Category: Superminis 
Price Range: £9,905 to £14,385
Lots of space, terrific dashboard design and instruments, much crisper to drive than old model, looks cool.
Smallest-engine version has a clunky ride, rear shelf is cheap and nasty.
The Yaris is one of the most practical, usable superminis of all, and characterful with it.
The Yaris achieved a five-star score for overall adult occupant crash protection in the Euro NCAP crash tests, with three stars (out of four) for child protection but just two for pedestrian protection despite the foam-filled front bumper and high bonnet.
ABS and EBD are standard, of course, and all models have disc brakes all round and ISOFIX child seat mounting points, but the entry-level model has only front driver and passenger airbags; the T3 and TSpirit gain front and rear side curtain 'bags, the new driver's knee-protecting airbag and "active" head restraints that move towards occupants' heads in a rear impact. The 1.8-litre SR gets standard stability control.
Security is helped by a very inaccessible immobiliser control unit, a key with an "inner-gutter" design which makes the locks very difficult to pick, and shielded double door-lock mechanisms. Keyless entry and starting are optional (standard in the TSpirit and SR) in which case the steering lock is reinforced.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Toyota Yaris
wrote on 27 02 2009
wrote on 23 10 2007
wrote on 11 11 2006
wrote on 04 08 2006