2009 Toyota Yaris YRX Road Test Review

On the drive

Front to back and door to door, at 3785mm x 1695mm, the Yaris’s footprint is little more than a (sizeable) kitchen table. With a car of these dimensions, and with a zesty 1.5 litre DOHC VVT-i engine under the toe, you can slot it with ease around tight streets, into narrow high-rise car-parks and in and out of holes in the traffic.

While we had the four-speed auto, the Yaris YRX hatch can also be mated to a five-speed manual.

Away from the lights, acceleration is brisk. The Yaris goes about things with a nice high-tech rising buzz up over 5000rpm. But ours, with only 800km on the dial was still a little tight - we were reluctant to ‘stretch’ it too unsympathetically.

We found the automatic can be caught out a little sometimes - it can be slow to kick down if you’ve been tootling along in slower traffic. While you adapt to its operation, it would be better if you didn’t have to absolutely bury the shoe to get it to kick down. It is otherwise a smooth-shifting unit.

Agile around town, the Yaris also did ok on a longer drive up country while in our care. That blunt shape is evidently aerodynamically-efficient as there is little wind noise at highway speeds. There is also little tyre roar intruding into the cabin; it only becomes apparent over coarse metal or broken bitumen (which rumbles a bit). All up, NVH is commendably low.

On this kind of drive, the light steering is a little lifeless at the ‘dead ahead’, but works well, and with good feel, when cornering. It’s engineered, you’d have to suspect, more for the tight streets and car parks of a city life.

It has also got a frugal thirst - we averaged just under 8.0 l/100km on a tight motor, factory claims an average 6.7 l/100km combined cycle. Lastly, in keeping with its up-spec positioning, the Yaris YRX comes with the requisite acronyms: ABS anti-skid brakes, 14-inch brake package with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).

So, overall, for its good road manners, ergonomics and ‘live-ability’, the drive also gets a thumbs-up.

Conclusion

The Yaris makes a strong case, weakened a little by the price premium for the YRX. It will, of course, win sales not because it offers zippy handling and funky looks – though it is zippy and funky - and not because it offers terrific packaging with tardis-like space and accessibility, but because it comes with one of the best badges in the business.

But while the big ‘T’ is one of the most trusted brands on the planet, the Yaris succeeds for what it is – a dynamically capable, robustly engineered, zesty and well thought-out small city car.

That it’s also bright and breezy, and with an appealing ‘personality’, is a bonus. For younger drivers and for young families, the Yaris YRX is worth a very close look. And right now, you should be able to do a pretty good deal.

The Insider’s Big Statement

The Insider likes:

• Snappy, perky style
• Surprising interior space and accessibility
• Comfort and on-road dynamics
• Zesty, free-spinning DOHC donk
• Ease of parking, manoeuvrability
• Frugal thirst (for regular unleaded)

The Insider doesn’t like:

• Auto can be a little slow to change down
• ‘Aircraft-grade’ plastic door trims
• Steering ‘wooly’ at the dead-ahead
• Though up-spec, the YRX is pricey
• Not sure about the central instrument binnacle

Gallery

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Specifications

Rear: Semi-independent trailing torsion beam, coil springs and hydraulic damper units

Rear: drums

With ABS, EBD, and Brake Assist (BA)

3 door auto $21,490

5 door manual $21,090

5 door auto $22,690