2015 Toyota Yaris LEJeremy Sinek/The Globe and Mail
According to the stereotype, Toyota cars are famously forgettable. On the other hand, some of the company's ad slogans over the years have been quite memorable. "Everything keeps going right" is one I recall from way back when. And Still fresh is the pithy "Epic Reliability" from a recent campaign for the Yaris.
You can't have too much reliability and, by all accounts, the Toyota Yaris has it in spades. But still, doesn't this emphasis on one left-brain virtue leave you asking, "Is that all?"
Toyota may have asked itself the same question, because the 2015 refresh of the Yaris downplays the rational appeal and targets buyers' emotions with bolder styling, sharper handling and a quieter, more richly furnished cabin.
Also changed is where the Yaris is built: instead of Japan, we now get ours from a plant in France that has built Yaris for Europe since 1999. But that doesn't make this an all-new Yaris: The basic hardware has changed little since the nameplate came to Canada in 2006 (and was repackaged into a new body for 2012). Indeed, the 106-horsepower, 1.5-litre engine and five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearboxes date back to 1999, when the original Yaris came here under the Echo label.
Is Toyota really even trying?
Dynamically, the Yaris is still no Ford Fiesta or Honda Fit, but as long as you don't push too hard it does a good job of faking it. What the engine lacks in peak horsepower, it makes up with crisp throttle response and punchy low- and mid-range torque; driven at, say, 5/10ths, it feels willing and more eager than its ho-hum 10/10ths test-track numbers would suggest.
Likewise, the more direct and engaging steering so enlivens routine "utility" driving that it hardly matters if the front tires throw in the towel too easily at cornering speeds that nobody would intentionally attempt anyway. Nor has the sharper handling compromised ride comfort, which is better than you'd expect in such a small car.
Still, it's worth noting that while the sporty SE model's fatter tires promise more grip for expressive drivers, it's at considerable cost to the tight turning radius that is one of the appeals of the base L and the LE model.
For a driver prepared to put in the effort, a manual gearbox in a small car like this can extract quicker acceleration than the optional automatic. That said, this particular manual is not especially user-friendly. Conversely, the automatic – notwithstanding its paltry ratio count in a segment where six-speeds or CVTs are the norm – feels well matched to the engine and enhances the perceived liveliness in less-than-maximum-effort driving. If you enjoy stirring a stick, consider the Honda Fit or Mazda2.
The biggest interior improvement to the Yaris was in 2012, when the gauges migrated from centre-dash to a more conventional location in front of the driver. The 2015 alterations are more subtle, but effective: higher-quality trim with more soft-touch surfaces, and a 6.1-inch touch-screen display audio at centre dash.
The seat/wheel/pedals relationship has also been rejigged, but since the steering wheel still lacks telescopic adjustment you may be forced closer to the pedals than you'd like to reach the wheel. But that may also explain why rear-seat riders are less deprived of knee-room than the near-worst-in-class official measurements say.
In a segment where some players punch above their weight, the Yaris is no game-changer. Reliability is the closest it gets to being an MVP contender. But the 2015 warm-over keeps the Yaris in the game until Toyota is ready to start again with a clean sheet.
You'll like this car if ... All you really need is a reliable, economical runabout – and if it isn't a snore or a chore to drive, that's a bonus.
TECH SPECS
- Base price: $14,545; as tested: $15,965
- Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder
- Transmission: Five-speed manual
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 7.7 city/6.3 highway, regular gas
- Alternatives: Chevrolet Sonic, Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mazda2, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Micra, Nissan Versa
RATINGS
- Looks: The 2015 makeover has grafted an in-your-face new face onto what was an honest, it-is-what-it-is econobox shape.
- Interior: It’ll house four average-size adults in comfort, but in the absence of telescopic steering adjustment, the driving position favours those with relatively long arms and short legs.
- Technology: Mechanical hardware is well-proven – a.k.a. old as the hills, but reliable. The standard 6.1-inch display audio includes Bluetooth; a GPS radio is available with voice command and text-to-speech messaging, but it costs more than $1,000.
- Performance: Thanks to low weight it’s livelier than the powertrain specs would lead you to expect, but how fast do you expect a subcompact to be anyway?
- Cargo: Subpar cargo volume, and just the basics in terms of seats-folded versatility, but at least the backrests go down flat and flush.
The Verdict
7.5
Reliability is still the main reason to buy a Yaris, but at least now you don't have to abandon all expectations of an engaging driving experience to get it.