Now embarking on its second generation in the U.S., the subcompact Yaris sizes up as the smallest entry in Toyota's expansive lineup.
The first-generation effort arrived in the 2007 calendar year as gas prices starting spiking to a now almost customary $4 per gallon. About the same time, Japanese rivals Honda and Nissan were introducing all-new subcompact warriors (Fit and Versa respectively). The trio found a ready-made audience eager for low-priced, high-mileage quick fixes to compensate for sticker shock at the pump. Since 2007, competition has grown mega-fold with competent tiny tot offerings from Chevrolet (the Michigan-built Sonic), Ford (the stylish Fiesta) and the redesigned-for-2012 Hyundai Accent. All are light years ahead of bare-boned econo-boxes of eras past.
Yaris' timely update boasts an additional 2.9 inches in length. The number of body styles is trimmed from three down to two. Gone is the Yaris four-door sedan, leaving versatile three-door or five-door lift back styles. As with Gen One, all sport front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is not offered.
Three-door versions are available in L and LE trims while the five-door adds a new-for 2012 sports-tuned SE. A five-speed manual transmission comes standard with L and SE models. Automatic transmission comes solely with LE and is optional in the other two trims. Every trim comes with air conditioning, compact disc player and USB connections/auxiliary inputs, rear defroster, power locks and electronic power steering.
Powering all Yaris models is a competent 1.5-liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine virtually unchanged from 2011. It's the only powertrain in the lineup. This workhorse has served Toyota well and is widely considered the Energizer Bunny of four-cylinders thanks to well documented durability and reliability. Nothing fancy, it just keeps going and going, delivering a useful, but far from class leading 106 horsepower. Yaris compensates with a lighter overall weight than Honda Fit or Chevrolet Sonic. While tooling around Chicago's colorful Fall-inspired suburbs, it combined with pleasant handling for a worry-free experience. At highway speeds, some tire noise is evident while the durable 1.5-liter emits a competent tone.
One notable interior update in Gen Two is the instrument cluster, now positioned in a more traditional spot directly in front of the driver. The first generation Yaris along with its predecessor, Toyota's Echo (2000-2005) located the speedometer up and to the right, basically atop the center dash skewed towards the driver. The 2012's multi-level, contoured dashboard incorporates a modern design with added soft-touch nuances absent from last year.
The lowest-priced 2012 Yaris, a three-door Base (L) model with five-speed manual checks in at $14,115; add $725 when ordering automatic. While this represents a price hike from 2011, Gen Two includes more standard equipment including an impressive nine air bags. Our tester, a sportier-tuned SE with automatic transmission included a $17,200 starting price. With no factory options and dealer-installed carpeted floor mats along with a $760 destination charge the bottom line reached $18,140. Yaris SE trims with five-speed manual start $600 less.
The SE features stiffer suspension, sports-tuned electronic power steering, integrated fog lamps and larger 16-inch tires (15 inchers adorn the other two trims.) Cruise control comes standard in SE while optional in LE. Base L's are cruise control free. In-dash navigation is not available, but inexpensive aftermarket dash-top versions are sold for under $300.
Within the confines of the more traditional cluster, a large, round center speedometer gets flanked by a three-quartered-circled left side tachometer and right-side fuel gage. A small digital message center is tucked into the lower right of the speedometer listing time, outside temperature and other factoids. The leather-wrapped three-spoke, manually tilting (non-telescoping) steering wheel with brushed aluminum inserts includes secondary volume and station preset selector while cruise control gets monitored from a five-o'clock small, squarish appendage.
Smartly, three large, easy-to-grab dials monitor single-zone temperature settings. Directly above is a square-framed audio system with user-friendly buttons and push plates, although buttons measure small. At the west end is a circular extension housing a hazard button and digital alerts. No push-button start as the ignition cylinder is found on the steering column's right side. If precipitation is imminent, switch on the front wipers, or should we say WIPER, to swipe away rain. The mono-arm design replaces a two-stroke template from Gen One.
For a subcompact, headroom rates better than expected in front while the horizontal, not overtly curved roof ads up to decent noggin space for row two riders. Unexpected but certainly welcome wider-opening rear doors supply a generous amount of leg swing room when entering and exiting. Overall leg room, considering the subcompact size, is also better than expected.
Front buckets manually slide once an under-seat grab bar is called to action. Seats, like many in Toyota's stable, tend to the cushier, not firmer setting. Cloth seats come standard and our SE tester included thin, cross-haired patterned inserts borrowing the same color scheme as the exterior.
Regular 87-octane unleaded fuel fills the smallish 11.1 gallon tank. Our SE trim with automatic transmission included mileage estimates of 30 miles per gallon city and 35 highway. Add three more mpg highway with five-speed manual. While impressive, it falls short of the 2012 Hyundai Accent subcompact which reaches the 40 mpg plateau with manual or automatic transmissions. No gas-electric hybrid Yaris edition is available, but the compact Prius family of alternative-powered variants continues growing enabling Toyota dealers answer the fuel-extending bell loud and clear.
One item Toyota may wish to recalibrate is the four-speed automatic transmission. Although new for 2012 with a lighter and more compact design, many recently introduced or updated rivals now sport more advanced five or six-speed shifters. In Nissan's case, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is available in the subcompact Versa. Ford's Fiesta counters with an advanced dual clutch automatic helping boost fuel figures.
Eight exterior color choices are offered including an attractive all-new Lagoon Blue Mica found on the tester. Long, curving A pillars contrast with a small hood flanked by large, cat's eye headlight housing. The narrow honeycomb grille includes Toyota's circular logo front and center. Little overhang is found behind rear wheels. The rear hatch, with standard wiper, opens up from the bottom with enough head clearance for those six-feet one inches and shorter. The cargo region behind the second row is significantly larger (now 15.3 cubic feet) than Gen. One, but measures less than what Sonic or Accent offer. Yaris lift backs include a standard cargo cover helping to keep prying eyes away from what's in storage. A temporary spare tire resides under the flat cargo floor. The SE trim includes a top-side hatch spoiler. Large side windows minimize side blind spots.
The 2012 second-generation Yaris came online just in time to battle the likes of the new Chevrolet Sonic and Ford Fiesta. Once the undisputed leader in the compact arena, Toyota now has competent competition from the domestic auto front. This next-generation Yaris effort keeps closer pace to the competition than the 2011 counterpart.
2012 Toyota YarisPrice as tested: $18,140
Wheelbase: 98.8 inches
Length: 153.5 inches
Width: 66.7 inches
Engine: 1.5-liter four cylinder
Horsepower: 106
Curb weight: 2,315 pounds
Powertrain warranty: Five year/60,000-mile
City/Highway economy: 30 mpg city, 35 mpg highway