08 Toyota Yaris – a sub-compact that can surf through traffic By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net The bubble-shaped silhouette is easily recognized and the front end looks stubby.  But this little Yaris car by Toyota is a car that can hold its own against the big boys.

The Yaris was introduced in Europe about 8 years ago and eventually made it to the US market.  The gas price acceleration this past summer caused many consumers to take a closer look at this unique vehicle.  Commuters paid attention to the great, almost 40 mpg,  gas mileage, even though it was not a hybrid.

The Toyota Yaris is powered by a 1.5 liter, 16 valve engine that has plenty of pep and power.  It is matched to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.  Most of the test models I have driven have been the manual transmission.  The small engine has a solid feel and allows easy acceleration in freeway traffic when it is needed, or for shuffling through rush hour congestion.

The exterior appearance of the Yaris is typical of what we expect from Toyota.  The design is appealing and somewhat different.  It boasts body-colored bumpers, grill, and mirrors.  There is a very short hood, making the Yaris look like it is squeezed upwards.  The roof line is high, but that helps make a spacious cabin.

Inside, this little subcompact seems much more roomy.  It seats four fairly comfortable.  The pedal area is rather compact and more designed for shorter drivers.  Tall drivers with long legs might have a little bit of a problem stretching out their legs.  Trunk space is adequate.  Basic heat and air, tinted windows, and interval wipers are all standard equipment.  However, I was surprised at the manual crank windows and lever-adjust side mirrors.  It can’t be that much extra cost to add power windows and power mirrors.  Quietness in the cabin has been improved and is a characteristic of most Toyota vehicles.
 
The Yaris is a no-frills vehicle, but that might be a good thing.  Pricing starts about $11,000.  Options and top-of-the-line models push the cost only slightly upwards.  Check out this super-little vehicle yourself at a Toyota dealership.  You might really be surprised at all the Yaris can offer you.