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| 2007 Toyota Yaris Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
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| Other Thoughts | |||
And down here, what counts more than money? It now takes just $11,670 to buy Toyota's tiny tot ($12,570 with automatic) - though this is for the hatchback that comes with 2 fewer doors. Despite 19.3 inches less length, passenger room only goes down by 3.4%, partly because it stands 3.3 inches taller, but beware: the hatchback is a classic stripper with little more than power steering, air conditioning, and a tilt steering wheel at the outset.For $12,545, or $13,270 with automatic (notice the premium of the automatic decreases), the sedan improves the standard of living with an in-glass radio antenna, height-adjustable seats, center console (size small), map lights, and on stick models, a tachometer. You lose the hatchback's folding back seat. A final extra $1,500 gets you into a Yaris S sedan ($14,045 / $14,770 auto), which finally buys a radio (MP3 CD with aux input jack) and rear defroster, under-bumper spoilers front and rear, side rocker panels, a 15-inch wheel upgrade, and a restoration of the folding back seat. Leave it to Toyota to complicate the simple life. First up for sale is the Convenience Package, which buys the radio, defroster, and 15-inch wheels, costing $630 on hatchbacks (where it throws in a rear wiper) and $750 on sedans (where it throws in a folding back seat). After that, you can buy the Power Package, which on the hatchback buys power windows/locks/mirrors, illuminated entry (been a while since this was an option, eh?), and a "multi-function" rear seat that slides, reclines, and folds flat, all for $1,290. On sedans it buys power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise control, antilock brakes with EBD, and better interior trim for $960 ($1,035 for automatic models, where it also includes a tachometer). Most consumers are partial to sedans in well-equipped form, and if one takes a Yaris S automatic sedan and piles on the Power Package, side and curtain airbags ($650), alloy wheels ($390), and keyless entry ($230), suddenly we're staring at a sticker that reads $17,075. Jeepers. That's not too much more than a $16,520 Honda Fit Sport. But even after taking the time to load up the Yaris, Honda's still the one with a 5-speed automatic and SportShift, fog lights, a spoiler, and slightly better interior appointments (and ergonomics, and seats). And while body styles are personal preference, there is some dollar value in the Fit's hatchback nature as well, which in the end results in the common scenario of Toyota's entry being overpriced by about one grand. Make that two grand if you hold no prejudices against the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent, which match most of the Yaris's accomplishments. And like the Fit, the Yaris calls cannibalism into question. Toyota's own Corolla S with all the same stuff reaches $18,615 - a paltry $1,540 more. I'm an advocate of buying no more than necessary, but those who value back seat comfort and better acceleration (plus options like a sunroof) might want to drive up to the next window. |
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