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2008 Toyota Yaris Safety Review

July 22, 2008

SAFETY | 5 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Good," frontal; "good," side ("poor" without side airbags); "marginal," rear
IIHS

Four stars, frontal; three stars, side (with side airbags)
NHTSA

Several reviewers pointed out that side and side curtain airbags—standard in many rival models—are optional in the 2008 Toyota Yaris Liftback. “Anti-lock brakes are a stand-alone $300 option,” explains MSN Autos, “and front-seat side airbags and side-curtain airbags cost $650 for all Yaris versions.”

In track testing, Consumer Reports calls the Yaris’s handling “sloppy” at its limits and highlights as a safety issue the tendency in the hatchback for the rear end to slide out. “The Yaris would greatly benefit from stability control,” Consumer Reports comments in its road test, “but like most cars in this class, it's not available.

The 2008 Toyota Yaris Liftback has unimpressive safety ratings—even when equipped with the optional side airbags. As such, the Yaris achieves only three-star ratings—the lowest mark typically awarded—for side impact, along with four- and five-star ratings for frontal impact. With the side bags, the IIHS rated the Yaris "good" for side impact but "poor" without.

Conclusion

The 2008 Toyota Yaris Liftback doesn’t offer the level of dynamic safety or occupant protection that some other vehicles in its class—such as the Honda Fit—do.

SAFETY | 5 out of 10Expert Quotes:Good," frontal; "good," side ("poor" without side airbags); "marginal," rearIIHSFour stars, frontal; three stars, side (with side airbags)NHTSA Several reviewers pointed out that side and side curtain airbags—standard in many rival models—are optional in the 2008 Toyota Yaris Liftback. “Anti-lock brakes are a stand-alone $300 option,” explains MSN Autos, “and front-seat side airbags and side-curtain airbags cost $650 for all Yaris versions.” In track testing, Consumer Reports calls the Yaris’s handling “sloppy” at its limits and highlights as a safety issue the tendency in the hatchback for the rear end to slide out. “The Yaris would greatly benefit from stability control,” Consumer Reports comments in its road test, “but like most cars in this class, it's not available. The 2008 Toyota Yaris Liftback has unimpressive safety ratings—even when equipped with the optional side airbags. As such, the Yaris achieves only three-star ratings—the lowest mark typically awarded—for side impact, along with four- and five-star ratings for frontal impact. With the side bags, the IIHS rated the Yaris "good" for side impact but "poor" without. ConclusionThe 2008 Toyota Yaris Liftback doesn’t offer the level of dynamic safety or occupant protection that some other vehicles in its class—such as the Honda Fit—do.  2008 TOYOTA YARIS LIFTBACK STYLING | [7 out of 10] Edmunds: “you can’t help but smile at its cuteness” Autobytel: “a bit quirky” Autoblog: “Stubby on the outside” The 2008 Toyota Yaris Liftback has styling that is, inside and out, far from conservative, and reviewers were quick to ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Last year, the Yaris replaced the Echo in Toyota’s lineup as its least expensive new vehicle. As in the 2007 model year, two Yaris body styles are available for 2008: a three-door Liftback and a four-door sedan. A separate review covers the 2008 Toyota Yaris sedan.

Next Steps:

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for a 2008 Toyota Yaris near you

See the Toyota Yaris in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

Comments (2 total)

  1. By  Zeev #1, Posted: 8/20/2008

    Yaris is good for surfers?

    I have a long board (and in the winter it's a snowboard) will it be good for it? since each weekend I need to take it with me and I hate to put it on the roof...

  2. By Rebin Amin #2, Posted: 12/30/2008

    serves

    My car is yaris 2007 and it has some problem in serves program, please i need help,i need program serves to update my car.

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