New Yaris

April 30, 2006

I have had the new Yaris 1.3 5door T Spirit with optional protection pack for about 2 months now. This is my first Toyota - I have had 4 Nissan Micras before this Yaris. As I wanted a change (although I almost went for the Micra 160SR) I thought I'd opt for either a Toyota or Honda (Jazz). Overall, I'm delighted with the dealership and general finish/drive of the Yaris.

The engine is smooth and responsive although ideally I'd have liked a 1.5 to match the size of the body. Also, given the high cost of this car in the UK it doesn't have many of the touches that the Micra SX had - for example, no rain sensing wipers or automatic lights. Additionally, it does not appear to have ESP which in a new model one would now expect. My last gripe is the car audio - Toyota should listen to Nissan's ICE - the Toyota radio and CD player (despite the T Spirit supposedly having an upgraded unit) is poor - the radio can't seem to hold onto stations and there's no way of manually switching to mono plus, the sound even with maximum bass, is just too tinny for European tastes - I'm very surprised. Also, given the size of the exterior mirrors unlike the top of the range Jazz - they don't fold electrically for the garage.

On a positive note the car is great to drive - the driver's position being nice and high and the 9 (yes, 9 airbags) reinforce a feeling of self confidence. I love the instruments and push button engine start although I find it an easy car to stall. The fit of everything is good (although some dashboard plastics could be softer to the touch) and the car is relatively rattle free, although, sometimes, I get a slight creak from the trim on the pillars. There's loads of storage and the boot is actually much bigger than it first appears once you lift out the compartments whilst the flat rear passenger floor is a real bonus. The car feels as though it is a quality product and is tastefully finished inside and out. Most people think it looks good for a supermini - the most frequent adjectives used being "futuristic" and "chunky".

Overall, the new Yaris is a a pretty good package although I wouldn't give it five stars for value - you pay more than fairly for what you get.