Boston.com's view

THE BASICS
Base price/as tested: $11,850/$13,510
Fuel economy: 35.1 m.p.g. in Globe testing
Annual fuel cost: $1,079 (at $2.914 per gallon, regular, 13,000 miles per year)

THE EARLY LINE
A small car entering an increasingly larger market: little cars.

THE SPECIFICS
Drivetrain: front-wheel drive
Seating: Five occupants
Horsepower: 106 Torque: 103 lb.-ft.
Overall length: 150.0 inches
Wheelbase: 96.9 inches
Height: 60.0 inches
Width: 66.7 inches
Curb weight: 2,290 pounds

THE SKINNY
Nice touch: Big easy-to-use controls — a Toyota trait. Nobody does it better.
Annoyance: Soft, short seats. I can’t imagine being in them on a long drive. When will Toyota stiffen its seating?
Watch for: The competition in this subcompact segment. Many people ask: Are small cars safe? This one is not as safe as some Korean cars or Honda offerings.

This is an urban/suburban/go-to-the store car.

And that’s not a bad thing.

The 2007 Toyota Yaris is a small car perfect for city dwellers, people who putt about in Lincoln and Concord, or those for whom country living means heading five miles into town to buy the morning paper.

If you own a big SUV for long winter jaunts or a sleek luxury sedan for serious cruising, this could be your alternative for the daily grind.

It is not, however, the car you want to drive to Washington, or even Manhattan, for a weekend trip. And you definitely won’t want to use it for a cross-country vacation.

But we need cars like this little runabout. It’s a wonderful successor to the dreadful Echo and comes in both hatchback (as tested) and sedan versions.

It’s a bit bigger than the Echo, certainly better styled, and Toyota has positioned it to compete with the Honda Fit, Chevrolet Aveo, and Hyundai and Kia cars. The Honda has better standard safety gear and interior quality, and Hyundai and Kia have superior air bag systems.

If you want more than the two basic front air bags in your Yaris, it will cost extra. The same goes for ABS: It’s an option. Toyota needs to catch on to the fact that consumers would rather not pay for safety equipment. It should start making the gear standard.

Yes, it’s small car, but the Yaris has its place.

The interior, if a bit tacky, is nonetheless well designed. In particular, the center stack for audio and climate controls is dominated by big dials and buttons. They’re easy to use and should be the model for manufacturers, most of whom baffle us with tiny controls and complex innovations.

The front interior space is ample, but the rear is cramped — good for toddlers, not for adults or teenagers.

Its 106-horsepower engine, linked to a four-speed automatic (as tested; a five-speed manual is available), is plenty peppy, since it’s not hauling a lot of weight (2,290 pounds). And yes, it can be fun to drive.

Still, I can’t see driving it long distances. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Plenty of people ought to be using cars like the Yaris to get in and out of Boston from the suburbs instead of being the sole occupant of a gas-guzzling SUV. As should people for whom city living is a way of life and a quick jaunt to the Cape or the White Mountains is a long trip. They will love this car.

On the road, it is sure and straight at speed. Even with only 106 ponies, the Yaris can roll out to pass just fine.

In corners, it gets a bit sloppy if pushed, because of a surprisingly soft suspension.

The Yaris has been sold for several years in Europe and, I suspect, patrons of what is a popular model there use it just as I have urged: to get around locally, not for the Autobahn.

It is a distinctive car from the outside — I’d liken it to a peanut on wheels.

But it is entering a surprisingly hot corner of the automotive market, and going up against the likes of the Fit, the Dodge Caliber, the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Nissan Versa will be a challenge.

To succeed, the Yaris will have to find its niche market.

Royal Ford can be reached at ford@globe.com.