2012 Toyota Yaris review

2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback SE. Click for larger photo. See more photos

Having been familiar with Toyota products for a long time, I've noticed one thing: Toyota keeps things simple and advances in small, steady steps. This is the reason, in my opinion, why Toyota vehicles are generally rated high for their reliability. The freshly redesigned subcompact 2012 Yaris Hatchback is in line with this concept. While it's much upgraded vehicle and doesn't feel as much of a budget car inside as the previous model did, it still uses many of the same proven technologies.

The 2012 Yaris hatchback is available in 3-door and 5-door body styles and comes in three grades: the base CE (L in US), value-packaged LE and sport-tuned SE. The SE is available only as a five-door and comes with larger 16-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension and disk brakes on all 4 wheels. The SE features a more aggressive exterior and sporty interior with sharper instrument panel and leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The only engine choice is the 106-hp 1.5L 16-valve DOHC with variable valve timing (VVT-i). This engine (model 1NZ-FE) has already been used for a few years in many Toyota small cars around the world. It's a simple, well-designed engine: there is no direct injection, no turbo and no timing belt to worry about. The 5-speed manual transmission is standard. The 4-speed automatic is optional. The Yaris has MacPherson struts in the front and torsion beam in the rear suspension; the steering is electrically assisted. The 2012 Yaris uses a single front wiper that swipes the whole windshield in one smooth motion. You probably saw this type of wipers on large buses.

The 2012 Yaris hatchback has nine standard airbags: front, front-seat mounted side airbags, a knee airbag for the driver, roll-sensing side airbags that are fitted on the front seats and two front seat cushion airbags. The Yaris also comes with standard Star Safety System™ that includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology (SST). The Smart Stop Technology automatically reduces engine power when the brake and accelerator pedals are pressed at the same time under certain conditions.
At the time this review was written, the NHTSA crash test scores were not available, we will update this info later. The 2012 Yaris 5-door hatchback received Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

2012 Toyota Yaris interior. Click for larger photo

2012 Toyota Yaris rear seat. Click for larger photo

2012 Toyota Yaris trunk. Click for larger photo

2012 Toyota Yaris 1.5L VVT-i engine. Click for larger photo. See more photos

Compared to the 2011 model, the new Yaris hatchback has a more sporty look, and much better interior. The wheelbase grew by two inches and the overall length has been increased by 2.9 inches. It's a subcompact, but once you get into the driver's seat, The Yaris really doesn't feels that small with its far-stretched dashboard and high roof line. With 6'2" I had plenty of headroom and legroom. Even the rear seat space is fairly generous for a subcompact. The front seats are supportive; the steering tilts, but doesn't telescope. The Yaris SE features a leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. The audio system has decent sound for this type of car and you can listen your iPod through the USB audio input.

For this review I test drove the Yaris SE, which turned out to be a fun-to-drive little car. It's surprisingly quick from the start and feels very agile and maneuverable overall. The ride is quiet and the road noise is well insulated. Driving in a city, the engine noise is minimal, but you will hear it under hard acceleration or when merging or passing on a highway. What the Yaris is missing, in my opinion, is one more high gear: driving at 60 mph (96 km/h) with the automatic transmission, the tachometer needle stays at 2,500 rpm.

The 2012 Toyota Yaris with a manual transmission is rated by the EPA at 30/38 US MPG (7.8/6.2 L/100 km) city/highway. The automatic-transmission model posts 30/35 US MPG (7.8/6.7 L/100 km) city/highway.

Being closely familiar with mechanical part, I also checked the Yaris's technical side: judging by the way it is built, it should be reliable in a long run, of course, if maintained well.

Overall, with a long list of standard safety equipment and one of the best city fuel economy in its class, the 2012 Yaris hatchback is a practical, economical city car that won't cost a lot to maintain.
Toyota Yaris is priced comparable to other sub-compacts. Check the details at: Toyota.com or Toyota Canada.
Competitors include Honda Fit, Chevrolet Sonic, Hyundai Accent and Nissan Versa.
See more Toyota Yaris photos.

2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback Specifications (Canadian model)

Next: Toyota Yaris Photos »