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Toyota Yaris Hatchback - Test Drive at Destination Toyota!
Toyota Yaris Hatchback
Fuel Economy
6.9
L/100K
5.5
L/100K
Vehicle Dimensions (mm)
2010 Toyota Yaris Hatchback CE 3-DR 5MT |
|
|---|---|
| Fuel City | 6.9L/100K |
| Fuel Highway | 5.5L/100K |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Max Power | 79 KW 106 HP |
| Body Type | Hatchback |
| Number of Doors | 3 |
| Engine | 1.5l |
| Drive Wheels | Front Wheel Drive |
2009 Toyota Yaris Three-Door CE Road Test Review
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| For 2009, the Yaris hatchback retains its familiar styling, but gains some new equipment options. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
Unlike its four-door sedan sibling, which receives a completely new grille design and new shade of silver-coated upholstery fabric for 2009, the Yaris hatchback received only a few minor changes to its lower front bumper and its only new standard feature is an electric rear window defroster with timer. The bigger news is in the optional packages, which get a few tweaks and saw the introduction of the optional TomTom GPS navigation system. In all other respects the hatchback is a carryover from 2008. Heck, that’s not a bad thing since the Yaris three-door is quite a popular car with or without a new grille!
There are so many great things about this car. First off, it’s easy as pie to drive. My test car came equipped with the standard 5-speed manual transmission, which shifts very smoothly and has a light clutch action, making bumper-to-bumper traffic more bearable. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience — I sat in traffic for over two hours one afternoon
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| The Yaris doesn't scrimp on its standard audio system, which includes an auxiliary input jack. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
Better yet, while waiting in the treacly trail of traffic I had the pleasure of listening to my iPod because the Yaris’ stereo system comes standard with an auxiliary jack. The two-speaker stereo also includes an AM/FM radio and a CD/MP3 changer, and it’s not a bad little stereo for a car with an MSRP of $13,315. My test car, a three-door Yaris CE, was the base of base models, coming with no optional features, and I mean no optional features! I jokingly told the Toyota rep that I was "slummin’ it" for the week as everything on this car was manual including the doors, window and mirrors. But really I didn't feel like I was "slummin’ it" at all, as I loved this car to bits. It was actually very refreshing to know that I could have such a good time in an inexpensive car. After all, the reality of it is that not everyone can dish out tens of thousands of dollars for reliable transportation, and they don’t have to either.
Along with its easy-to-drive characteristics, the Yaris is amazingly easy to park since it’s so small. I can’t tell you how many times I come across parking spots in my area that are just a tad too small for a sedan or SUV but the perfect size for a subcompact. During my time
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The central instrument pod is somewhat unusual, but it makes for clear forward visibility. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
Speaking of going anywhere, whether I was driving around-town or out-of-town the Yaris was a perfect companion because it was exceptionally good on gas. At one point I had to make an out-of-town trip — one of those long, obligatory jaunts that you'd rather not make when fuel prices are climbing again — and found that my round-trip cost was less than $20 for over 400 kilometers. This impressive bang-for-the-buck comes thanks to the Yaris’ economical 1.5L, 16-valve, DOHC, 4-cylinder engine, which produces 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque. It uses an estimated 6.9L/100km in the city and 5.5L/100km on the highway. Now that’s music to my ears, and money in my wallet!
At highways speeds, the Yaris three-door performed quite well. Its front MacPherson gas struts and rear torsion beam suspension made for a smooth ride without feeling flimsy or unstable. Furthermore, the P185/60R15 tires (mounted on steel rims with full wheel covers) did a dandy job of
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| There's room for four passengers, and a fair amount of luggage to boot. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
I can’t really say anything negative about the 2009 Toyota Yaris three-door. If pushed, I will admit that I’m not a big fan of the centre-mounted instrument cluster, but it’s not a deal breaker for me. It does open up the driver’s visibility so it’s not a bad thing, it’s just not my kind of thing! Who knows, maybe in a few years the concept will grow on me — I’ll just have to wait and see.
Overall, I loved the Yaris as an everyday commuter car. It’s definitely something I could see parked on my driveway (I mean street!), especially because of its modest price tag. It’s great on gas, fun to drive and easy on the wallet. Heck, it even comfortably houses my 6-foot-3-inch fiance, in the rear or front seats, so it scores points for that in my book. Come to think of it, it scores points in most chapters of my book. Long live the Yaris!
Specifications (2009 Toyota Yaris 3-Door):
- Price Range (MSRP): $13,315
- Price as Tested: $13,315
- Destination Charges: $1,220
- Body Type: three door hatchback
- Layout: front engine, FWD
- Engine: 106-hp, 103 lb-ft of torque, 1.5L, 16-valve DOHC I-4
- Transmission: 5-spd manual (opt. 4-spd auto)
- Brakes (front/rear): disc/drum (opt. ABS)
- Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 3,825 / 1,695 / 1,525 / 2,460 mm (150.6 / 66.7 / 60.0 / 96.9 in)
- Curb Weight (auto):1,064 kg (2,345 lbs)
- Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 221 / 728 L (8.1 / 25.7 cu-ft)
- Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 7.0 / 5.6 L/100 km (manual)
- Warranty (mo/km): 36 / 60,000 comprehensive - 60 / 100,000 powertrain
- Direct Competitors: Chevrolet Aveo, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, Pontiac Wave, Suzuki SX4, Volkswagen City Golf
- Web site: www.toyota.ca
Interior
- Courtesy lights
- Driver and passenger
vanity mirror - Rear seats: folding bench
with seating for three - Vehicle speed
proportional power
steering - Ventilation system
- Fixed rear window with
defroster - Fuel consumption: city=
6.9 (L/100km); highway=
5.5 (L/100km); combined=
6.3 (L/100km); vehicle
range: 669 km / 416 miles - Seating: 5 seats
- Audio system with AM/FM
radio, CD player (reads
MP3) - Dashboard
- Clock
- Floor mats
- Load restraint: hooks
- Front reading lights
- Front seat: driver,
passenger bucket - Steering wheel ; includes
tilting adjustment - Cupholders in front row
and rear seats - Rear view mirror
- Floor console
- Audio Connectivity: AUX
jack - 2 speakers
- 12V in front
- Tachometer
- Luxury trim: alloy look
on dashboard - Cargo area cover
- Seat upholstery: cloth
Exterior
- Driver and passenger door
mirror: black, externally
adjustable - Spare wheel: spacesaver
with steel rim - Roof antenna
- Windshield wipers with
fixed intermittent wipe - Doors: driver and
passenger : front hinged - Pearl paint
Mechanical
- Independent front strut
suspension with
stabilizer bar and coil
springs, rigid rear
torsion beam suspension
with coil springs - Powertrain type :
combustion - Emissions data: CO2:
3,014 kg/yr - Fuel: unleaded ( 87
octane)
- Transmission: 5-speed
manual ; incl. shifter on
floor - Front-wheel drive
- Fuel system: multi-point
injection
Safety
- Immobilizer
- 2 disc brakes (2
ventilated) - Daytime running lights
- Intelligent driver front
airbag, intelligent
passenger front airbag
with occupant sensors - 2 height adjustable head
restraints for front
seats, 3 height
adjustable head
restraints for rear seats - 3-point rear seat belts
for driver, passenger and
center
- Painted front and rear
bumpers - Headlights: halogen with
complex surface lens - Front to rear side
curtain airbag - Front side airbag
- 3-point front seat belts
with pre-tensioners for
driver and passenger
Dimensions
- Weights: curb weight
(kg): 1,043 - External dimensions:
overall length (mm):
3,825, overall width
(mm): 1,695, overall
height (mm): 1,525,
wheelbase (mm): 2,460,
front track (mm): 1,480,
rear track (mm): 1,470
and curb to curb turning
circle (mm): 9,400 - Cargo capacity: rear seat
down (litres): 693 and
all seats in place
(litres): 228 - 42 litre fuel tank
- Power: 106 HP @ 6,000
rpm; 103 ft lb of torque
@ 4,200 rpm
- Front and rear steel
wheels: 15"x 6.0" ;
includes full wheel
covers - Internal dimensions:
front headroom (mm):
1,001, rear headroom
(mm): 963, front hip room
(mm): 1,270, rear hip
room (mm): 1,186, front
leg room (mm): 1,024,
rear leg room (mm): 859,
front shoulder room (mm):
1,306, rear shoulder room
(mm): 1,280 and interior
volume (litres): 2,396 - Engine: 1.5L in-line
four-cylinder DOHC with
VVT ( 10.5 :1 compression
ratio ; 4 valves per
cylinder) - Front and rear all-season
tires with black sidewall
: 185/ 60/ " T " rated
Misc
- Charges:
- Delivery/freight charge:
$ 1,350.00
(J003) Standard Metallic Paint
Metallic paint
Excludes: [J005] Standard Gloss Paint
(J005) Standard Gloss Paint
Gloss paint
Excludes: [J003] Standard Metallic Paint
(F) LE Package
4 speakers Driver and passenger door mirror: heated, power adjustable Rear window with defroster and intermittent wiper Rear seats: split-folding bench with seating for three Rear mud flaps
(G) LE Convenience Package
Air conditioning Charges: Air Conditioning Tax $ 100.00 Electronic brake distribution ABS Remote keyless power locks ; includes trunk/hatch Front power windows with 1 express
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