Fuel-wise Yaris hatch returns; Pathfinder tests snow
The automotive mix continues. Toyota has returned a hatchback to the Yaris subcompact lineup for 2020, after a year’s absence; it is a version of the Mazda2 and produced in a Mazda plant in Salamanca, Mexico. Pricing falls below $20,000. It’s the smallest car sold by Toyota in the U.S. The little Yaris, from a rear corner, somewhat resembles the long-gone Chrysler PT Cruiser. The Yaris in the subcompact field outsells Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500, but trails the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, Mitsubishi Mirage, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Mini Cooper. The new hatchback at 161.6 inches is approximately the same in overall length as the Honda Fit hatchback. It provides 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Legroom is limited for the rear seating area. The front-drive Yaris is rated at 32/40 miles per gallon from its little 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine generating 105 horsepower with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It edged past the 40-mpg mark on a 55-mile drive out east of Eaton and back Monday afternoon, and its overall average for 125 miles was 38.9, that’s impressive. A Sport mode quickens the shifts and tightens the steering feel. With sticker price of $19,705, the Yaris Hatchback XLE is dressed up with leatherette seats and leather trim for its dash, steering wheel, shift knob and park brake handle. It also adds lowspeed precollision braking, rain-sensing wipers, 7-inch color touchscreen display, Bluetooth/AppleCarPlay/ Android Auto. Nissan Pathfinder The brunt of travel during the past week of heavy snow and cold fell upon the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder SV 4WD Rock Creek Edition.
We drove in heavy snow from Greeley to Loveland and back Friday night, simply getting in line in 45-milesper-hour travel. It is sure-footed with Nissan’s Intelligent 4WD system with selectable two-wheel drive, automatic or four-wheel lock. There is no low range, and, with 7-inch ground clearance, this isn’t a strong offroad candidate.
Lending a distinctive appearance to the Pathfinder are Rock Creek Edition seating surfaces and badging, black mesh grille, dark 18-inch wheels and black molded-over fenders. Nissan’s tried-and-true 284-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine ties into a decent combination with the continuously variable transmission for acceleration; it is very smooth, good power from moderate use of the throttle. It’s at higher speeds, incrementally adjusting the set rate for 3 or 4 miles per hour, increasing or decreasing, when there are hesitation and some whining before catching up to speed. The Pathfinder’s EPA fuel-mileage estimate is 20/27; its overall average through the snow and cold was 22.5. An easy-to-use remote start is among Pathfinder features. The SUV crossover can tow up to 6,000 pounds.
The Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition, built in Smyrna, Tenn., showed a sticker price total of $40,280 with addition of navigation, heated front cloth seats, heated steering wheel and heated outside rearview mirrors. It is equipped with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning and rear crosstraffic alert.