Toyota Yaris 2006 - 2010 review

Overview

2010 Toyota Yaris LE Hatch Back. (Photo: Toyota Canada) 2010 Toyota Yaris interior. (Photo: Toyota Canada) 2010 Toyota Yaris. (Photo: Toyota Canada) Toyota Yaris has been introduced in 2006 for Canada and in 2007 for US, as a replacement for the Echo. The Yaris is a simple practical and very fuel-efficient sub-compact city car. The Yaris has front-wheel drive and is available as three- or five-door hatchback (liftback) or four-door sedan. The only engine choice is a 106-hp 1.5-liter 4-cylinder 16-valve VVT-i DOHC engine. It's paired with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Toyota Yaris has McPherson struts in the front and torsion beam in the rear suspension. Inside, the Yaris is surprisingly roomy for such a small car. Interestingly, the sedan's interior design is quite different from the hatchback; the sedan offers little more interior space and better-looking materials. The instrument panel is at the center of the dashboard, which takes some time to get used to. Controls are very simple, the fit and finish is good. In a hatchback, the rear seat folds down flat. On the road, the Yaris feels very nimble, especially with 5-speed manual. It is very maneuverable, which make city driving and parking a lot easier. The ride is pretty soft for this type of vehicle. On the downside, you can hear the engine and some road noise. In addition, lack of the fifth gear on the automatic transmission is noticeable on the highway. The Antilock braking system (ABS) is optional; standard on late models. Side airbags and side curtain airbags are available. In the NHTSA frontal crash tests, the 2007-2010 Yaris 4-door sedan, as well as 2009-2010 5-door liftback received four stars for both the driver and the front passenger. The 2008-2010 Yaris 2-door liftback received five stars for the driver and four stars for the front passenger in the same tests. For more details, visit Safercar.gov.

Engine

2010 Toyota Yaris engine. (Photo: Toyota Canada) The 2006-2010 Yaris comes with only one engine choice: the 1.5L 106-hp 4-cylinder 16-Valve DOHC with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i). This engine has a timing chain rather than a belt. A timing chain doesn't need to be replaced in regular intervals. Overall, this is solid, fuel-efficient engine that shouldn't give you too many problems if maintained properly.

Pros

- Excellent fuel economy
- Maneuverability
- Practical interior
- Generous space for such a small car
- Plenty of available options
- Low maintenance cost

Cons

- The center-mounted instrument panel takes time to get used to
- Lack of extra gear on automatic transmission
- Road and wind noise
- Tachometer and cruise control are not standard in all models

Overall

Toyota Yaris is a good choice for a sub-compact around-town car or a small commuter. It's very maneuverable, it has practical, surprisingly roomy interior and generous level of available equipment.
Yes, having a small car has its downsides, but if you OK with its size, it's a nice little car. The Yaris won't stretch your budget, as it is very fuel-efficient; it also won't cost you too much to maintain. With proper care, it shouldn't give you too many problems.

What to look for buying a used Toyota Yaris

As a first step, check the used car history records. A history report may help you to uncover some of the problems the car might have in the past such as accidents, flood damage, rolled back odometer, rental use, etc.
Follow this link: How to check used car history
- Not all models have a cruise control; if you need it, look for a model that has it.
- Check the service records if available - it's important to verify that the car was properly maintained.
- Avoid cars with very high mileage.
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a Toyota dealer before buying a car; in worst cases repair might be quite expensive.
Check more tips on what to look for when buying a used car
- Before buying a car, have it properly inspected by a mechanic.
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition. Check our step-by-step used car buying guide for more information.
Some models may be costly to insure. Get the insurance quotes first.
- After you bought a car, check with Toyota dealer if all safety recalls have been performed.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your vehicle regularly to protect the paint.
- If you live in the area with high humidity, rustproofing may help to protect the car body from corrosion.
- Regular oil changes are important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Change transmission fluid in recommended intervals using original Toyota transmission fluid.
- Stick with original Toyota parts and fluids.
- Follow recommended maintenance schedule and keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- Take care of any minor problem before it becomes a major one.
- Have your car inspected, at least once a year, in a garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at fast lube places; the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more car maintenance tips

2007 Toyota Yaris sedan short specifications

Dimensions:
Overall length: Overall width: Overall height: Wheelbase:	4300 mm (169.3 in) 1690 mm (66.5 in) 1440 mm (56.7 in) 2550 mm (100.4 in)
Seating Capacity:	5
Cargo Volume:	365 liters (12.9 cu. ft)
Engine:	1.5L 16-Valve DOHC VVT-i in-line 4-cylinder 106 hp @ 6,000 rpm 103 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm
EPA Est. Fuel Economy:
Manual transmission: Automatic transmission:	city: 8.1 L/100km (29 US MPG) hwy: 6.5 L/100km (36 US MPG) city: 8.1 L/100km (29 US MPG) hwy: 6.7 L/100km (35 US MPG)
Recommended Fuel:	Regular unleaded
Fuel Tank Capacity:	42 liter (11.1 US gal)