 GCN AutoMedia Fuel Sipping 2008 Toyota Yaris Sedan With gas prices breaking records many commuters are looking for cars that are better than the average on their thirst for fuel. Toyota's Yaris is among those cars. Yes, it is a small car, but it is not like the small cars of the past. Not to many years ago auto manufacturers relegated small cars to the back of their inventory as SUVs, pickups and luxury cars got all the engineering. But not so today. The latest crop of small, fuel-efficient cars are packed with the state-of-the-art in engine technology and are comfortably equipped. They even have interesting styling and are surprisingly roomy inside for their compact size. The 2008 Toyota Yaris sedan is among those small cars that strikes the right chord for today's wildly fluctuating fuel prices. This four-door sedan features sporty styling that stands out, especially in its darker colors. It is also very affordable with prices starting just above $13,000 and topping out at around $17,500. The Yaris is also available in a three-door hatchback, with styling that appeals more to young drivers, but it is the sedan that is the most popular version of the car.
Toyota designed the Yaris to be fun to drive, and it is, especially around town. It has a quick feel to its steering, and while a bit light for my tastes, the steering feel is okay. Braking and acceleration also have a good feel, but this isn't a sports car, but better than you expect for a subcompact sedan. On the highway, the quick steering makes the Yaris feel a bit darty, but you get used to it and the car tracks well. Inside, the Yaris is attractive but some drivers will not like the center mounted instrument cluster. The radio and air conditioning controls in the center stack are easy to use, but the liquid crystal display washes out in bright light. Seats are comfortable and the driver's seat can be adjusted eight ways.
Some drivers may feel the bottom seat
The Yaris is nicely assembled. The panel gaps are small and the materials used are typical Toyota quality. The ride is remarkably good for a subcompact and it seems not to bound over sharp bumps. Interior noise is fairly well controlled. Road and some wind noise are present but not to the point it is irritating or makes the car feel cheap. It does not feel cheap. So, what type of mileage can you expect? The EPA rates the Yaris at 29 city/ 35 highway, which puts this car in the upper range of gas-powered fuel sippers, and these are the new, more-stringent, EPA figures.
Overall, the Yaris makes a good choice for a fuel saving car. You get attractive styling, Toyota's well-established build quality, and terrific mileage in a car that is fun to drive, very affordable, and remarkably comfortable. Is it the perfect car? No, but it is better than you might expect, even with its quirky center gauge cluster. 2 0 0 8 T O Y O T A ENGINE Type 1.5-liter 4-cylinder 16-valve DOHC with VVT-i 1.5-liter 4-cylinder 16-valve DOHC with VVT-i Bore and Stroke 2.95 x 3.33 inches 2.95 x 3.33 inches Displacement 1,496 cc 1,496 cc Compression Ratio 10.5:1 10.5:1 Valve Train 4-valve/cylinder with VVT-i 4-valve/cylinder with VVT-i Horsepower (SAE) 106 hp @ 6,000 rpm 106 hp @ 6,000 rpm Torque 103 lb - ft. @ 4,200 rpm 103 lb - ft. @ 4,200 rpm Ignition System S-TDI S-TDI Fuel System SFI SFI Recommended Fuel 87-octane unleaded 87-octane unleaded Emission Control ULEV-2 ULEV-2 POWERTRAIN Drive System Type Front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive Ratios 5-speed manual 1st 3.545 2nd 1.904 3rd 1.310 4th 0.969 5th 0.815 Reverse 3.250 Differential Ratio 3.722 5-speed manual 1st 3.545 2nd 1.904 3rd 1.310 4th 0.969 5th 0.815 Reverse 3.250 Differential Ratio 3.722 Ratios 4-speed ECT automatic 1st 2.847 2nd 1.552 3rd 1.000 4th 0.700 Reverse 2.343 Differential Ratio 4.237 4-speed ECT automatic 1st 2.847 2nd 1.552 3rd 1.000 4th 0.700 Reverse 2.343 Differential Ratio 4.237 SUSPENSION Front Independent MacPherson strut Independent MacPherson strut Rear Torsion Beam Torsion Beam Stabilizer Bar Diameter (front) 0.906 0.906 BRAKES Front Ventilated disc Ventilated disc Front Diameter 10.03 inches 10.03 inches Rear Drum Drum Rear Diameter 7.87 inches 7.87 inches Parking Center hand brake Center hand brake STEERING Type Power-assisted rack-and-pinion Power-assisted rack-and-pinion Ratio (manual/power) 19.7:1 19.7:1 Turns (lock to lock) 3.02 turns 3.02 turns Turning circle 32.6 feet 30.8 feet TIRES AND WHEELS Wheel size 14 inches 14 inches Type and Material Steel Steel Tire Size P175/65 R14 P175/65 R14 Tire Type All-season All-season Spare Temporary Temporary CAPACITIES Engine Oil 4.3 quarts 4.3 quarts Fuel Tank 11.1 gallons 11.1 gallons Cooling System 5.4 quarts (manual/auto) 5.4 quarts (manual/auto) EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS (inches) Wheelbase 100.4 96.9 Overall Length 169.3 150.0 Overall Width 66.5 66.7 Overall Height 56.7 60.0 Tread Width Front: 57.9 (175/65R14) 58.3 (185/60R15) Rear: 57.5 (175/65R14) 57.9 (185/60R15) Front: 57.9 (175/65R14) 58.3 (185/60R15) Rear: 57.5 (175/65R14) 57.9 (185/60R15) Minimum Ground Clearance 5.8 5.5 Coefficient of Drag 0.29 0.29 INTERIOR DIMENSIONS (inches) Headroom (front/rear) 38.8/36.7 39.4/37.5 Legroom (front/rear) 42.2/35.6 40.3/33.8 Shoulder Room (front/rear) 51.6/50.2 51.4/48.3 Hip Room (front/rear) 49.8/50.1 50.0/48.3 EPA Passenger Volume 87.1 84.1 EPA Cargo Volume (cubic feet) 12.9 (fixed) 13.7 (60/40) 9.32 (1-piece) 9.53 (60/40) 25.7 (Seats folded down) EPA Class Subcompact EPA ESTIMATED FUEL ECONOMY (mpg) *For model year 2008 the EPA has revised the way the estimated fuel economy rating is determined. Actual mileage will vary. 5M 29/36 4-ECT 29/35 5M 29/36 4-ECT 29/35 VEHICLE MASS (lbs) Curb Weight 5M 2,293 4ECT 2,326 5M 2,293 4ECT 2,326 SAFETY FEATURES Dual stage driver and front passenger advanced airbags Available front side airbags and side curtain airbags for both rows Child protector rear door locks Head-impact protection structure Three-point front seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters, ALR/ELR retractors on all passenger seatbelts, three-point rear seatbelts Available Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Daytime running lights (Liftback only) CRS top tether anchor brackets BASIC LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE 3-year/36,000-mile Comprehensive 5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain 5-year/unlimited-mileage Corrosion Perforation
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The
Yaris is available with a standard 5-speed or 4-speed automatic
transmission, but we actually like the auto-shifter best. Years ago,
automatic transmissions in small cars made them sluggish and unsatisfying
to drive. Their small engines weren't powerful enough to provide decent
low-end acceleration. But that is not the case today. The Yaris 4-speed
automatic has surprising get-up-and-go for a small car. The 106 horsepower
1.5-liter engine and automatic transmission works well together and you
can step out into traffic with confidence. 
cushion is too short, but this is a characteristic of many Toyota's we
have sampled. Back seat room is fine for the average adult, but legroom is
short, particularly for tall passengers. But then again, that is the
nature of most subcompact cars.
There
are a host of competitors to the Yaris in the subcompact class, including
cars from Toyota's competing Scion brand. But we like the more
sophisticated look of the Yaris.