Toyota Yaris
Overall Score - 7.3 (Good)
The all-new Yaris delivers a pleasant drive with good storage space and the Toyota reputation for quality, but doesn't match the performance or upscale design and features of others in its class. If you're in the market for an affordable small car, you should also consider the only slightly pricier 2007 Honda Fit, or the 2007 Honda Civic.
Introduced in 2007, the Toyota Yaris is considered an improvement over its subcompact predecessor, the Echo. However, despite its European-based design, increased storage space and roomier interior, the Yaris lacks the refinement and driving performance now expected of even budget-class cars.
The Yaris comes in both a sedan and a hatchback version, and many reviewers rate its design based on their dislike of the car it replaced in Toyota's lineup, the Echo. The San Diego Union-Tribune says the Yaris offers "no-frills curb appeal. Its platform is longer and wider than the hopeless Echo, and it has an athletic-no longer boxy -- stance." While reviewers consider the Toyota Yaris' slow acceleration a negative point, they still found the car good for its purpose. As the Boston Globe comments, "this is an urban/suburban/go-to-the-store car. And that's not a bad thing."
The base model 2007 Toyota Yaris sticker price is a very affordable starting point within its class. However, as the Washington Post notes, compact cars have lower listed prices that can rise considerably when adding optional equipment like an automatic transmission, or side air bags and braking systems. As A Car Place observes, "For that price, you can get a nice Corolla, or a more solid feeling Chevy Cobalt, which is also a fun little car." IntelliChoice gives the 2007 Yaris a rating of "excellent" for its predicted five-year total cost of ownership compared with other vehicles in its class, and the Yaris is a "Recommended" choice by Consumer Guide.
Yaris Performance - 6.3 (Mediocre)
Like others, the Chicago Sun-Times finds the Yaris' driving performance merely "decent." Test drivers find the turns and steering to be fairly crisp and the stops made in good time, but acceleration and maintaining high speeds were more difficult. continue
Yaris Exterior - 7.5 (Good)
The 2007 Toyota Yaris comes in either a liftback (Yaris-speak for hatchback), or two trims of a sedan. Reviewers were creative when trying to describe the outer appearance of whichever Yaris they drove. The Boston Globe uses "a peanut on wheels," and Car and Driver prefers "a character out of Finding Nemo." continue
Yaris Interior - 6.4 (Mediocre)
The Yaris' interior is considered bare bones in design and features, but its roominess could make up for its plainness. U.S. News reviewer Rick Newman explained it best by writing, "the base model is truly a bare-bones vehicle," but came back with, "the interior, spare as it is, is well designed and practical." continue
Yaris Safety - 7.3 (Good)
In crash tests by the government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Yaris sedan receives high marks in all areas except side-impact crashes in models lacking the optional side air bags. Paying extra for the side curtain air bags and an anti-lock braking system is strongly recommended. continue
Yaris Reliability - 7.0 (Good)
The 2007 Toyota Yaris reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2007 Yaris has a basic comprehensive warranty that's provided for three years or 36,000 miles. continue
