2009 Toyota Yaris 5 Door Liftback Review

With the economy in a dramatic downturn, people have tightened their budgets and have begun focusing on cost effective items for purchase. In the realm of cars, cost conscience buyers are lucky to find several options in the subcompact market that fit into almost any budget. For as little as $9,000, a buyer in the U.S. can get into a brand new car and a decent car at that. Toyota's entry into the subcompact market is a little more pricey. For a little more than $12,000, you can own a brand new Toyota that impresses with solid fuel economy numbers and offers a decent drive.
The subcompact 2009 Toyota Yaris is the focus of this review. My other reviews have covered the Yaris sedan, and the 3 door Yaris liftback or coupe model. This review will specifically focus on the 5 door Yaris liftback which for simplicity will be referred to at the Yaris wagon. The Yaris wagon carries identical mechanicals to the other two Yaris models. The main difference for the Yaris wagon is that it offers the versatility of a hatchback type design, the availability of 4 doors compared to the coupes 2 doors, and different sheet metal than either of the other models. The rest of the model review is nearly identical and is listed below. The Yaris wagon is identical in size to the Yaris coupe, both of which are significantly shorter than the Yaris sedan.
Pricing and Standard / Optional Features: The 2009 Toyota Yaris comes to market as one of the lowest priced Toyota vehicles available. The Yaris wagon starts at only $13,305. A bargain for a Toyota product. There are many options that can be added which will certainly increase the price dramatically. The base Yaris comes stripped down and certain options should be considered. Optional item such as cruise control, power locks, and power windows need to be added. Along with option packages that include a rear defroster, and daytime running lights. These options are standard on most cars and should be standard on the Yaris, so add them to yours if you decide to buy this model. The Yaris sedan is significantly larger in size than the Yaris 3 door liftback.
Performance: In terms of performance, don't expect much of it from the Yaris. The Yaris wagon is equipped with a 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine that outputs only 106 hp. However, the Yaris is a lightweight and the engine is not tremendously underpowered. The Yaris wagon returns 29 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. Good numbers for any car. the Yaris is equipped with ABS and and electronic brake distribution, a rarity in a budget vehicle. Reviews on the Yaris are not always favorably. The Yaris is fine basic transportation, but lacks agility and ride quality of other subcompact vehicles.
Bottom Line: If you are in the market for a subcompact car, there are better and worse choices than the Toyota Yaris wagon. The benefits of a subcompact include great gas mileage and a budget friendly price. The downside, many subcompacts offer poor ride and isolation, poor handling, and few amenities. If a subcompact vehicle is right for you, the Yaris is a mid pack offering that requires consideration.