Yahoo Autos The Hatchback of Ultra Tame: 2018 Toyota Yaris
Overall Rating:
Fancy-pants features and fiery performance be damned. The Yaris and its subcompact compatriots prioritize affordability and practicality. But other than being budget friendly, these economy cars are not all created equal. The Toyota has the best standard active safety features in its class but subpar highway fuel economy and cargo space. Its wimpy four-cylinder engine and outdated transmissions deliver lethargic acceleration. At least its compliant chassis provides a comfortable ride and nimble handling. While this not-hot hatch has few strengths and several flaws, there are worse things to drive.
What’s New for 2018?
Following a mid-cycle refresh for 2015, Toyota tweaks the Yaris again for 2018. The front end receives new headlight and grille designs, L and LE trims wear chrome accents, and the sporty SE sports a piano-black mesh grille and trim-specific lighting elements. The revised rear end has wider taillights and a lower bumper, too. The interior is mostly unchanged, but L and LE models now feature an updated instrument panel with an LCD display that was previously exclusive to the SE. A backup camera and audio controls on the steering wheel are also newly standard.
Trims and Options We’d Choose
The Yaris hatchback is the cheapest new Toyota money can buy, undercutting the splendid Yaris iA sedan by a few hundred dollars. It’s available with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission, two or four doors, and three trim levels (L, LE, and SE). Among these configurations, the LE is available only with an automatic transmission, and the SE is only sold as a four-door. While we like the value of the L, the four-door version only comes with the archaic automatic, which should be avoided at all costs. That leaves the top-tier SE, with exclusive standard features such as:
• A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with SiriusXM satellite radio and real-time weather and traffic
• LED headlight accents and fog lights
• Leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob
• 16-inch wheels with dark accents
Apart from the handful of available accessories, the lone options on the SE are the automatic transmission for $800 and two-tone paint options. We prefer the standard manual gearbox and one color, which means our SE stickers at $19,155.
Base Price Comparison
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