CD Article: 2008 Toyota Yaris CE hatchback

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


The popular 2008 Toyota Yaris hatchback lacks some important features such as side and curtain airbags, says Editor-in-chief, Greg Wilson.  Fortunately, most of these features are now available on the 2009 Yaris hatchback, he notes.
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[Greg B.]

I loved this line in the review, talking about the interior:

"This was more than I expected in a base economy car. "

The reviewer must have pretty low expectations. The picture of the interior ought to be in a dictionary next to the definition of "drab". It looks like a jail cell. Yes, it's a low-end econobox and I don't expect a luxury interior. But for nearly $20K on the road it ought to be better than that inside. Other makes do so in that segment much better.

[Jem_hadar]

Pft. It sure as hell looks better than the Accent, Rio5, Optra5, Aveo5, Wave, etc. They look brutal and dated on the inside, if you ask me.

The ONLY subcompact interiors that look better than the Yaris's are the City Golf and the Fit IMO.

(And I didnt even like the last gen Fit interior AT ALL, though I understand it would be considered by the mass population to be a far better looking interior, despite my distaste of it; now the NEW 09 Fit, THERE'S a wicked nice interior!)

[carcrazy]

To get a decently equipped Yaris, with a basic feature set as per today's standards, one would have to go up to the RS model.
At that point, 2009 5-door RS w/Auto lists for $20,165 before any taxes and fees. This is hardly a decent price for what you get IMO. In this context, 2009 Fit Sport A/T at $20,480 looks like a bargain.

Still, the Yaris outsells every other car in the class by a huge margin.     

[Jem_hadar]

To get a decently equipped Yaris, with a basic feature set as per today's standards, one would have to go up to the RS model.
At that point, 2009 5-door RS w/Auto lists for $20,165 before any taxes and fees. This is hardly a decent price for what you get IMO. In this context, 2009 Fit Sport A/T at $20,480 looks like a bargain.

Still, the Yaris outsells every other car in the class by a huge margin.     

Disagree. If you want a decently equipped Yaris per today's standards, look at the 5-door LE. The RS has pointless more sporty additions to it (ie. spoiler, body kit, etc) that one doesnt need, if one just wants a decently equipped vehicle.

[Jem_hadar]

Now what I want to know is when is CD going to review a nice 5-door RS or LE model with most if not all the common, appreciated fixings.

For example, it seems these higher-end Fits are the ones that get reviewed most the time (not sure I've ever seen a Fit DX reviewed, but I do the LX and the Sport ALL the time!), but I rarely see a higher-end Yaris Hatchback (not the sedan) being reviewed. Its always the baser, less well-equipped model.

[carcrazy]

To get a decently equipped Yaris, with a basic feature set as per today's standards, one would have to go up to the RS model.
At that point, 2009 5-door RS w/Auto lists for $20,165 before any taxes and fees. This is hardly a decent price for what you get IMO. In this context, 2009 Fit Sport A/T at $20,480 looks like a bargain.

Still, the Yaris outsells every other car in the class by a huge margin.     

Disagree. If you want a decently equipped Yaris per today's standards, look at the 5-door LE. The RS has pointless more sporty additions to it (ie. spoiler, body kit, etc) that one doesnt need, if one just wants a decently equipped vehicle.

2009 Yaris 5-door LE A/T w/ Enhanced Conv Pack. lists for $18,070. However, it comes with steel wheels which is a big no-no for me. If you adjust the price for a set of alloy wheels and tires, you come close to $20,000 anyway.

[stickshift]

Now what I want to know is when is CD going to review a nice 5-door RS or LE model with most if not all the common, appreciated fixings.

When Toyota sends one to us or one of our contributors to drive. We can sometimes ask for a particular car, but requesting one with a specific set of options is next to impossible. The mfgs stock their press fleets with either top-of-the-line cars (Ford, for example, likes to do this) or with the cars the brand managers think will be the volume sellers.

[Jem_hadar]

When Toyota sends one to us or one of our contributors to drive. We can sometimes ask for a particular car, but requesting one with a specific set of options is next to impossible. The mfgs stock their press fleets with either top-of-the-line cars (Ford, for example, likes to do this) or with the cars the brand managers think will be the volume sellers.

Fair enough. Thanks for the explanation, stickshift. Appreciate it.

Jem

[Demosthenes X]

To get a decently equipped Yaris, with a basic feature set as per today's standards, one would have to go up to the RS model.
At that point, 2009 5-door RS w/Auto lists for $20,165 before any taxes and fees. This is hardly a decent price for what you get IMO. In this context, 2009 Fit Sport A/T at $20,480 looks like a bargain.

Still, the Yaris outsells every other car in the class by a huge margin.     

I looked at the Fit and Yaris over the summer, and the pricing on the Yaris is very competitive imo.  In fact, where I shopping on price alone, the Toyota is probably better value.

That said, the Fit is light years ahead in pretty much ever other field - driver involvement, comfort, safety, etc..  And I was looking at the 2008 Fit - the 2009 is supposed to be even better.

[safristi]

  Yup by three Yaris Years............

[MKII]

Euro Yaris interior refinement seems a tad higher standard
http://www.toyota.ee/Images/27_yaris_wp_1024_tcm425-603462.jpg
http://www.toyota.ee/Images/32_yaris_wp_1024_tcm425-603467.jpg
http://www.toyota.ee/Images/29_yaris_wp_1024_tcm425-603464.jpg

[Jem_hadar]

That said, the Fit is light years ahead in pretty much ever other field - driver involvement, comfort, safety, etc..  And I was looking at the 2008 Fit - the 2009 is supposed to be even better.

Fair enough, everyone has his or her own opinion, and much of personal preference is all subjective...

but i didnt like the way the 07 Fit drove comapred to my 07 Yaris, and i def didnt like its interior looks at all -- exterior too. comfort wise, i cant recall how my appreciation differed, so they must have been close for me. the only reason i wanted to go w/ teh fit was for the cool magic seats, but in the end, it wasnt enough to get over how ugly i found fit to be. just couldnt picture myself driving it, and since i would rarely ever use any of those magic seat configurations, it simply wasnt enough of a reason.

pretty sure the 07 Fit (ie. last gen fit) did offer side curtain airbags etc., as add ons, so i you do hafta give points there over the yaris for sure.

Now, the new gen Fit is a whole different ball game, pretty much they fixed everything lookwise that i strongly disliked abt the fit and finally made this car into a good looking vehicle inside and out!

[safristi]

..NO NEED ta have a FIT Jem..yer so precious when yer angry......

[Greg B.]

2009 Yaris 5-door LE A/T w/ Enhanced Conv Pack. lists for $18,070. However, it comes with steel wheels which is a big no-no for me. If you adjust the price for a set of alloy wheels and tires, you come close to $20,000 anyway.

Isn't putting alloys on a Yaris like putting lipstick on a pig? I mean, it's a bottom of the line econobox. Why bother?

As you said in another post though, it outsells the competition for reasons that seem a mystery. Must be the cult of Toyota.

The center-mount instruments are enough to scratch it off any list I might have.

[Schmengie]

The Yaris is just too small and toy-like for me. You always know you're in a small car because everything inside constantly reminds you of that fact, like the narrow center-stack, the tiny center mounted instrument panel and the tight rear seat. That and the lack of a full compliment of airbags crossed the Yaris off my shopping list to the point where it wasn't even a consideration.

My Versa is bigger and much more substantial in every way than the Yaris and it was actually almost 1500 bucks cheaper comparably equipped. More importantly, for me anyway, it doesn't FEEL like a small car in the way the Yaris does. No contest.

[Seafoam]

2009 Yaris 5-door LE A/T w/ Enhanced Conv Pack. lists for $18,070. However, it comes with steel wheels which is a big no-no for me. If you adjust the price for a set of alloy wheels and tires, you come close to $20,000 anyway.

Isn't putting alloys on a Yaris like putting lipstick on a pig? I mean, it's a bottom of the line econobox. Why bother?

As you said in another post though, it outsells the competition for reasons that seem a mystery. Must be the cult of Toyota.

The center-mount instruments are enough to scratch it off any list I might have.

I'd say it outsells the competition because of the fuel mileage and its reliability not much of a mystery. 

[Arctic_White]

For some reason, I prefer the Yaris over the Fit, now that they've added (optional) side and side-curtain airbags.

[safristi]

..has Artic Steve "nobbled" ya?............................................added "Toyodacillin" ta yer feed??

[Arctic_White]

Hahahah.... saf, you know that i've always liked Toyota as a company.