Little baby of a Yaris

Finally some relief at the pumps — but not from oil companies, from some automakers like Toyota.

Help comes in the form of fuel-saving subcompacts, like the Toyota Yaris. The 2007 Yaris replaces Toyota's smallest car, the Echo. It comes in a hatchback or sedan version. It's extremely fuel-efficient — you'll grin ear-to-ear every time you drive by a gas station. And even though it's a small vehicle, it's practical and roomy inside.

The best part is the price. The sedan, my test vehicle, starts at only $14,530. The base hatch costs less: $13,752. While there are optional packages available to add some extra convenient and safety features, my tester is pretty basic. Only air conditioning ($1,150) and a 4-speed automatic transmission ($1,000) are added to the price. As tested, the Yaris rings in at a reasonable $17,770.

When I first picked up the keys at Toyota's head office in Scarborough, I glanced twice at the sparse chain with a single key and no fob. In other words — no power door locks, no power trunk release. How quickly you forget the simplest task like opening the driver's door — insert the key into the hole and turn to unlock. Remember the move? It seems ancient, but in reality it was common practice a few years ago.

Toyota Yaris - Women's PostThere are no power windows on my tester, either — elbow grease does the trick. Getting a cross-breeze takes some work: Stretch across the passenger seat as far as you can, twist the rotary handle, and crank open the window. If it pours when the rear windows are down, you'll have to apply those old contortionist moves. Sure, it's a bit tedious. But after a while you get used to it; it's really no big deal. Actually it's a refreshing change to go back to the basics. But if you really can't live without power windows or door locks, you can always add an optional package with the bundled equipment.

The exterior of the Yaris isn't dramatic, but it's cute. Inside, the cabin is simple and sparse; it's filled with hard plastics like most compact cars.

When you first enter the cabin, the European-inspired instrumentation immediately grabs your attention. The instrumentation is mounted in the centre of the dashboard, not in front of the driver. Some passengers disliked the design. For the driver, it's distracting, at first. But after a while, it isn't a problem. I actually liked the look — it adds a distinctive flavour to an otherwise bland interior.

There are lots of nooks and crannies to hide valuables and necessities, like your wallet or makeup. There are door map pockets, seat back pockets, a front console box with lid, and even a storage compartment beneath the cargo area. Dual vanity mirrors are an added bonus, I didn't expect to find on a low-budget vehicle.

The Yaris seats five. The front bucket seats are comfortable, with manual adjustments for the driver and passenger. Space in the front is ample. In the rear, it's less. Two adults are fine, but three are tight, especially for the person stuck in the middle seat. Headroom and shoulder room is lacking. Visibility out the rear window is also hampered when passengers are crammed in the backseat. But if you have kids riding in the rear, visibility is improved.

The trunk has plenty of room, 365 litres of space — perfect for storing several grocery bags. Split-folding rear seats add even more cargo capacity.

The Yaris sedan is powered by a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder engine equipped with 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque. My tester is mated to an optional 4-speed automatic; a 5-speed manual transmission is standard.

It's safe to say the Yaris won't win any drag races. Even with the gas pedal to the floor, merging onto a highway or passing another vehicle requires patience.

Otherwise, the Yaris is easy to drive around town. The ride is comfortable and you don't feel like you're driving a cheap car. Parking, too, is effortless. It does surprisingly well at absorbing bumps in the road. At high speeds, it's quite comfortable and actually a bit more stable than some of it’s competitors. Unfortunately ABS, front side airbags and side curtain airbags aren't standard equipment on the Yaris — they're optional and available on bundled packages.

The best part about the Yaris is the savings at the pump. With fuel economy figures, like 5.6 litres/100 km on the highway and 7.0 litres/100 km in the city, you'll cut your trips to the gas station. And that means more cash in your pocket.

The Yaris is even a great alternative to a hybrid; it's also designated an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle 2 (ULEVII) so Mother Nature won't cringe at the sight of it. Overall, the Yaris is a great little package — spacious, practical, and affordable. And don't forget Toyota's reputation for quality — just another bonus for the baby Yaris.

Image courtesy of autos.ca.