iCommuter
Plucky 2018 Toyota Yaris an honest and cheerful runabout
Econoboxes. Grocery getters. Beaters. Pizza wagons. Face it, the subcompact car segment gets little love from consumers.
Most think of them, perhaps unfairly, as grudge purchases by those too poor — or too cheap — to get something better. Few are the people who wake up with a smile on their faces in eager anticipation of jumping behind the wheel of their Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent or, in this particular case, Toyota Yaris hatchback, and motoring off in search of twisting back roads. Yet there’s something patently honest about these mini-cars.
There’s no artifice here. They’re built to do a job, one of basic transportation, getting from Point A to Point B as efficiently and as economically as possible. But, while overt luxury will never find its way into any of these subcompacts, the same can’t be said of creature comforts. Some are surprisingly well equipped, certainly to a higher level than what existed a generation ago.
Within that $15,000 to $20,000 subcompact segment which, in addition to the previously mentioned cars, would also include the Kia Rio, Chevy Sonic and Ford Fiesta, the current Yaris hatchback (as opposed to the sedan, which is a reworked Mazda2) is a bit of a senior citizen, having debuted for the 2012 model year. And while there have been a couple of upgrades since, including this 2018 model, the powertrain (or at least its displacement) has remained constant.
Under the hood is a 1.5-litre, DOHC four cylinder engine equipped with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i), producing 106 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 103 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm. It’s a growly engine under harder acceleration, such as when entering a highway on-ramp. But zippy, despite Toyota’s hopeful assertions, it is not. Instrumented testing by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) a couple of years ago generated a time of 10.7 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill, and 8.8 seconds to accelerate from 80 to 120 km/h.
The engine can be paired with either a five-speed manual or, in the case of the tester, a four-speed automatic with overdrive (a $1,000 option). Clearly, the Yaris is not a recipient of Toyota’s latest hightech engines or transmissions. At least the topline SE trim ($19,450 with the automatic) comes with four-wheel disc brakes; the lower priced CE and LE are fitted with rear drum brakes, a common move among subcompacts.
Yet, one doesn’t really expect any subcompact to drive like a sports car (though Chevy imbues its Sonic with an available 1.4-L turbo-four rated at 138 hp, providing some measure of sportiness within the segment). The Yaris, like others of its ilk, operates best in urban environments, using its steering-responsive small stature to slide in and out of traffic, and slip into tight parking spots. Making things easier for the latter is the addition of a standard rear-view camera on all 2018 models. Hill-start assist is now standard as well, a boon for those living in hillier areas.
Speaking of improvements for 2018, the Yaris hatch gets updated front and rear fascias and new wheel designs, freshening up and making cuddlier the little five-door. Inside, all models feature revised interior trim and standard heated front seats.
Ah, yes, the cabin. Well, colour me surprised: the Yaris is roomy. OK, that might be a slight exaggeration, but after setting the front seat so I had room for my 6-foot-2 frame behind the wheel, I could still climb into the rear seat without requiring a shoehorn to do so. Yes, my knees were touching the back of the front seat, yet I didn’t feel like a canned sardine. Those of shorter stature should be comfortable — and impressed.
The hatchback’s cabin is standard fare for its class, a logical layout and a lot of black plastic. In addition to the heated front seats, there’s air conditioning, cruise control, a 6.1inch multi-information display, Eco Indicator (on automatic-transmission models), tilt steering, and power windows and door locks. They are the sort of features I would have loved to have had in the econoboxes I owned back when I was a callow youth. Kudos in particular for the large HVAC knobs, which are well marked and easy to manipulate, even when wearing gloves.
Even though it’s small, the Yaris doesn’t skimp on safety features, with a strong list of standard active and passive systems. This is highlighted by Toyota Safety Sense C, a bundle that includes pre-collision warning and lane-departure alert, plus the six active technologies of the Toyota Star Safety System.
The biggest issue for the subcompact segment, other than a general consumer shift to crossovers of all
stripes and sizes, is that it doesn’t take a huge infusion of extra cash to move into a larger class of car — compact sedans, in other words. In the case of the Yaris hatch, which starts of at $15,490 for the CE with five-speed manual, another $1,300 gets you into a base Corolla.
Still, for those who need a commuter car and not a highway warrior, and who prefer their transport cheap and cheerful, the Yaris hatch fits the bill. It might not be the best looking, quickest, most fuel-efficient — I averaged 8.8 L/100 kilometres in mostly city driving (yes, I have a heavy right foot) — or least expensive among the subcompact players, but it’s in there. Plus it’s solid, safe, and reliable. The Yaris hatchback might not be a blast to drive, but it’s not a drag either.