General Comments:
The drive is absolutely superb. The performance is okay, of course it is no racing car, but then it is only little WEE engine. But give it some "BEANS" and "REV" and it certainly picks up your order; those variable valves spring into life.
It has got to be the lightest, and easiest car I have ever driven, VERY SIMPLE.
Handling is best described... as not to be hurried, although the steering is FABULOUSLY light, the FRICTION in the steering does not help though, I do find it somewhat hard to keep a straight line? Or possibly did have my glasses on!! The friction issue is noted on many reviews which I have read. Apparently, these issues have been put right in the new YARIS, the ride has also been improved too.
The brakes are great, you hardly have to touch them, no worries about stopping.
For such a little car, it is very roomy inside. The rear seats have been well thought-out, the way it slides it great if your carrying something large in the boot.
The front seats are very comfortable, you kind of sink into them, almost like memory foam!! Although, the support is somewhat lacking.
The dash design is also great, but a little CHEAP looking, although well screwed together. The abundance of cubby holes are brilliant, although I think they could have lined them with something!!! TOTALLY LOVE the digital center display, as does everyone who sits in it.
A lot of reviews regard the display; looking like an EIGHTIES calculator, sorry I don't agree.
My weekly commute of around 260 miles, is a doddle. I recently reset the computer, and achieved 55.4 MPG, yes it did take some doing, one would think it ran on fresh air, it is VERY fuel efficient.
The CO2 output, although not very high, it's not exactly cheap at £120.00 for one years worth of car tax... sorry a REAL bug bear!!
I would certainly consider the DIESEL next time, that just creeps under the magic mark, £35 for one years worth of TAX !!!!! WOW
Costs, well like I mentioned, nothing has broken or fell off, in two years of ownership, it has not cost anything other than routine maintenance, MOTs, and a set of tyres. And it certainly does not need to see a garage in between for 'REPAIRS'
Would have another one... AT THE DROP OF A HAT.
4th Nov 2017, 01:01
That year of the Yaris (called Echo in North America) was about the most reliable car built in the past two decades. Toyota did it again with this model, just like the old Corolla and the 4Runner from the first half of the 1990s. This small car was shockingly trouble free in a sea of cars with problems. It had floor rust trouble and failing bearings and trouble with the timing chain at higher miles, but otherwise a solid car even in our rough cold Canadian winters. What a fun and comfortable car to drive. Sadly the steering was slow (needs to rotate more in a turn compared with most cars) which took away a potentially sporty feeling. But the seats were absolutely great on long distances and the car was just very well balanced. Sadly, the next generation was just about the opposite of all this, a completely different car that missed the point.