Is The Yaris Really This Cheap?

TOYOTA Motor Corp. is the colossus of roads. It is, or soon will be, the largest car company in the world. Its worldwide sales are up year after year, as are its profits, as are its stock prices. In the U.S., the world's largest car market, Toyota's sales rose an astonishing 12.5% in 2006, grabbing even more market share from the oxygen-starved domestics. To meet the demand, the company is putting down factories and expanding facilities in this country like it was playing automotive Monopoly.

The company builds Lexus, the best-selling luxury brand in the U.S. It builds the Prius, the hybrid shuttlecraft with more green cachet than macrobiotic tofu. It created Scion, which in three years went from a Scrabble word to the last word in Gen-Y branding.

So is this the company that can do no wrong? Not really.

I give you the Toyota Yaris, a surprisingly routine and summarily undelightful B-class subcompact that feels as mailed-in as if it had a stamp on it. Cute? Sure, in an entomological way, i.e., it kind of looks like a bug you'd pin to a corkboard.


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WeAreMad - 3/22/2007 4:10:38 PM

+5 Boost

five door hatch or wrong pic inserted here? since when did the u.s. get this one?

Rupert - 3/22/2007 4:12:31 PM

+6 Boost

wrong pic. The article says no 5 door hatch.

Rupert - 3/22/2007 4:11:55 PM

+3 Boost

"Cheap? Oh yes, to a fault. The $11,530 MSRP (with delivery) can't make room for things like a radio/CD/MP3, anti-lock brakes, rear-window wiper or rear fogger, or split-folding rear seat."
The most basic, 1.0 litre Yaris in Britain has all of those things, but it is 8600 pounds here. I'd rather have a Clio, which has a much better interior and looks way better IMO.

BMW_DRVR - 3/22/2007 4:20:10 PM

0 Boost

I'd prefer take the bus than travel in one of those things. LOL

lexusis350 - 3/22/2007 4:43:30 PM

-2 Boost

Hey, I really like the five door Yaris. They should bring that to the U.S.

d1sinfo - 3/22/2007 4:58:11 PM

+3 Boost

Lexus IS-F Totally kicks the yaris's ass.

lexusis350 - 3/22/2007 6:20:35 PM

-4 Boost

Yeah, about that, the IS-F and the Yaris are competing in two totally different classes. The IS-F is competing with the BMW M5 and Mercedes C55 AMG in the luxury sport sedan segment. The Yaris is competing with the Honda Fit and the Nissan Versa in the small, gas sipping, getaround cars. Comparing these two is like comparing night and day.

Tyronn - 3/22/2007 6:31:51 PM

-1 Boost

Interesting comparison. Is Yaris the key competitor in your eyes ?

Even if the IS-F was every bit the car the new M3 is I would take the M3 every time. The IS-F has as much street cred as my Mums diesel Puegeot.

d1sinfo - 3/22/2007 7:06:19 PM

+8 Boost

It is a joke.

A paradoy post.. for an explanation see Lexusfan and Lexuskings posts.

trd1 - 3/22/2007 5:07:13 PM

-2 Boost

ok dude we get it, you love the lexus is-f and its the best, lol. you said something random about the is-f in everysingle article

quizz - 3/22/2007 6:10:00 PM

+3 Boost

Somebody has got to test the limits of "cheapness", so why not the volume leader?

goosubuc - 3/22/2007 6:26:42 PM

+2 Boost

I'm sorry, but the Yaris is complete junk. I had the misfortune of driving one for an hour and a half, and I was shocked at how poor it was. I'm very surprised Toyota decided to bring a car designed for the Chinese market to America. Toyota should sell zero of these when a Corolla is a far superior choice for only 2k more.

1970toyotamarc - 3/22/2007 6:42:55 PM

-1 Boost

Big surprise, I find a lot of fault with this article. And anyone who has driven a Yaris and has hated it is either not in the market for a subcompact or just hates Toyotas. Because in this subcompact class (of cars sold in the US), this car shines.

I have drievn one, and can certainly attest to its limitations (speed, handling, econobox feel.) But on the plus side is price, roominess, excellent best-in-class fuel economy, quality build and materials, and (at least in the hatch) style. You cant dismiss these qualities just because the car doesnt tear up the quarter mile or pamper you in luxury. It's not supposed to. And you cant just pinpoint one or two areas where a vehicle is inferior to another, without focusing on all the areas where it is superior.

Like I said, none of that matters if you hate econoboxes or Toyota, which would be a vast majority of this site. Judging by the tone of the article, I would submit that Dan Neil falls into one of those categories as well.

goosubuc - 3/22/2007 7:45:05 PM

+2 Boost

I like Toyota and I wanted to like the Yaris for cheap transportation. I just can't like the Yaris and the Honda Fit is vastly superior. The only item where the Fit doesn't blow the doors off the Yaris is in fuel economy. The Fit is rated at 31/38 (27/35 new standard) with auto trans and the Yaris is 34/39 (29/35 new standard). That difference is miniscule. If you don't see the difference, you should take off the Toyota googles and truly evaluate the Yaris.

1970toyotamarc - 3/23/2007 12:15:30 PM

+1 Boost

I'm not saying the Fit is bad, and there may be an argument that in some areas it is superior to the Yaris. It could very well be that Toyota does not have the best car in this class, maybe second best. That doesnt mean the Yaris is crap. In fact, as I pointed out, it has some really good features. My biggest complaint is that we dont get the 5 door. If you want a 5 door get the Fit. If you want a 3 or 4 door get the Yaris.

goosubuc - 3/25/2007 6:54:27 PM

+1 Boost

I really didn't like the Yaris and for very similar money I think the Honda Fit is a much better choice. I really like Corollas and a price differential of only 2K makes it a easy for me. I would never purchase a Yaris at it's current price and I'd suggest others choose a different vehicle.

tecnopolis - 3/22/2007 7:07:27 PM

-1 Boost

When is Lexus going to come out with a competitor to the New BMW 1-Series and the Audi A1 and Mercedes B and A-Classes?

S4cabriofoxone - 3/22/2007 8:54:33 PM

+1 Boost

I'll take a Fit or a Rabbit, thanks.

jt716 - 3/22/2007 10:01:09 PM

+2 Boost

It also got on the most disappointing list. I have seen people like it so much as if it was actually special.

S4cabriofoxone - 3/24/2007 10:38:54 AM

+1 Boost

Hardly.

LexusGSF - 3/23/2007 7:41:36 AM

0 Boost

That was a really nice article. i think I'll go out and purchase a Focus

mkk21 - 3/23/2007 12:58:51 PM

+2 Boost

Yeah Dan Neil hates Toyota! I remember reading an article from him totally bashing the LS460 when it first came out, that's how I remember his name. Reading some of his other reviews especially about Toyota just shows how much he hates Toyota.

For an automotive review journalist, I think he should study his facts first before posting his opinion. Wasn't the reason Toyota brought the Yaris to the US because the Echo was a bomb, and the Yaris was actually the most popular vehicle from Toyota in Europe, hoping to have the same success here. He makes it sound like Toyota put no thought into bringing this car here, and just made a car to fit a segment. Good work Dan!

izfuney - 3/24/2007 4:06:35 PM

+1 Boost

Actualy the Yaris is pretty sweet ..especially the hatchback .. Please do note that for around 13k u get it with a good amount of epquipment. Honda fit is a lot more expensive...
Plus ... as the cute Japanese girl said .. "Kawaiiii"

Matthew1 - 3/26/2007 2:29:14 AM

+1 Boost

Cheap meaning Japanese.

You know, marginal interior quality, and the general unsubstantial feeling to the doors, controls etc.

Rupert - 3/26/2007 10:36:07 AM

+1 Boost

The Yaris does feel very cheap, much more so than a VW Polo/Lupo.

Dan8288 - 4/2/2007 10:40:58 PM

+1 Boost

The article spends more time bashing Toyota than actually talking about the car. As for Toyota people 'not smarter' than GM's...well let's just say, Toyota strategy is a lot smarter than GM's.