2008 Toyota Yaris Review

Specifications

Of all the categories of cars out there, my favourite to test drive, by far, are the subcompacts. Sure, it’s a treat to prowl around town in a luxury import that has GPS, heated, air-conditioned and massaging seats, oodles of torque and horsepower, Bluetooth capabilities and so on. But bells and whistles aside, there is still a lot of satisfaction to be found behind the wheel of a fuel efficient, pint-sized, cute-looking, fun-loving and great-driving subcompact, a car such as the Yaris Hatchback.

The base model Yaris CE, which I had the pleasure of driving, is definitely not the fanciest ride out there. If the crank-handle, roll down windows aren’t enough of a testament to its minimalist nature, the manually adjustable side-view mirrors (no electronics here) should do the trick! We’re talking bare bones, just like cars used to be. Then again, $14,805 (which includes the optional 4-speed automatic transmission) is a subcompact price to pay when it comes to buying the quality and reliability of a Toyota. The base CE with the 5-speed manual transmission is priced at $13,165. The only other option aside from the self-shifting gearbox is air-conditioning.

In the materialistic and consumer-driven society we live in, it’s hard not to get caught up with purchasing all the extra options that drive the price of a $13,000 car up to $18,000. Truth be told, not every driver wants the luxury or has the money. However, all new car buyers should have the luxury of driving a car that’s affordable and dependable.

There is nothing advanced about its suspension system, for instance. It may not have double wishbones or a lightweight multi-link setup, but the front MacPherson gas struts and rear torsion beam setup makes the Yaris a joy to run around town in. This driver- and passenger-friendly suspension feels great on city streets and highways, and it also has enough flexibility and stability to navigate around or through potholes on gravel roads. You’ll find out why I went “off-roading” with the Yaris a little later on. Until then, the Yaris is a fun little car to throw around corners because it manages to hang on for dear life very well. Granted, it’s no Celica GT-S (may it rest in peace), but it can certainly make you say, “Wheee!” with a sharp turn of the wheel and a little help from the accelerator.

Equipped with 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque that is generated from a 1.5L, DOHC, 16-valve 4-cylinder engine, the Yaris makes for a fantastic commuter car. Most of my daily driving is done going to and from my work, the store, the mall, the gym, and so on, making the Yaris a perfect candidate for my lifestyle. It also has superb fuel economy and uses an estimated 7.0 L/100 km in the city and 5.6 L/100 km on the highway (with the automatic transmission), leaving me with extra money in my pocket to spend on something else or to save for a rainy day.

And, as far as styling goes, the 3-door Yaris isn’t bad at all. Its Vibrant Clarity design language is funky, and yet it’s quite athletic looking. Even though it’s shed its Echo skin to give it a little more edge, the Yaris still makes me smile whenever I see it because it’s just so darn cute inside and out.

From the inside, the funky styling is found embedded in the smooth lines, silver accents and centre-mounted instrument cluster, which is either loved or hated, not to mention the clamshell type glove box and additional storage compartment found in front of the driver. There’s space for concealing small electronics and other knick-knacks that are best left kept out-of-sight when the car is unattended. Another thing I really like about the Yaris is its visibility. Its large front windshield gives both the driver and passenger a great view of what’s going on outside, while front, side and rear pillars are thin enough to not cause any major blind spot issues. Plus there’s lots of people room making it enjoyable for passengers to ride around in. The overall feel of the cabin and cloth upholstered seats is cozy without being cramped.

If the 3-door CE just isn’t funk-tional or practical enough to suit your everyday needs, Toyota is the only manufacturer in the subcompact category to offer 3 different body styles: the 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks and the Yaris 4-door sedan. How’s that for options? Both versions of the hatchback have the same body style, though the sedan features a slightly different interior, designed to appeal more to mature tastes. Either way, it’s hard to go wrong here.

Despite its subcompact classification, the Yaris packs a lot of punch, as well as cargo. My friend Jamie and I headed up to a scrapbooking retreat in the middle of nowhere (don’t laugh!) and hauled all of our scrapping stuff with us. Believe me when I say that we had paper and scissors galore. We even had the rear seats folded down and stuff on the floor just to get it all in there. Luckily it was just the two of us and the suspension was very forgiving traveling up a pot-holed gravel road! In total, the Yaris offers 221 litres (8.1 cu-ft) of storage space to hold paper and scissors to your heart’s content, and 728 litres (25.7 cu-ft) with the rear bench folded flat, which, on the base model, is either completely up or down. And when the rear seat and trunk aren’t filled with memories to be made, three adults can fit relatively comfortably in back. I’m not sure I’d be first to volunteer to sit in the middle rear position for a long road trip with two other people beside me, but that’s where a Corolla or Prius would come in handy.

One negative about the Yaris’ extra-economical price tag is that its safety features are at a minimum. For instance, all trim levels of the Yaris, no matter what body style, only come with front airbags. That’s it, although the brake package consisting of front discs and rear drums stops the featherweight car with efficiency. ABS brakes are an option on all models, with front discs and rear drums if you step up to a higher option package, and, side and curtain airbags are only available on the top of the line Yaris Sedan. This might be a concern for anyone wanting to downsize from a standard compact car into a subcompact, where these safety features are commonplace, at least as options.

The 2008 Toyota Yaris 3-door CE might not have that much to offer its driver in the options department, but it offers feelings of well-being and excitement when behind the wheel. Overall, I give it 4 out of 5 pairs of scrapbooking scissors.