First Drive: 2012 Toyota Yaris

Old School

Toyota goes the tried-n-true route with its new Yaris By John LeBlanc QUEBEC CITY, Que. — If you've been shopping for a new subcompact, chances are, you've likely discovered small cars aren't so small anymore. What use to be considered bottom-feeder econoboxes are now available with "big car" features with luxuries like heated leather seats, navigation systems with reverse cameras, and fuel-efficient-yet-powerful direct-injected engines matched to dual-clutch gearboxes formerly reserved for larger and more expensive cars. Let's make it clear from the outset: The new 2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback is not this sort of "new-age" small car. Instead, the Japanese automaker has gone decidedly "old school," putting emphasis on proven reliability for this redesign. The outgoing Yaris was introduced to Canadians in 2006 in three and five-door hatchback forms, with a four-door sedan added the following spring. Six years on, we'll see the hatchbacks return, but not the sedan, which is being phased out. Unlike other brands, Toyota has kept the Yaris lineup as simple as possible with just three models: the base three-door CE, the base five-door LE, and the upscale, sporty five-door SE. Pricing hasn't changed much from 2011 models, starting at $13,990, $14,890, and $18,990, respectively. And, as before, a five-speed manual gearbox is standard, while a four-speed automatic is a $1,000 option. While the basic mechanical components remain for 2012, Toyota has given the Yaris edgier styling on the outside. It's not as clean or modern as the new 2012 Kia Rio5, but at least the Yaris now has some character compared to its anonymous-looking predecessor. Arguably, the looker of the family is the SE, which replaces the outgoing RS. It features darkened headlamps, a more chiseled front bumper with fog lights, an aggressive rear fascia, charcoal-painted aluminum wheels, and interior upgrades. If not as roomy on the inside as some of its rivals, the sliding, 60/40-split rear bench adds some flexibility. For 2012, Toyota claims slightly more cargo, driver leg- and rear seat legroom — but the differences aren't noticeable. What will catch your eye is the redesign of the dashboard. After two generations, Toyota has finally ditched the centre-mounted instrument cluster, a feature that smacked of cost control (it worked in both left- and right-hand drive markets). There's now a dead-conventional setup in front of the driver, with audio and HAVC controls clustered in the middle of the dash. A large information screen can be found there as well. But instead of a nav system or rear back-up camera (which are available in other markets), it houses a massive radio that looks like it came from 1984. Although leather seating can't be found on the options list, at least the quality of the interior plastics in the 2012 Yaris have improved. Contrasting the metres of grey petroleum finishes are light-grey patches made of soft-touch materials on the LE and SE trims. When Toyota says the new 2012 Yaris Hatchback's carryover powertrian is "proven," it means it. Its engine and transmissions are essentially the same as what was found in the 2006 model. With the 1.5-litre four-cylinder making only 106 hp and 103 lb.-ft. of torque, only the 100 hp, 98 lb.-ft. Mazda2 offers less in this segment. And whereas rivals offer six-speeds in their manual and automatic gearboxes, Toyota sticks with the same five-speed stick and four-speed slushbox. This means you won't be going anywhere quickly in your 2012 Yaris. Zero to 100 km/h times remain in the nine to 11-second range — one to two seconds behind the class average. This lack of straight-line performance might hint that it betters its rivals at the pumps. But it doesn't. In the six years since the last Yaris went on sale, Toyota has only managed to eke out small gains in fuel economy. When equipped with the manual, the new Yaris scores 6.6 L/100 km in the city and 5.2 L on the highway. The autobox is rated at 6.8 L, and 5.2 L, respectively. It's not exactly a gas-guzzler, but the much more powerful Hyundai Accent (138 hp), scores similar city ratings and is even more frugal on the highway. The old Yaris had a tall, upright body that granted it an airy cabin. It was great for space, but not for driving. That's changed for 2012 with a lower ride height and a longer wheelbase, which, according to Toyota, "improve agility for a sportier driving experience." All 2012 Yaris models offer a firmer suspension than their 2011 counterparts, but the flip side is a ride that can get busy over bad pavement. And despite the lengthened wheelbase, it doesn't have the same high-speed composure as the Rio5. The 1.5-litre engine could also stand a trip to polishing school. It's rowdy at high revs, and doesn't have the sweet, zingy tune as, say, Honda's Fit. Plus, its five-speed manual could really do with a sixth gear to keep the revs and noise down. The automatic's widely spaced gears aid in the quest for fuel economy, but you'll need to put your foot to the floor to keep up with traffic. While it's no quicker off-the-line, the SE model makes the most of the Yaris's assets — it's arguably the best-handling small Toyota (or Scion) you can buy. The special leather-wrapped steering wheel feels meaty, and its front seats offer more aggressive side bolstering than the lesser CE and LE thrones. The combination of a quicker steering rack with larger 195/50 V-rated rubber on 16-inch alloys and a firmer suspension setup delivered a car that actually likes to turn into corners with minimal complaints. You even get four-wheel discs, something of a rarity in the subcompact world. It can't match the class-leading Mazda2 or Honda Fit for out-and-out driving fun, but so long as you stick with the stick, the sportiest Yaris is capable of putting a smile on your face, if you're a fan of old-school hot hatches. Like many "all-new" Japanese cars these days (see the 2012 Honda Civic or Toyota Camry), the new Yaris seems to pitch a conservative tack. It's as if it was designed solely to cling on to its customer base, with reliability and proven components as its main asset in the fight against more advanced, feature-rich rivals. Certainly, the 2012 Yaris Hatchback is better than its lackluster predecessor — if only subtly — and the new SE even bring some driving fun to the Yaris family. However, educated small car buyers who happen to step foot in other showrooms — or have access to the Internet — will likely end up driving away in a rival small car. 2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback WHAT I LIKED: Improved interior design; competitive fuel economy; new SE first Yaris that could considered "fun-to-drive" WHAT I DIDN'T: Lack of "big car" features many rivals offer; better performing and more efficient rivals available; plenty of road and engine noise Base prices: $13,999 to $19,990 Type of vehicle: FWD, three or five-door subcompact hatchback Engine: 1.5 L, 16-valve, DOHC, I-4 Power/Torque: 106 hp/103 lb.-ft. Transmissions: Five-speed manual (Opt. four-speed automatic) Fuel Economy (city/hwy): MT: 6.6/5.2 L/100 km; AT: 6.8/5.5 L/100 km Competition: Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio5, Mazda2, Nissan Versa, Scion xD

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