Consumer Reports Is On Crack!!!

[doublewam]

Two days ago I purchased a 2009 Yaris (automatic/hatchback) after having test driven the Honda Fit, the Kia Rio, and the Toyota Yaris.

Consumer Reports says of the 2009 Yaris...

"Ultimately the Yaris scored too low in our testing to be recommended."

That's funny, after thoroughly going over and test driving the Fit, the Rio, and the Yaris, I would recommend the Yaris as the overall best buy for the money unless one finds some of the extras in the Fit to be worth the extra $3000.

Below is a critique of Consumer Reports rating of the Yaris and their inconsistencies when compared to other reviews of subcompacts.

Consumer Reports overall ratings of the 3 cars I test drove are as follows...

Honda Fit: 76
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/default.aspx?state=new&make=Honda&model=Fit

Kia Rio: 64
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/ConsumerReportsSnapshot.aspx?year=2009&make=Kia&model=Rio&wa=wsignin1.0

Toyota Yaris: 50
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/ConsumerReportsSnapshot.aspx?year=2009&make=Toyota&model=Yaris

I'd like to make some observations and demonstrate that someone at Consumer Reports (hereafter CR) must be on crack.

First of all, the Honda Fit...This was a nice car and I don't find fault with CR's rating of it. For me, I just did not see the 'extras' with the extra $3,000 and I liked the look of the Yaris better. Enough said.

Moving to the Kia Rio...I think CR is completely off base. The Rio's engine and wind noise was awful compared to either the Fit or the Yaris. It's construction 'felt' to be much cheaper of the three and didn't have the 'fun' factor that both the Fit and the Yaris had. The Kia Rio is ranked higher on both 'acceleration' and 'comfort and convenience' than the Yaris but I contend that the reverse is actually true.

Having driven both the Yaris and the Rio, I found the Yaris to soundly outperform the Rio both in 'acceleration' and 'comfort and convenience'. The Yaris is a peppy little car that zings in and out of traffic with ease that clearly surpassed the Rio. The engine doesn't sound like it is about to explode in the Yaris when you punch like the Rio does. It also has better mpg.

The Yaris is much quieter than the Rio, handles better, looks better, makes better overall use of internal space and IS A TOYOTA AND NOT A KIA!!!

CR must clearly be on crack to rate the Kia Rio above the Toyota Yaris. Besides the objective differences between these two cars, the Rio has a staggering depreciation value while the Yaris retains its value. Kia has yet to prove it can build cars that will remain solid after the 100,000 mile mark whereas the Yaris is expected to be a good car past the 200,000 mile mark (Toyota).

I just don't see how anyone in their right mind would think the Rio is a better car than the Yaris. The only negative thing I can see is the unconventional center placement of the console in the Yaris (which is not too difficult to get used to. The Minis have the speedometer in the middle and people think that is 'cool' in that car. As a matter of fact, CR gives the Mini an overall rating of 81 and makes no complaint over its center console and gives it a better rating for fuel economy than the Yaris when the Yaris is on par or better than the Mini or mpg. (What gives?)

All this to say, CR has completely missed it on the 2009 Toyota Yaris. The review is out of step with the way they rate other subcompacts and comparisons to issues between the Kia Rio and the Toyota Yaris make me believe they were drugged or else were driving completely different cars than the ones I drove.

To any who may be put off from buying the Yaris due to CR's review...do yourself a huge favor and make sure you drive a few cars in this class for yourself and include the Yaris in your test runs. After shopping around myself, I am convinced that the Yaris is the best buy for the money unless one finds some of the extra features in the Honda Fit to be worth the extra $3,000. Whatever you do, have your head examined if you are considering purchasing the Kio Rio instead of the Toyota Yaris. The Rio is an inferior product when compared to the Yaris.

For the record...I am not on crack and I love the way my Yaris performs. I am 6 foot tall and find it comfortable, peppy for such a small motor, and the mpg is just insane compered to my prior car (a PT Cruiser...never again).

[vector9mm]

Yep, I read the CR report and how the Yaris handles bad at limits. At Limits????? This is a small family car and they couldn't fault its around town handling so they say it's bad at limits. If I was to drive at limits I'd be on a race track. CR SUCKS. I don't trust them anymore.

[talnlnky]

i wonder if they have the same test driver(s) for each car?

[doublewam]

I just keep coming back to this...

They report the Kia Rio as being a better car? A KIA RIO!?!?!?!

Have any of you actually driven one of those? A Yaris Versus a Rio is like comparing a burger at Applebees to a McDonalds cheeseburger (the ones that come in happy meals).

[twowheels]

That's funny, after thoroughly going over and test driving the Fit, the Rio, and the Yaris, I would recommend the Yaris as the overall best buy for the money unless one finds some of the extras in the Fit to be worth the extra $3000.

I also tested both the Yaris and Fit many times and am in no way unhappy with my decision.

The Fit was bumpier, noisier, and too expensive to justify the difference in price. I've come to like and actually prefer the center console and no car beats the loose stuff storage capacity of the Yaris -- in fact the other day I 'lost' my inverter and finally realized which of the 20 something storage spots I'd put it in... :-)

[Brad D]

does the fit get better MPG and does it not have more power??

I have a yaris because I like 3 door hatches.. and i like the bubble look of it.

[R2D2]

I'm starting to think there is some kind of conspiracy against the Yaris in the automotive media. The only review I've seen that remotely resembles my experience was the one done by mpgomatic. Every other review I've read/watched has left me wondering if they're referring to the correct car. Can't be the same car I drive.

When researching before I made my purchase decision I put more weight in the reviews written by "everyday motorists" who owned the cars than I did the auto press. I'm glad I did.

[YotaYaris]

I am/was a Honda lover, and I purchased the Yaris. I test drove many cars and this was by far the best car for the money. Of course I did not even consider a Kia.

Dont know what to say about Consumer Reports. I think you said enough : )

[bdc87]

I was too deciding between the Fit, Versa and Yaris, this was back in 07 and I couldn't justify the price for the fit, and didn't care for the looks of the Versa. To be honest if I had the money I would've gone with the Mini. But I'm loving this little car and at 12K, Toyota Quality and Fun Factor I truly believe its the best in its price range.

[Thirty-Nine]

I really liked the Kia Rio 5 when I drove it. The things that kept me from buying were the terrible manual transmission shifter feel and the low depreciation possibility. Otherwise, you get a lot for your money with a Rio or Rio 5.

[rningonfumes]

I'm starting to think there is some kind of conspiracy against the Yaris in the automotive media. The only review I've seen that remotely resembles my experience was the one done by mpgomatic. Every other review I've read/watched has left me wondering if they're referring to the correct car. Can't be the same car I drive.

When researching before I made my purchase decision I put more weight in the reviews written by "everyday motorists" who owned the cars than I did the auto press. I'm glad I did.


Yep, go to the major auto sites and compare the "official" review to the ones done by their readers/owners and you'll find very different results.

[GeneW]

You'd think with Toyota no longer offering "simple" basic cars any more that CR would cut them some slack. The 2009 Yaris comes standard with Nanny State crap like multiple windbags, Anti-skill braking systems, Electronic evasion suppression devices and other garbeldygook. I'd figure that CR would applaud Toyota for getting on the bandwagon instead of leaving Yari for the 3rd world market.

Sorry to complain... in any case, with Toyota obeying the law and installing these gadgets into Yarii you'd think that CR would cut them some slack.

I think KIA paid someone off or enticed someone to visit with an underaged girl in Korea and then took naughty photos. Some sort of strong motivation is at work here.

Gene

[enviri]

STOP USING THE AUTO TRANNY IN REVIEWS! *ahem* whatever happened to the versa in reviews? lol

[PHXDEMON]

They rated a pile of shit KIA over the Yaris. :laugh::bellyroll::bellyroll:

[Morgan]

CR is rarely a good source for any information on any vehicle not in the Big 3... and they hate everything without standard ABS and some type of traction control

[CtrlAltDefeat]

Yea I read the CR review after I had my Yaris for a while and thought they were on crack too. I refused to get a Kia for reliability and resale value issues, and I didn't really like the look (not at all compared to the Yaris :wub:) Same for a Focus. I test drove an auto Yaris and really liked it, and it seemed peppy compared to the auto mitsu I owned before. I knew from my research that the auto Yari were mentioned to be slow to accelerate, so I had to have a manual. I looked at a Fit, but it looks too minivan-like and was too expensive for what you get. I love my Yaris. I can't help but smile at it when I see it, even after owning it for almost a year at this point. It's a blast to drive, too and any stability problems "at the limits" were taken care of by the lowering springs and the sway bar. Wheels would help further, if I could afford them... I think most people who buy Yari love them. I think the CR reviewer was having a bad day (or truly was on crack). Maybe you need to spend more then 20 minutes with it, to truly appreciate it? :iono:

[2006fronty]

Consumer Reports is only good for appliance reviews.

[ddongbap]

Wouldn't just be Yarisworld, if people didn't post crap like this.

[Bob Dog]

CR is not just on crack. CR is a whore on crack

[voodoo22]

Whenever I read one of the many bad reviews of the Yaris one theme seems prevelant. The reviewer complains about high speed handling, quality, lack of options etc etc. The thing is, these reviewers no long realize the value of the dollar when it comes to people purchasing an entry level car. I can't remember which review which stated that the Yaris was best in Fuel economy and TCO, but it wasn't fun enough to drive. Wth?

If I wanted performance, luxury and gadgets I wouldn't have considered a Yaris. I wanted a car that did great on gas, had low maintenance costs and had a low price by not requiring me to shell out for a bunch of options I didn't want. The Yaris was the best car at the time meeting those requirements. I guess we're stupid for not buying a Honda Fit which is worse on gas and cost nearly 3 grand more at the time and KIA? Yeah, ok.

[roxy1]

ive always thought where the yaris has the edge is on price. a yaris hatch with the convenience package only is available for a price the fit cannot touch. if the yaris creeps into base fit territory, price wise, then the argument for the yaris has to be looks and a slight edge in mileage. regarding driving dynamics and utility, the yaris does not compete.

[doublewam]

ive always thought where the yaris has the edge is on price. a yaris hatch with the convenience package only is available for a price the fit cannot touch. if the yaris creeps into base fit territory, price wise, then the argument for the yaris has to be looks and a slight edge in mileage. regarding driving dynamics and utility, the yaris does not compete.

I may agree that the Fit is better in the 'utility' category, but I actually liked the way the Yaris handled better than the Fit.

One of the issues concerning price in my area is that the Honda dealerships don't allow for much haggling. I actually didn't think they wanted to sell me a car (that's 2 different dealerships). Their attitude was the price is the price; take it or leave it.

The Toyota dealership worked extremely competitively on the price and the value of my trade-in. Factoring it all together, I saved about $3000 off the MSRP (which was $15,500). What they did was sell me the car at MSRP while giving me about twice the true trade-in value of my old car (rather than other dealer incentives). The bottom line was my walk out price. By handling it by inflating the trade in versus lowering the sticker price, they were able to save me enough in sales tax to reach my budget.

All this to say, where I live, a tricked out Yaris can easily be had for $1000-$3000 less than the MSRP. The Honda Fit in any configuration is going to pretty much be the MSRP.

[Lewis]

For me it was purely price (i have to admit on the merits of the car I'd be in fit) - if I was able to get a fit for 12,000 dollars i'd have gotten the fit- but honda dealers being what they are- a fit ended up being about 5,000 more when i factored in what they'd go for on my trade.

One other thing that annoys the heck out of me is the Honda dealers' (i tried several) attitude- like they're doing you a favor selling you the car. My local toyota dealer was much better to work with.

[guzziknight]

That's interesting. I bought my used Yaris S at a Honda dealer, and they bent over backwards to get the deal done. Now, it was the end of the month, and it was Memorial Day weekend, so that had a lot to do with it, but I couldn't be happier with the experience there. Of course, I've been to other dealers, Honda and other brands, that seemed like you were doing them a favor being there.

Yaniv

[eht13]

As I said in another recent thread...

At this point it almost seems like the Fit is the de facto winner any time a media outlet is doing a subcompact comparison. Almost like they can't really be bothered to really judge things fairly and come up with their own opinion; "um... so yeah... the Fit wins, we guess."

Anyway, the Fit is pretty nice, but they are overpriced I think (and I had two Hondas before that I didn't think were overpriced). My only real criticism of the car itself: it looks like a mini-minivan, or a clothes iron (especially the newer design).

And this comparison throws the Kia in there. :iono: The other one threw the new Nissan Cube in. They used to throw the Nissan Versa in there most of the time, which is the other car I test drove when I ended up buying my Yaris sedan (test drove a Fit, the Yaris, and a Versa).

The Versa was easy to eliminate from consideration. For the Yaris and the Fit, I liked them pretty much equally except for the Fit's looks (see above)... and that was the less-ugly (IMO) older design. The other factor, as others have mentioned, was a total lack of desire on the part of Honda dealers to negotiate one dollar on the used '07 Fits that I looked at, while I had a great deal already waiting for me at the Toyota dealer (looked at the Yaris there first).

[YotaYaris]

From Edmunds.com

What Edmunds.com says

The 2009 Toyota Yaris boasts a variety of body styles and a solid track record for reliability, but there are better choices for an economy car.

Pros

Very fuel-efficient, comfortable ride, handsome interior, multiple body styles, hatchback's available multifunction rear seat.

Cons

Acceleration-sapping automatic transmission, awkward seating position, centrally placed gauges.

What's New for 2009

For 2009, the Toyota Yaris becomes safer via standard side curtain airbags and antilock brakes. This year also brings a new addition to the lineup: a four-door hatchback.

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/yaris/2009/review.html

[doublewam]

They, as CR, do not find the centrally placed gauges on the mini to be an issue. I totally don't get the complaint about acceleration. I find my new Yaris to be quite 'peppy'.

The official "Are They On Crack Test" is based upon how they compare the Toyota Yaris with the Kia Rio. Is Edmunds.com on crack? Lets see...

2008 Yaris Overallscore (no rating for 2009) = 6.9
2008 Kia Rio Overallscore = 7.6

EDMUNDS IS ON CRACK!!!


From Edmunds.com

What Edmunds.com says

The 2009 Toyota Yaris boasts a variety of body styles and a solid track record for reliability, but there are better choices for an economy car.

Pros

Very fuel-efficient, comfortable ride, handsome interior, multiple body styles, hatchback's available multifunction rear seat.

Cons

Acceleration-sapping automatic transmission, awkward seating position, centrally placed gauges.

What's New for 2009

For 2009, the Toyota Yaris becomes safer via standard side curtain airbags and antilock brakes. This year also brings a new addition to the lineup: a four-door hatchback.

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/yaris/2009/review.html

[YotaYaris]

Here is some more to read for any CRACK heads : )

Fit Vs Cube Vs Yaris

http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2009/05/comparison-test-2009-nissan-cube-s-vs-2009-honda-fit-sport-vs-toyota-yaris-s.html

[R2D2]

Hey Edmunds-That is the weakest set of cons imaginable.

I wasn't expecting much in the acceleration dept when I test drove a Yaris auto and was surprised how peppy it was. I rarely use everything it has, lol. Most people looking for more perfomance opt for the manual, or SOMETHING that is not an ECONOMY CAR!

The center mounted gauges were only awkward during my first test drive and only because it made me wonder whose bright idea it was to hide the gauges behind the steering wheel in almost every other car.

Awkward seating position?

[2009Toyotoad]

Thought CU/CR was an independent thinking and testing organization. But based on my own observations they clearly "screwed the pooch" on this review. I didn't see that either the Fit or RIO were offered as 3dr liftbacks / hatchback. Seem like an Orange vs. Grapefruit comparison to me.

[kngrsll]

i think for the average driver, the fit is probably the better car.

that being said, i chose the Yaris bc the Fit was not out and it was much more "simple." The yaris had a weight advantage, and would be very easy to work on. Also, i think with simple mods, it could be much better than the Fit could be.

Now the new Fiesta beats them all though...

[doublewam]

Another 'On Crack' test...

After looking at the "Nissan Cube S", if a publication rates it over the Yaris, they are also on crack. Reason...the "Nissan Cube S" is the ugliest car ever made. It looks like something Evil Alien Conquerors would drive (http://www.hulu.com/watch/71338/evil-alien-conquerors).

I mean seriously, I defy anyone to list 3 cars that are patently uglier than the Nissan Cube S.

[Yaris Hilton]

Hmmm, the Cube's got some stiff competition for the ugliest, no Viagra needed.

Pontiac Aztek
Honda Element
Any version of the Toyota Land Cruiser
Nissan 350Z & 370Z, with their big fat aging female butts
Toyota Solara convertible, " " " "
And on and on. There's never a short supply of fugly automobiles.

[eTiMaGo]

Hmmm, the Cube's got some stiff competition for the ugliest, no Viagra needed.

Pontiac Aztek
Honda Element
Any version of the Toyota Land Cruiser
Nissan 350Z & 370Z, with their big fat aging female butts
Toyota Solara convertible, " " " "
And on and on. There's never a short supply of fugly automobiles.

Don't forget my favorite, the Ssanyong Actyon:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/691356/cars/ssang-yong-actyon-lat.jpg

[eTiMaGo]

I think they looked to the Aztek for inspiration..

And yet I see a decent amount on the roads here... gotta be dirt cheap, cuz you can't look at a car like this and think "wow, I love it, I want it!"... unless you're Stevie Wonder... but that's a whole other can of worms

[nsmitchell]

My 2009 Honda Fit Sport gets 45MPG on the highway using cruise! The 33MPG/hwy is total crap. My Yaris only gets about 38MPG/hwy with the cruise control. The Yaris is better in the city. I'm getting about 33 to 35MPG city. The Fit gets about 30MPG in the city. I think it's the Fit's aerodynamic front end that allows the better hwy mpgs.

The Rio, Cube and Versa are crap in my book!

My Yaris is just so well made and reliable. It's a Toyota after all.
The Fit is so sporty and solid too.

You can't go wrong with a Fit or a Yaris. Both cars are awesome! :thumbup:

[roxy1]

comparing apples to apples as best possible, auto vs auto, manual vs manual, all the data ive found tells me the yaris beats the fit in mpg's across the board and the epa estimates reflect this. i even made a crude spreadsheet when debating on a change to an 09 corolla vs the new fit. the average mpg for the fit. the corolla won out on highway driving by over 2 mpg's. of course, anyone should be wiping out the epa estimates as they are calculated now. i ended up w/ a lifetime avg of 42.3 mpg with my yaris hb manual, and that was 70% light suburban, 15-20% highway and 10-15% city driving. this was using reasonable driving habits but by no means hypermiling.

at any rate, in evaluating all the subcompacts being discussed, using as much objective testing and observations as possible, the yaris is still coming out tops in mileage.

by the same token, being as objective as possible, the fit is more fun to drive and the better handler. heck even my 09 corolla allows me to take twisty off ramps at much higher speed and still feels far more secure than my yaris did.

i still will contend that at the same price the yaris doesnt quite measure up to the fit, outside of looks (which is pretty subjective) and fuel economy (which is not subjective). but, those two items are high on many peoples list.

[marcus]

central gause is under cons...??? i dont think id drive another vehicle without the gauges in the centre...its just so much better than looking in between ur steering wheel unless ur steering wheel is transparent or made of glass then maybe..


From Edmunds.com

What Edmunds.com says

The 2009 Toyota Yaris boasts a variety of body styles and a solid track record for reliability, but there are better choices for an economy car.

Pros

Very fuel-efficient, comfortable ride, handsome interior, multiple body styles, hatchback's available multifunction rear seat.

Cons

Acceleration-sapping automatic transmission, awkward seating position, centrally placed gauges.

What's New for 2009

For 2009, the Toyota Yaris becomes safer via standard side curtain airbags and antilock brakes. This year also brings a new addition to the lineup: a four-door hatchback.

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/yaris/2009/review.html

[Twistoffate0817]

Before purchasing my 09 hatch, i test drove the ford focus, honda fit, hyundai accent,chevy cobalt, chevy aveo, honda civic, nissan versa, and the toyota yaris.

By far the yaris was my #1 pick out of those vehicles. The price made sense, the vehicle itself made sense, and the overall value with the yaris made sense.

I dont really understand how the kia rio made it above the yaris...but whatever.

[highwaypass]

I think it's only a "propaganda" to bring down the image of toyota.Whenever you reach the highest place,the more people will force you to leave it.

[Ingear]

all for the same reasons that the actual mpg is misrepresented. I really really dislike sounding like a conspiracy theorist, BUT... The auto manufacturers make more money when you buy the bigger fancier cars that get worse fuel mileage. They know that the people who really know will buy the Yaris anyway. So why should they even care. Look at the hybrid dilema... It might be difficult to convince someone to buy a Toyota prius at twice as much money getting 44 mpg when a Yaris gets 42 mpg... Admittedly, safety issues aside.

[brg88tx]

all for the same reasons that the actual mpg is misrepresented. I really really dislike sounding like a conspiracy theorist, BUT... The auto manufacturers make more money when you buy the bigger fancier cars that get worse fuel mileage. They know that the people who really know will buy the Yaris anyway. So why should they even care. Look at the hybrid dilema... It might be difficult to convince someone to buy a Toyota prius at twice as much money getting 44 mpg when a Yaris gets 42 mpg... Admittedly, safety issues aside.

i agree that (imo) toyota lowballed the yaris mpg so it wouldn't cut into their prius sales.

[Kal-El]

Why do so many people think that automakers make MPG ratings?

:iono:

[Gr8ful_Ken]

My biggest gripe with the yaris, is the lack of gauges. Especially a tach. CR and other press takes into account these extras and creature comforts.

But that stuff I think is secondary for the target buyer of a subcompact. We want to save money: in fuel, maintenance costs, reliability, and in price.

Yeah, I preferred the instrument clusters on the Rio 5 and the Fit better. As I did the driving position. But when I factored the reason why I decided to look at these 3 cars, I realized The Yaris would work best for me overall. I got used to the driving position and will learn to deal withought gauges.

and the Fit is FUGLY!

[bronsin]

As if CRs problems with the Yaris werent enough, they rate the C5 Corvette much worse than average for reliability. In several surveys I have seen out of 200 plus people the average was 4.9 out of 5 stars. I wonder does Pelosi have anything to do with them? :iono:

[QuantumIguana]

They didn't like the center dashboard. I thought it was odd at first, but I got used to it really fast. On a short test drive, I could see it being distracting. My Yaris was totaled in a crash last week. I had only had it a few months. I had a PT Cruiser for a loaner, and I found it very distracting NOT having the guages in the center. And I don't know what they are talking about with an odd driving position. I'm 5'6", and neither I nor my 6'6" friend have any problem with the driving position.

And no, Pelosi had nothing to do with CR's review.

[Steveh27]

I looked at the 2010 CR auto mag. It lists the 2009 Yaris as the highest rated used car in the US, confirming my research before I bought my 2010.

[sue08401]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is with the center instrument placement there is room directly in front of the driver for a GPS. I have a Garmin placed directly in front of me that is easy to read at a glance. One added benifit is that I usually have it in a mode that displays the speed I'm going with the speed limit off to the left. The Garmin's display is easier to read and if I go into map mode I have it right in front of me which to my thinking is a lot safer.

[Zaphod]

I looked at the 2010 CR auto mag. It lists the 2009 Yaris as the highest rated used car in the US, confirming my research before I bought my 2010.

It just baffles me that they can come up with two completely contrasting opinions of the exact same car just one year later.

[echaru]

That's because Toyota didn't pay them but the others did. A year later with all the success of the Yaris, CR has to tell the truth.

[birdman]

CR says one of the cons of the Yaris is it's center mounted speedometer though they never mention a bad word about the Mini's center mounted Speedometer. There is room for an analog speedometer above the steering wheel and the center dash could be replaced with another storage compartment if they wanted it that way. Seeing how the lift back was styled in France and some of their high end cars have center dash instrument panels it stands to reason this was chosen for fashion. People check their side mirrors often and you never hear a complaint about their location and the center speedometer is closer to your line of sight than they are. I really don't get it. I think it takes a slightly more sophisticated eye to appreciate the Yaris than the employee pool at CR.

[Hershey]

We've dropped C.R.. Same stuff month to month , such as DVD players , T.V.s , computers , etc. . Plus they take the mileage from the window sticker of the car and divide by 2 ( sometimes bump it up or down by 1 ) to give the mileage which is misleading . Not the real mileage . If there's an issue of interest we'll just go to the library for a look .

[carnageehw]

I'm a driving instructor, and have 111,900KMS on my 2009 Yaris. Came across this site while researching for my new car (lease is up in April)

I've driven the 2009 model more than most people in history, most likely.
I don't think Consumer Reports is on crack. The Yaris is a slightly below average car. Here's my review:

What I like, and why Consumer reports is wrong:

1) Acceleration. On a flat surface, the Yaris' acceleration is good. It's light and quick, and getting on the freeway at merging speeds is always easy (Unless you're stuck behind the dreaded slow merger).

The exception to this, is uphill acceleration. Going uphill, this car stinks.

2) Handling. I think the yaris handles turns and evasive maneuvers really well. Parking is great and the steering is quite responsive and turning radius nice and tight.

3) MPG. Obviously pretty damn good, and really important in my line of work.

4) Center gauges. Most of the negative reviews I've seen mention this. It stupid to mention. It's obvious, and a matter of opinion. And yeah, if you're not used to it, it's weird and takes a few days to get used to, but that's no different than ANY new thing. The center gauges are excellent in my line of work, as I don't need to stretch to see any of the important things.

5) The horn. It's all over the wheel and I love it.


What I don't like, and why I think the consumer reports article is fair

1) The pedals. Holy crap are these things awful. Light and twitchy, smooth accelerating is something that is really hard to do. Way too many bumpy rides in thing.

2) Low quality interior. The Dash is cheap looking, and collects dust like no ones business. Which is more important to the Yaris, because there is no gauges in front of you, only the dash. The Shifter sucks, and my hand grip has been worn down like crazy. Yes, there are a lot of storage cubbies, but they are not very well thought out. You lose and change or pens in the center cubbies and it is really, really hard to get back out again. It's nice for papers and such, but it's really hard to see what's in there.

The Steering wheel and radio are average. Nothing even worth mentioning, even though I just did :)

3) The cupholders. This could qualify as "interior" but I hate them so much. They are RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE VENTS! What the hell? In the winter, my cold drinks get heated up And forget about a can of pop in the winter. You have the heater on, and the pop can is too hot to drink from. In the summer the Air Conditioning is blocked!

4) The noise. Ugh. This car is LOUD. The sound system is decent, buit when the car is running, especially at high speeds you can't hear anything. The road noise is so loud. Louder than any car I've ever driven. Even the windshield vibrates loudly from time to time!

5) The ride. It's bumpy. I know it's a cheap car, but it just doesn't ride well at all. Bumpy, loud and this car drifts quite a bit.

6) The reliability. While I've obviously driven the car a lot, I've had a few major problems. I won't get into it unless anyone cares, because anecdotal evidence is just that, but let's just say I'm not thrilled with the Toyota Quality.

So all in all, I'd rate it what the original review rated it: A slightly below average car. I'd only recommend it to people who don't drive too often, or too far.

[Flipper_1938]

6) The reliability. While I've obviously driven the car a lot, I've had a few major problems. I won't get into it unless anyone cares, because anecdotal evidence is just that, but let's just say I'm not thrilled with the Toyota Quality.


What issues have you had?

[Kal-El]

What issues have you had?

I'm very curious as well. :iono:

As my sig points out, 102,000 miles without a single problem. That puts me in awe over the Yaris's quality.

The Yaris has been rated the most reliable Toyota. That's significant since Toyota is the highest rated company in reliability. Do the math.

[Hershey]

Luck of the draw . :bow:

[carnageehw]

What issues have you had?

I've had 2 major ones, and little problem.

The first is the battery/starting. I was on a lunch break(about half an hour) and had my radio (and only the radio) running the whole time. When I tried to start the car up the battery was apparently drained. I'm willing to call this one my fault, even though half hour of listening to the radio shouldn't really drain the battery.

However, after that, the battery had maybe 2 minutes of charge left for the rest of it's life. The battery would die on me after leaving the accessories running for an honest-to-goodness 2 minutes. In the middle of winter, I shouldn't have to choose between turning my car completely off, and idling there and wasting fuel.

Obviously something was wrong with how the battery was either being charged, or how it was holding a charge. However, the kicker came when I was taking a student for a road test, and when the examiner came out and asked him to start the car...it wouldn't. We were waiting with NO ACCESSORIES ON! The key wasn't even in the car. Nothing was draining the battery, and yet...it wouldn't start.

So I replaced the battery after that, and all was fine for a little while untill two weeks ago. I was picking up a student (all my battery failings seem to happen on the job) and when he went to turn the key...nothing. And this time, I mean NOTHING. The engine wasn't even trying to turn over, no lights came on, I couldn't even use the auto locks. Literally nothing had happened. It was like there wasn't even a battery in the car at all.

After canceling two days worth of lessons to get the problem looked at, the result was.....nothing. Nothing was wrong with my car. The nearest anyone can figure was that the cables connecting to the battery terminal somehow wasn't connecting properly, because in the end, when I took out the battery, and plopped it back in, it worked.

Another time I had my Yaris in the shop (10 cars on our street were keyed) and I was using the company's Yaris the check engine light came on, and the car would shift violently. I was worried that my students who were going on road tests would get bad marks for not driving smoothly, even though it was the car shifting terribly itself. I can't remember what the problem was, as my personal Yaris was fixed soon after.

A final problem I noticed with the spare Yaris and my personal Yaris (the spare one moreso) was an unusual amount of windsheild noise. It really sounded like the windshield was rattling around a lot, and while that may just be a noise complaint, I kind of think windsheild problems fall under safety.

I do understand that the battery isn't even a toyota part, however, they still put it in their cars, and should be held accountable for it.

[Imagine]

OP:

I agree with what you're saying. I'm on my second Yaris. I read the reports and had previous experience with the Yaris, so my account of the car didn't jive with what they were saying. A guy I work with has a Fit, and I've borrowed it a few times because he needed my truck. I have to admit, I like the fit I've owned several Hondas in the past and all have been good cars. I just can't justify spending the extra money on the Fit! Other then the Extra doors (yes, I know they make a 5dr now) and alittle more room I don't see the advantages of one. I like the styling of the Yaris better also. My new fit is fitted with a 5spd and it's even more fun to drive then my 07 auto was.

Look at the plus side, poor CR reviews will keep the cost down on a great little car! Which makes them even more cheap fun for people who take the time to find out for ourselves what we like best. :)

[BIGTAZ351]

Other than I'm a newbie and nobody will care as this topic is old.. I'm not starting a posting war!
I am a VERY large guy,(5'11" 375#) and 4/5 door cars are a freaking joke, and high MPG's are a must (100 mile round trip daily), and low price, so with that said I had very few options especially considering some of the cars in my list were discontinued at the end of 2010 with no 3dr replacements. My 3dr options were, Yaris, Accent, Cobalt, Focus. I went with repair records, and mpg reports and of those, the Yaris was obviously the winner, the biggest plus on the maint. side of things (the timing chain) most of the others use a belt...I'm old school, steel is stronger and more durable than rubber.
OK that's off my chest!
Now for those of you who think an Auto equipped Yaris is slow, You obviously have never driven a early 80's Ford pickup with the carburetor equipped inline six! It did the job, but really slow, even slower with an auto. 0-60 was in the 25-35 second range!
As for Noise and the Bumpy ride, you're kidding right? I only hear noise at above the posted limits, and the ride of this car is better than all of the others on my list.
These cars are Econoboxes built for long life on the highway getting high MPG's, not a freakin' Cadillac XLR!
I will agree...
The gas pedal is touchy, the brakes are scary good!
The center gauge is different, and the dash does collect dust easy, and CR and almost every other "Consumer Information Magazine/website" are biased by who advertises, and are totally useless even as bath tissue!
I love my leftover '10 Yaris, and this website is awesome, after all, where else have you seen a car like mine with a plow? Thats my two pennies, now I'll shut up

[DMZ]

Now for those of you who think an Auto equipped Yaris is slow, You obviously have never driven a early 80's Ford pickup with the carburetor equipped inline six! It did the job, but really slow, even slower with an auto. 0-60 was in the 25-35 second range!


You make a good point. I remember when most compact pickups had inline fours w/carburetors. They were notoriously gutless loaded or unloaded. My '81 Datsun King Cab seemed to be staining most of the time at highway speeds.

[Kal-El]

Other than I'm a newbie and nobody will care as this topic is old.. I'm not starting a posting war!
I am a VERY large guy,(5'11" 375#) and 4/5 door cars are a freaking joke, and high MPG's are a must (100 mile round trip daily), and low price, so with that said I had very few options especially considering some of the cars in my list were discontinued at the end of 2010 with no 3dr replacements. My 3dr options were, Yaris, Accent, Cobalt, Focus. I went with repair records, and mpg reports and of those, the Yaris was obviously the winner, the biggest plus on the maint. side of things (the timing chain) most of the others use a belt...I'm old school, steel is stronger and more durable than rubber.
OK that's off my chest!
Now for those of you who think an Auto equipped Yaris is slow, You obviously have never driven a early 80's Ford pickup with the carburetor equipped inline six! It did the job, but really slow, even slower with an auto. 0-60 was in the 25-35 second range!
As for Noise and the Bumpy ride, you're kidding right? I only hear noise at above the posted limits, and the ride of this car is better than all of the others on my list.
These cars are Econoboxes built for long life on the highway getting high MPG's, not a freakin' Cadillac XLR!
I will agree...
The gas pedal is touchy, the brakes are scary good!
The center gauge is different, and the dash does collect dust easy, and CR and almost every other "Consumer Information Magazine/website" are biased by who advertises, and are totally useless even as bath tissue!
I love my leftover '10 Yaris, and this website is awesome, after all, where else have you seen a car like mine with a plow? Thats my two pennies, now I'll shut up


No need to shut up, good post. :thumbsup:

It's true, 2-door models have the easiest front seat access with the bigger doors. It's sad that automakers are starting to abandon them. The new 2012 Yaris will apparently NOT come as a 3-door option. Oddly enough, it was the only option in the US for its first two years. Even now, I would say at least half of all liftbacks sold since the 5-door came out have been 3- doors. You mentioned Yaris, Accent, Cobalt, & Focus were your only options fitting this criteria. Guess what, they all cease to exist this year. The Cruze sedan, '12 Accent, '12 Yaris, and '12 Focus hatchbacks will only be available as 5-doors. Looks like you'll be keeping your Yaris for a while. :smile:

[Hershey]

We dumped C.R.. Were long time readers . Same old cr*p . Over and over and ....

[DMZ]

We dumped C.R.. Were long time readers . Same old cr*p . Over and over and ....

Plasma TV's, computers, digital cameras, vacuums and high end autos.

It got old and redundant.

[Hershey]

Plasma TV's, computers, digital cameras, vacuums and high end autos.

It got old and redundant.

Nailed it . We'll go to the library if anything of interest is in it . Plus , some of the things are available for free at their site .

[p123456789]

My only complaint with the yaris is I wish the shifter and center console was higher up, I feel like I'm reaching for the shifter and it would also be nice if it was made from a little better plastic. Other than that what can you excpect for a 12k car? I think in about 10 years the yaris will have the following like the civic hatchback and the value's will stay pretty strong.
If the fit was the same price as the yaris I would have picked the fit hands down I think it is that much nicer of a car but its not worth the extra price for me I needed a point a to b car and the yaris does that best.

[rick996]

I'll add that I'm not a fan of the electronic fuel gauge. I can never tell if it's blinking slow or fast. Some things should just be analog. Like a watch. I can't tell time on a digital watch :iono:.

[Kal-El]

I'll add that I'm not a fan of the electronic fuel gauge. I can never tell if it's blinking slow or fast. Some things should just be analog. Like a watch. I can't tell time on a digital watch :iono:.

Huh? You just read the numbers. Not sure I understand how you cannot read numbers.

It's 12:40 right now. "Twelve Forty". Numbers are kind of an important part of life.

:iono:

[rick996]

No, to me it's 20 till 1:00. :wink:

[rick996]

My problem with the digital gas gauge bars is that they jump instead of flow. Say you get to 1/2 tank and the gauge is exactly correct and shows you 4 bars out of 8. Then you drive 50 miles and there are still 4 bars. You can't still have 1/2 a tank. I want to see what's between 1/2 a tank and 3/8 of a tank.

As to telling time on a digital watch, I was being a little funny :bonk:. The truth is that I prefer using an analog watch for the same reason. I don't want to see minutes jump from one to the next I want to see them flow from one to the next. Just my preference as there were no digital watches until I was older (or calculators, I used a slide rule).

But I do look at my watch at 12:40 and think 20 of.

[BIGTAZ351]

Rick,
I wish the car had a whole set of Analog gauges Tach, and oil pressure...but thats the motorhead of me coming out....Digital?...I like water temp to be digital!

Another car I considered, and forgot to mention in my first post was the Golf TDi, but the so called better mileage (with more expensive fuel) doesn't justify their ungodly high price $24,000+ not to mention that there is more maintenance to do on a VW TurboDiesel!

[rick996]

I have an analog tach. We both drive 2010's and I don't have the power package. Maybe you get the tach with the manual transmission. :iono: And speaking of slow, I once had a 62 VW bus. :rolleyes:

[BIGTAZ351]

I have an analog tach. We both drive 2010's and I don't have the power package. Maybe you get the tach with the manual transmission. :iono: And speaking of slow, I once had a 62 VW bus. :rolleyes:

Yeah, thats kinda what I got out of it too..A Tach isnt really necessary on an A/T car anyway, on a Pickup where you do towing out of O/D yes! along with Trans Temp!

The early 80's diesel Bus was slow also, I followed one for about 10 miles several years ago, he pulled into a gas station..and the gear head part of me had to follow and ask...Was that factory? he showed the whole deal and yes it came that way, and I looked it up when I got home, I think it had something like 50HP! Not a popular option? :iono:

[SailDesign]

The early 80's diesel Bus was slow also, I followed one for about 10 miles several years ago, he pulled into a gas station..and the gear head part of me had to follow and ask...Was that factory? he showed the whole deal and yes it came that way, and I looked it up when I got home, I think it had something like 50HP! Not a popular option? :iono:

We had one of the first of the Mark II buses (1970-ish) with the 1200 engine. WooHoo! Drove that to Florida and back from RI one year, and then across to California the next. Sure got to admire the scenery in that thing. :biggrin:

[rick996]

And speaking of slow, I once had a 62 VW bus. :rolleyes:

Correction - I was making up a list of cars I owned and realized that it was a 1968 bus. Also had a 1978 bus.

[DMZ]

I wish CR would do base model cars and trucks only. They always test the fully loaded or fully equipped models. I think a better comparison would be with the base models, to show what is offered at that price and trim level.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Hello. Been lurking in this forum for over a month and have spent HOURS researching. Some great people here. First off let me start by saying I purchased a 3 dr LB w/ Power Package in Polar White a few weeks back. And of course it is a manual :)

Let me explain my purchase. I have wanted a Yaris for several yrs now, however, until recently you had to pay an arm and a 2 legs for the safety items I wanted, minus stability control. So I settled for the 1st generation 2008 Honda Fit Sport. The looks were not great but it was a good lil car. So then the 2nd generation Fit came out in 2009 and I purchased a top of the line model. Unfortunately I was also forced to purchase the $1,800 navi to get VSC :( The car was just under 20k loaded with every feature. I still wanted the Yaris but it did not have 6 air bags, VSC so I went with the Fit, aesthetics aside. I drove this Fit for 2 yrs w/ several minor probs all fixed under warranty. Probs included squeaky pedal(minor) to more major issues such as the drivers window CONSTANTLY, slowly edging down, requiring me to pull it up and dificulty (grinding actually) while putting it in 5th gear. I've driven a manual my entire life(since 14, and 35 now) so I know it wasn't me. The dealership was fantastic with the pedal squeak but could never fix the other 2 probs. I also forgot to mention the VERY inaccurate computer mpg guage!! I spoke to a 19 yr Honda mechanic and he also explained he was not AT ALL happy with the build quality of the 2nd generation Honda,especially for it's price and for being a Honda. SO, unhappy with the Fit I moved into a 2011 LOADED Honda Element. Problems from day two on the Element. Problems with difficulty starting(garaged all winter) to buttons on cruise control not working.

So I went to visit my sister near KC Missouri and stopped at Toyota dealer after reviewing their new inventory of Yaris's fitting my criteria. I was sooooooooo happy that Toyota finally added ABS,6 air bags, and VSC STANDARD!!! Traded in the Element, lost $2,500, or my ass, however you want to look at it. BUT I finally got what I wanted and to be honest their is NO comparison between a Honda and a Toyota in build. EVERYTHING on the Yaris is tighter and more solid than the 2nd generation Fit I had. The door shuts more soundly. The ONLY thing "better" on the Fit was the pretty dash and the cushier materials and the "magic seats." The ride of the Yaris is just as good, the seats feel great(I'm only 5'7" but I've traveled in them in 14 hr increments) and EVERYTHING feels more solid. Honda might have spent the extra money($4,700 more in my case) on a fancier interior but I would take the Yaris over the Fit anydamn day of the week. AND I'VE OWNED TWO!! I feel like a pig in shit and have a great Yaris that does everything I want it to. I considered waiting for the Scion IQ(Toyota IQ) coming late summer, but it is smaller and I don't need to pay 4k more like I did for the Fit for a fancier interior. So if any of you out there in this forum feel like you should have bought a new Fit, I'm here to tell you you made the right decision. I know I won't be stranded on the side of the road with the Yaris and I couldn't have made a better decision.

Consumer Reports is soooooooo wrong about this car-the Yaris.

[Kal-El]

Hello. Been lurking in this forum for over a month and have spent HOURS researching. Some great people here. First off let me start by saying I purchased a 3 dr LB w/ Power Package in Polar White a few weeks back. And of course it is a manual :)

Let me explain my purchase. I have wanted a Yaris for several yrs now, however, until recently you had to pay an arm and a 2 legs for the safety items I wanted, minus stability control. So I settled for the 1st generation 2008 Honda Fit Sport. The looks were not great but it was a good lil car. So then the 2nd generation Fit came out in 2009 and I purchased a top of the line model. Unfortunately I was also forced to purchase the $1,800 navi to get VSC :( The car was just under 20k loaded with every feature. I still wanted the Yaris but it did not have 6 air bags, VSC so I went with the Fit, aesthetics aside. I drove this Fit for 2 yrs w/ several minor probs all fixed under warranty. Probs included squeaky pedal(minor) to more major issues such as the drivers window CONSTANTLY, slowly edging down, requiring me to pull it up and dificulty (grinding actually) while putting it in 5th gear. I've driven a manual my entire life(since 14, and 35 now) so I know it wasn't me. The dealership was fantastic with the pedal squeak but could never fix the other 2 probs. I also forgot to mention the VERY inaccurate computer mpg guage!! I spoke to a 19 yr Honda mechanic and he also explained he was not AT ALL happy with the build quality of the 2nd generation Honda,especially for it's price and for being a Honda. SO, unhappy with the Fit I moved into a 2011 LOADED Honda Element. Problems from day two on the Element. Problems with difficulty starting(garaged all winter) to buttons on cruise control not working.

So I went to visit my sister near KC Missouri and stopped at Toyota dealer after reviewing their new inventory of Yaris's fitting my criteria. I was sooooooooo happy that Toyota finally added ABS,6 air bags, and VSC STANDARD!!! Traded in the Element, lost $2,500, or my ass, however you want to look at it. BUT I finally got what I wanted and to be honest their is NO comparison between a Honda and a Toyota in build. EVERYTHING on the Yaris is tighter and more solid than the 2nd generation Fit I had. The door shuts more soundly. The ONLY thing "better" on the Fit was the pretty dash and the cushier materials and the "magic seats." The ride of the Yaris is just as good, the seats feel great(I'm only 5'7" but I've traveled in them in 14 hr increments) and EVERYTHING feels more solid. Honda might have spent the extra money($4,700 more in my case) on a fancier interior but I would take the Yaris over the Fit anydamn day of the week. AND I'VE OWNED TWO!! I feel like a pig in shit and have a great Yaris that does everything I want it to. I considered waiting for the Scion IQ(Toyota IQ) coming late summer, but it is smaller and I don't need to pay 4k more like I did for the Fit for a fancier interior. So if any of you out there in this forum feel like you should have bought a new Fit, I'm here to tell you you made the right decision. I know I won't be stranded on the side of the road with the Yaris and I couldn't have made a better decision.

Consumer Reports is soooooooo wrong about this car-the Yaris.

Thanks for the write up and comparison. :thumbsup:

Sorry you had to dump so much money switching 4 vehicles.

I can almost guarantee you that you'll have no problems for a long time with the Yaris. Mine hasn't been to the dealer for any issues yet with 105,000 miles. Another member here drove 425,000 miles as a courier with only one minor repair. Truly remarkable quality and reliability.

Enjoy! :smile:

[why?]

CR gets paid off to say what they do. All that stability control junk adds weight, and no benefit for a car as light as the yaris.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Thanks for the write up and comparison. :thumbsup:

Sorry you had to dump so much money switching 4 vehicles.

I can almost guarantee you that you'll have no problems for a long time with the Yaris. Mine hasn't been to the dealer for any issues yet with 105,000 miles. Another member here drove 425,000 miles as a courier with only one minor repair. Truly remarkable quality and reliability.

Enjoy! :smile:

THANKS Kal-EL. I guess sometimes you gotta go away(Toyota) to see how good you actually had it. :drinking:

[Kal-El]

Don't feel too bad guys, Forbes just included the Mercedes S-Class on the list of "worst cars on the road". :rolleyes:

I'm not a big fan of the car (I'd buy the Lexus LS), but there's no denying the the S is one of the world's best cars.

Believe it of not, their reasoning is that the S-class is too costly to own and burns too much gas (too powerful). Perhaps Forbes forgot what a luxury car is supposed to be - about excess. It was designed to be powerful and expensive and got slammed for being so.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/the-worst-cars-on-the-road-20110418.html

So a magazine not loving the Yaris means nothing. :smile:

[Kal-El]

I just flipped through this months Consumer Reports and was comparing reliability ratings.

The Yaris was the only model I could find which was described as having "outstanding reliability". No other Toyota was even described as such.

:thumbsup:

[DMZ]

I just flipped through this months Consumer Reports and was comparing reliability ratings.

The Yaris was the only model I could find which was described as having "outstanding reliability". No other Toyota was even described as such.

:thumbsup:

That is one of the biggest selling points for me. I wasn't looking for a smooth, quiet ride with lots of bells and whistles when I bought my Yaris. Fuel economy, reliability and ease of maintenance was what I wanted.

[why?]

Don't feel too bad guys, Forbes just included the Mercedes S-Class on the list of "worst cars on the road". :rolleyes:

I'm not a big fan of the car (I'd buy the Lexus LS), but there's no denying the the S is one of the world's best cars.

Believe it of not, their reasoning is that the S-class is too costly to own and burns too much gas (too powerful). Perhaps Forbes forgot what a luxury car is supposed to be - about excess. It was designed to be powerful and expensive and got slammed for being so.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/the-worst-cars-on-the-road-20110418.html

So a magazine not loving the Yaris means nothing. :smile:

I wouldn't be surprised if the Benz S class was one of the worst luxury cars on the road. They've gone way down hill, completely forgetting what they used to be in the 70's and early 80's and before. They finally started realizing this and are slowly rectifying the problem, but they've lost a ton of luster and will take a long time to recover that, if they ever do.