The Toyota Yaris, the company's impressively fuel-efficient and least expensive car is too flawed even in the realm of subcompacts and modest expectations.
Toyota has made several revisions to freshen the Yaris and address some critical shortcomings. The most visible changes are the revamped grille and some interior enhancements, but beneath the sheetmetal, the suspension has been retuned to improve the ride and more sound isolation has been fitted. What hasn't changed is the basic powertrain. The Yaris is propelled by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 106 horsepower and hooked up to either a five-speed manual or vastly outdated four-speed automatic.
The problem is the Yaris remains Spartan in an age of increasingly better and more refined subcompacts. The Yaris is noisy, its ride is choppy, and its driving position and front seats are uncomfortable. Handling lacks agility and acceleration is slow.