive. It bounces over imperfections in the pavement without too much fuss and hurtles around the corners with gusto.
The four-speed transmission is tuned for efficiency, not quick-shifting or extracting power, and the small-displacement four-banger doesn't have much power to give anyway. However, there's so little inertial resistance from the Yaris' curb weight that you can just pogo the car off down the road without difficulty.
The driving position is slightly on the odd side. As the steering wheel tilts only, and doesn't telescope, a longer-legged driver ends up sitting with his or her arms straight out, almost like an old Ferrari. Even so, it's not uncomfortable, and when you get the Yaris out on the highway, you can note that the four-speed is actually quite high-geared. It's relatively quiet in the cabin, and the chassis feels stiff.
Behind the scenes, Toyota's put a few extra welds into the structure of the Yaris, and while it's not about to go battling around a racetrack, the move has firmed up the feel of the car. It feels very composed despite the small power output, and more than up to the task as a commuter.
Features
As mentioned, there's no real need to consider options other than which transmission to pick on the Yaris. While slightly costlier than other manufacturers' base models — the LE model starts at $15,965 — the little Toyota has pretty much everything you need: USB connectivity, a touchscreen, keyless entry, air conditioning, nine airbags. It's all there.
The SE model adds in a few luxuries like leather-wrapped control surfaces, sportier seats, and foglights. Nice, but not absolutely necessary.
Fuel economy is very good, as you'd expect, with official 2015 five-cycle figures set at 7.8 litres/100 kilometres in the city and 6.6 l/100 km on the highway. There are larger cars that'll do better at high speed, thanks to slippery shapes, but the Yaris does well, hitting its numbers in real-world driving.
Green light
Nimble handling; fun to drive; quiet cabin; sensible packaging.
Stop sign
Love it or leave it styling; low-tech powertrain; lack of cargo space.
The checkered flag
Fierce little scowl or no, it's still just a car. Just what's needed.
Competition
Honda Fit ($14,495): Fit — it's all in the name. With a bit more power than the Yaris and a whole schwack more cargo-carrying capability, Honda's hatchback is a star.
However, on value at least, the Yaris claws back a small advantage. You need to step up to mid-level trims to get stuff like USB connectivity in the Fit, where the Toyota has it standard.
Nissan Micra ($9,998): It's tough to beat the Nissan Micra on price. Heck, it's practically impossible, at least in the new car world.
Still, the Micra you get for the automotive equivalent of 99 cents is pretty bare bones: no air conditioning, no Bluetooth, no power door locks. Get a mid-level Micra and the Yaris draws even on price. If you only need the basics though, the Nissan is a compelling choice.
