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2009 Toyota Yaris Review

December 14, 2008

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

A bit quirky
Autobytel

Design is deliberately weird enough...
Autoblog

You can't help but smile at its cuteness
Edmunds

4-door Yaris sedan looks like the little brother of the Corolla
Road & Track

The 2009 Toyota Yaris is Toyota's smallest, least expensive model. Research by TheCarConnection.com finds its styling to be much better received than that of its predecessor, the Echo. For 2009, a five-door Liftback joins the three-door Liftback and four-door sedan in the model line.

Autobytel says, "Overall, the styling is a bit quirky, with the grille and headlights almost creating the automotive equivalent of a grin, but it helps distinguish the Yaris and imparts some personality." Automobile Magazine reports, "The two-door hatch's funky styling was born in Toyota's European design studio," adding that, compared to the Echo that the Yaris replaced for 2007, the Liftback and sedan "no longer look like automotive design don'ts." Road & Track notes that the four-door Yaris sedan "looks like the little brother of the Corolla."

Much attention has been paid to Toyota's departure from the usual conservative styling of its smallest cars; Autoblog thinks "the design is deliberately weird enough" to be sold under Toyota's youth-oriented Scion brand instead. "Indeed," continues the Autoblog reviewer, "Toyota's supposedly hipper sub-brand offers the xD, a five-door on the same architecture as the three and four-door Yaris models."

A more sport-oriented "S" model adds sport seats, larger wheels, a mild body kit, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Autobytel reports, "Outside, the S body kit and 15-inch wheels worked wonders on our tester, at least implying some sport if not actually delivering it." However, Road & Track points out that "Yaris owners can up the ante with TRD accessories including suspension modifications, sport exhaust and 18-in. alloy wheels."

The interior design is a bit more controversial; the layout "lends the Yaris a bigger feel inside," says Autoblog, but Autobytel gripes, "A center-mounted gauge cluster is nothing new, and neither are our complaints about it." Automobile Magazine has a particularly negative view, stating, "Toyota insists that drivers eventually get used to the unconventional location—yeah, and convicts eventually get used to cell block D." But Road & Track sees more humor in the center-mounted gauges, quipping, "Now everybody in the car can see how fast you're going, or how much fuel you have left."

Conclusion

The 2009 Toyota Yaris proves that small economy cars don't have to look dull, even if the more daring styling stirs controversy in some areas.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:A bit quirkyAutobytelDesign is deliberately weird enough...AutoblogYou can't help but smile at its cutenessEdmunds4-door Yaris sedan looks like the little brother of the CorollaRoad & Track The 2009 Toyota Yaris is Toyota's smallest, least expensive model. Research by TheCarConnection.com finds its styling to be much better received than that of its predecessor, the Echo. For 2009, a five-door Liftback joins the three-door Liftback and four-door sedan in the model line. Autobytel says, "Overall, the styling is a bit quirky, with the grille and headlights almost creating the automotive equivalent of a grin, but it helps distinguish the Yaris and imparts some personality." Automobile Magazine reports, "The two-door hatch's funky styling was born in Toyota's European design studio," adding that, compared to the Echo that the Yaris replaced for 2007, the Liftback and sedan "no longer look like automotive design don'ts." Road & Track notes that the four-door Yaris sedan "looks like the little brother of the Corolla." Much attention has been paid to Toyota's departure from the usual conservative styling of its smallest cars; Autoblog thinks "the design is deliberately weird enough" to be sold under Toyota's youth-oriented Scion brand instead. "Indeed," continues the Autoblog reviewer, "Toyota's supposedly hipper sub-brand offers the xD, a five-door on the same architecture as the three and four-door Yaris models." A more sport-oriented "S" model adds sport seats, larger wheels, a mild body kit, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Autobytel reports, "Outside, the S body kit and 15-inch wheels worked wonders on our tester, at least implying some sport if not actually delivering it." However, Road & Track points out that "Yaris owners can up the ante with TRD accessories including suspension modifications, sport exhaust and 18-in. alloy wheels." The interior design is a bit more controversial; the layout "lends the Yaris a bigger feel inside," says Autoblog, but Autobytel gripes, "A center-mounted gauge cluster is nothing new, and neither are our complaints about it." Automobile Magazine has a particularly negative view, stating, "Toyota insists that drivers eventually get used to the unconventional location—yeah, and convicts eventually get used to cell block D." But Road & Track sees more humor in the center-mounted gauges, quipping, "Now everybody in the car can see how fast you're going, or how much fuel you have left." ConclusionThe 2009 Toyota Yaris proves that small economy cars don't have to look dull, even if the more daring styling stirs controversy in some areas.  2009 TOYOTA YARIS STYLING | [7 out of 10] Autobytel: "A bit quirky" Autoblog: "Design is deliberately weird enough..." Edmunds: "You can't help but smile at its cuteness" Road & Track: "4-door Yaris sedan looks like the little brother of the Corolla " The 2009 Toyota Yaris ...

Read More of this Review:

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

Other Choices:

The Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio are the most direct competitors to the 2009 Toyota Yaris. Both models come as a sedan, but the Accent is available as a three-door hatchback model and the Rio as a five-door hatchback (Rio5). Both feel a little more solid on the road than the Yaris, but their fuel economy isn't as good. The Kia Rio5 is a bit more fun to drive than any of these other low-budget vehicles. Also at the bottom of the price scale is the Chevrolet Aveo5, a small, five-door hatchback made by GM Daewoo. Even with a recent redesign, the Aveo doesn't feel competitive with the Hyundai, Kia, or Toyota; its interior is slightly more spacious and comfortable, but its performance is sluggish in comparison. The most appealing vehicle in this crowd is the Honda Fit; although it's quite a bit more expensive, the Fit is safer, more expansive inside—thanks to the wonderful Magic Seat design—and more fun to drive. A redesign for 2009 has made the Fit even better, and untouchable in this category.

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See the Toyota Yaris in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

Comments (2 total)

  1. By elfi #2, Posted: 9/30/2009

    2009 yaris sedan - customer service is poor, motivated by profit for dealer rather than customer satisfaction. our yaris is very susceptible to scratches on its poor silver skin. there is a lot of shuddering and engine fluctuation especially when idling at a light. No dealer staff seem to know what that might be. there are only 250 k on this car and it already seems old and beat-up.

  2. By Joe #3, Posted: 11/2/2009

    I have a 2007 Yaris liftback, and love the vehicle. The 29/36 fuel economy is very conservative. I drive with a moderate lead foot, and average 38.3 mpg (41.2 mpg hwy only miles).
    Considering that its an inexpensive entry level sub-compact, the car is a good bargain. You'll never turn a Yaris into a Mustang, Ferrari, SUV, or Camry-its unrealistic to expect 300 hp, heated leather seats or traction control on a new $13,000 economy car.
    I personally think that the editors of this article have become too spoiled by getting paid to drive luxury cars, sports cars, and $50,000 SUV's on a regular basis-just my opinion.

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