Vehicle Overview The Yaris is Toyota’s least expensive model, and it’s available in sedan as well as two-door and four-door hatchback styles, the latter added last year. Similarly sized compacts include the Chevrolet Aveo, Honda Fit and Hyundai Accent.
New for 2010 All Yaris models get a standard electronic stability system, traction control and a rear defroster. A five-speed manual transmission is now available on the four-door hatchback, and hatchbacks with the stick shift gain a tachometer.
Exterior The sedan is more conservative-looking than the hatchbacks; it features a Camry-style snub-nosed front end. Both body styles feature a forward-cab design with short overhangs.
Available 14- or 15-inch wheels
Standard body-colored mirrors and door handles
Standard rear defroster
Optional rear window wiper on hatchback
Optional fog lamps
Optional power locks, windows and mirrors
Interior The interior has an unusual design, though it mostly remains functional. The sedan and hatch have slightly different layouts, with the sedan being the more conservative of the two. All models get a center-mounted instrument cluster, and the sedan’s center control panel is reminiscent of the Camry’s. The hatch’s climate-control knobs are placed vertically below the stereo, as opposed to side-by-side as in most cars. There’s an available 60/40-split rear seat for the hatchback that can recline and slide forward and backward.
Standard air conditioning
Optional CD player with auxiliary jack
Optional cruise control
Optional remote keyless entry
Optional 60/40-split folding backseat for the sedan
Under the Hood The Yaris has a remarkably tight 32.6-foot turning circle for the sedan and 30.8-foot for the hatchback.
106-horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 103 pounds-feet of torque
Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission
Safety Safety features include:
Standard front-seat side-impact airbags
Standard side curtain airbags
Standard stability system
Standard antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution
