Toyota Yaris YRX 2009 Review

Toyota Yaris YRX 

Road Test

About our ratings

To properly assess the merits of the Toyota Yaris (in fact, all Light Cars) you first need to look at the two types of buyers.

The first group are ‘commuters’ people that use cars as a means of getting from Point A to Point B. For Commuters price, value and comfort is important and vehicle dynamics aren’t a large factor in their decision making process.

The second group is ‘drivers’ and are not only interested in getting to their destination but care about how they get there. Dynamics are among the most important attributes of any car they choose. 

Although drivers are the more vocal, it’s fair to say commuters make up the majority of car buyers. For evidence look no further than the sales success of Toyota over the past decades. Its line-up is rarely praised for dynamics and performance, yet all models have been consistent and strong performers when it comes to the sales charts.

That’s not to suggest that cars popular with commuters are inferior to those popular with drivers but it does highlight the different demands of the two groups. The light car segment, in particular, has been a price and value driven market, where the Japanese and Koreans have enjoyed success.

Which brings us to the Yaris…

First launched back in 2005 the compact Toyota is still selling strongly but is now facing some incredibly stiff competition. Recent years have seen the introduction of the Mazda2, Nissan Micra, Honda Jazz and City, Suzuki Swift and Ford Fiesta.

In basic terms the Yaris stacks up well against its competitors, especially the top-of-the-range YRX model we tested. At under $20,000 (before all the usual charges are levied) for the three-door model you get a very well equipped car with a 80kW 1.5-litre engine, four-speed automatic gearbox, air-conditioning, six-CD stereo with auxiliary jack for MP3 players, alloy wheels and over 20 storage compartments.

The centrally-located digital dashboard is a nice gimmick, but not only does it take your eyes a long way form the road, when the sun hits it, the display is impossible to read. On the plus side the high seating position and large front windscreen provide excellent visibility. The sliding rear seats are a nice touch too and allow you to trade off rear legroom against boot space.

Dynamically, however, the Yaris lacks any impact despite having all the raw ingredients. The engine pulls as strongly as you’d expected when driven hard but the harder you rev it the worse it sounds.

The ride is comfortable but lacks poise and the tyres had a propensity for getting loud in the corners. Steering is direct but lacks feel. Brakes work but, again, without any pedal feel. The four-speed gearbox is what you expect for the price, unrefined and patchy.

But those complaints are shared by many of the Yaris rivals given the focus on keeping light cars as close to or under $15,000. Note we say many rivals, but not all.

The biggest problem the Yaris has is its competition has leapt ahead, in particular the Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta. The two newcomers share DNA and offer similar levels of equipment at a similar price, but with a far more dynamic driving experience; especially in the Fiesta’s case.

The newer cars prove that light cars built to a price don’t have to be dynamically lifeless. A recent stint in the Fiesta was, above anything else, fun. Although fun may be hard for engineers to figure out and marketing types to quantify, there is a lot to be said for the enjoyment factor in motoring; especially so in light cars.

Small shouldn’t mean bland. Fiesta and Mazda2 prove that and you can include the Swift, Polo and Micra on the ‘fun’ side of the ledger too.

*No stability control but tested before requirement

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