Yaris

The 2009 Toyota Yaris travels down the road with a solid feel. The power steering and its super-light touch makes maneuvering easy and driving a joy.

The Yaris’ small four-cylinder engine is surprisingly peppy with the manual transmission and smooth even when operating at higher speeds.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The Toyota Yaris subcompact is offered as a three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback and four-door sedan in two trim levels. Standard models basic, with 14-inch steel wheels,

intermittent windshield wipers, air-conditioning, four-way-adjustable front seats and a tilt steering wheel. S-trim equipment levels

come in either hatchbacks or sedans but share 15-inch steel wheels, a ground-effects body kit and a CD/MP3 stereo with an auxiliary audio jack.

Many model-specific package upgrades are available and include items such as 15-inch alloy wheels, power accessories, cruise control, a sliding and reclining rear seat (hatchback), a rear window defroster and upgraded interior trim. Keyless entry, foglamps and a rear spoiler are also offered as stand-alone factory options.

Powertrains and Performance

All Toyota Yaris models come equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels through a standard five-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic transmission.

EPA estimates for a Yaris with the manual transmission check in at 29 mpg city/36 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined.

Safety

Standard safety features include anti-lock brakes and side curtain airbags. In a recent government crash test, the 2009 Toyota Yaris sedan earned four stars out of five for front occupant protection during frontal impacts. The two-door hatchback model scored a perfect five stars for driver protection.

Interior Design and Special Features

The hatchbacks offer optional sliding and reclining rear seats that add versatility and help compensate for their more restrictive backseat space.

Though all versions feature centrally located instrumentation, the hatchbacks’ dashboard is quite a bit different from the one found in the sedan and contains three gloveboxes — including one uniquely positioned behind the steering wheel plus an unusually narrow center stack that coordinates well with their more playful exterior design.

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