Toyota Yaris 2006 Review

Yaris is a much better car than Echo ever was but the hatches styling is confronting to some.

Enter the Yaris sedan, a much better looker and even though more "mainstream" than the hatch, with potential broader appeal. Larger than a light car, Yaris sedan is cleverly designed to offer a surprising amount of room and comfort in a car this size.

• Has high levels of active and passive safety including ABS making Yaris sedan one of the safest small cars on the market.
• But the safety package is $750 extra.
• Has high levels of standard equipment including electric power steering, factory aircon and dual air bags.
• Designed to minimise pedestrian injury and is easy to repair.
• Low noise levels in cabin for a car in this class.
• Most materials used in its construction are readily recyclable.
• Full size spare.
• Ride, handling and comfort make it feel like a larger car on the road.
• Boot is a decent size and impressive rear seat legroom thanks to flat floor.
• Turning circle is commendably small.
• Engine is 1.5-litre, twin cam with variable valve timing, delivers strong performance 80kW/141Nm and excellent fuel economy, as low as 6.5 litres/100km.
• Five speed manual is handy, four speed auto is old school.
• At $17,690, the YRS manual sedan is more than $2000 less than entry level Corolla, not much less car.
• Misses out on knee airbag available on hatch.
• Has rake and reach steering wheel adjustment.
• Rear seat has 60/40 split fold function.
• Built in Japan and has comprehensive anti corrosion treatment to body/chassis.
• Passes stringent Euro 4 emissions regu- lations.
• Funky interior, fun to drive.

  VERDICT

  Worthy competitor in the light/small car category. Better looking than hatch variant, economical, nippy to drive, safe affordable. What more could you want?