Toyota Yaris Deserves Much Better Than It Gets
The Yaris is ofen overlooked as an entry-level car, especially given the laundry list of improvements that includes interior space, fit and finish.
To hear Toyota product specialist Kristi Pourmousa tell it, the subcompact 2015 Yaris, whether ordered in two-door or four-door hatch, is the Rodney Dangerfield of automobiles: It don’t get no respect.
Now offered as a three- or five-door liftback in L, LE, and SE versions, its torque (103 lb.-ft.) nearly matches its horsepower (106), it offers a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, boasts nine airbags (the Scion iQ had 10 and nowhere near the room), and EPA numbers throughout the 30s that should make wallets fatten.
Yaris is not a morph of the names Yoda and Jedi from “Star Wars.’’ The “Ya’’ is a Germanic affirmative while the “ris’’ is said to be from Charis, the Greek goddess of beauty and elegance.In France, where the car is built, it’s pronounced as Yar-eee. Think of how one refers to the stores Target as TAR-jay or JC Penny called JC Pinnay and you’ve got the idea.
Beyond its funky name and size, the Yaris is perhaps overlooked as an entry-level car, especially given the laundry list of improvements that includes interior space, fit and finish.
It’s got a new front that’s bulldog cute or pug ugly, depending on your perspective. It gets the horizontal headlights, a darkened trapezoidal grille with fog lamps and LED DRL’s. and a light bar accent on the SE. The back also has a horizontal taillight setup, new rear bumper design. In short, this compact is now sculpted and not a smoothed half-shell.
The hatch on our tester opened wide and to a low bumper height. Dropping items into the back revealed a cargo area that’s more spacious than believed and augmented by 60/40 split-folding rear seats.
In accordance with the upstream Camry being reinforced, tightened, and firmed for a smoother, tighter ride, Yaris received more spot welds while dropping 44 pounds to boost the interior’s fit, feel, and quiet.
It’s hard to keep a small car with scant (5.5 inches) ground clearance insulated from outside noise but the new Yaris is less buzzy while you scamper around town or race along the highway. If you feel the need for speed, the 1.5-liter four-cylinder will respond, but some drivers may feel it protesteth too much. Remember, this is an economy car.
Supporting its mission, Yaris now sports improved seats, a standard 6.1-inch touchscreen in the dash, soft-touch matted materials, large, friendly knobs to control the temperature and radio as well as a sport meter on the SE. Our analog speedometer was fine, but a top-end speed of 140 mph on this vehicle is beyond silly. Hello, marketing? Give me the common sense department. Stat!
All models get the Entune Audio system with a touch screen, an AM/FM CD player, six speakers, HD radio, auxiliary audio jack, USB port, hands-free phone capability, voice recognition, and music streaming via Bluetooth.
The engine mated to a dated four-speed electronic transmission routinely turned in 33 mpgs on several fill-ups. In the age of up to nine gears in an automatic, it’s surprising a few added gears were included to further boost highway fuel numbers. Tipping the scales at just over 2,300 pounds and a good deal larger than the Prius C—and less expensive—the Yaris gives better than it gets.
While some may scoff at the small size and powerplant, others will be pleased to learn that the car merged easily into busy traffic on Route 128 without being smooshed and without first extending a sail out the window. The Yaris jumped right into the merge lane and pulled away with surprising spunk and without too much engine whine.
Inside the Yaris, six-footers can sit comfortably fore and aft without contorting like a piece of origami.
Complementing the space is an array of cubbies, a sizeable console, and a mini-spare under the rear cargo floor. One overlooked feature is a timer that would kill any interior light left on accidentally that would drain the battery overnight.
With less body flex due to the spot welds and increased rigidity, and a retuned suspension, Yaris sits upon front MacPherson-strut and rear torsion-beam suspension systems. Electric power-steering kept steering input direct and linear.
The biggest thing on the 2015 Yaris may well be the single front windshield wiper that measures 28 inches.
In a crowded marketplace, the 2015 Yaris brings a fresh look, fit, and feel to an enduring nameplate.
For that endurance it deserves some well-earned respect.
2015 TOYOTA YARIS LE
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $32,770/$33,600. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 26 city/33 highway/28 combined. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 28.7 mpgs. Drivetrain: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, CVT, all-wheel-drive. Body: 5-passenger unibody compact SUV.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 185. Torque: 181 lb.-ft. Overall length: 179.4 in. Wheelbase: 103.1in. Height: 65.1 in. Width: 71.6 in. Curb weight: 3,552 lbs.
THE GOOD
Interior room, safety features, versatility.
THE BAD
Noisy when pressed to accelerate, touch screen radio.
THE BOTTOM LINE
A consistent contender upped the bar in a popular, crowded segment. ALSO CONSIDER Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, Chevy Equinox, Subaru Forester.
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