Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site
 

 


 
Go Back   Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site > Second Generation Toyota Yaris Main Rooms > General Yaris / Vitz Discussion
  The Tire Rack

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-08-2009, 07:46 PM   #1
doublewam
 
Drives: 2009 Yaris
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 19
Consumer Reports Is On Crack!!!

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/de...onda&model=Fit

Kia Rio: 64
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Co...&wa=wsignin1.0

Toyota Yaris: 50
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Co...ta&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).
doublewam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 08:10 PM   #2
vector9mm
 
Drives: blue 08 hb
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 32
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.
vector9mm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 08:19 PM   #3
talnlnky
Audio Junky
 
talnlnky's Avatar
 
Drives: 08 liftback
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Spokane, Wa
Posts: 1,412
Send a message via AIM to talnlnky
i wonder if they have the same test driver(s) for each car?
__________________
talnlnky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 08:23 PM   #4
doublewam
 
Drives: 2009 Yaris
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 19
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).
doublewam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 08:25 PM   #5
twowheels
 
Drives: '09 Meteorite Metallic 3 dr MT
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 127
Quote:
Originally Posted by doublewam View Post
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... :-)
twowheels is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 10:38 PM   #6
Brad D
 
Drives: 07 Yaris RS 3dr
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 34
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.
Brad D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 10:46 PM   #7
R2D2
Crazy Oil Sniffer
 
R2D2's Avatar
 
Drives: MM 09 Yaris 5 Dr LB "Click"
Join Date: May 2009
Location: ME
Posts: 498
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.
R2D2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 11:06 PM   #8
YotaYaris
 
YotaYaris's Avatar
 
Drives: 09 3dr (sold), 12 SE 5spd : )
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SA TX
Posts: 140
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 : )
YotaYaris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 11:19 PM   #9
bdc87
HISTORY REPEATED 11/04/08
 
bdc87's Avatar
 
Drives: 07' MM Vitz LB
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake County, CA
Posts: 355
Send a message via AIM to 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.
__________________
bdc87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 11:36 PM   #10
Thirty-Nine
Small cars are a big deal
 
Thirty-Nine's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,144
Send a message via AIM to 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.
Thirty-Nine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 11:41 PM   #11
rningonfumes
 
rningonfumes's Avatar
 
Drives: Yaris Sedan 5MT
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 865
Quote:
Originally Posted by R2D2 View Post
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.
__________________
rningonfumes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 11:46 PM   #12
GeneW
Banned
 
Drives: 2008 Yaris
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,034
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
GeneW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2009, 11:47 PM   #13
enviri
 
enviri's Avatar
 
Drives: 2010 Yaris
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: CT
Posts: 1,516
STOP USING THE AUTO TRANNY IN REVIEWS! *ahem* whatever happened to the versa in reviews? lol
enviri is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2009, 01:17 AM   #14
PHXDEMON
 
PHXDEMON's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Red Liftback
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 885
They rated a pile of shit KIA over the Yaris.
PHXDEMON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2009, 01:57 AM   #15
Morgan
 
Morgan's Avatar
 
Drives: 07 MM LB
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: PCB, FL
Posts: 504
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
__________________
Morgan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2009, 03:41 AM   #16
CtrlAltDefeat
I ♥ Yaris
 
CtrlAltDefeat's Avatar
 
Drives: Black 08 LB MT & red 97 Miata
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posts: 1,313
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 ) 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?
__________________

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure
and the intelligent are full of doubt. - Bertrand Russell
CtrlAltDefeat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2009, 04:33 AM   #17
2006fronty
 
2006fronty's Avatar
 
Drives: 2010 Mazda3 iTouring
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Bernardino
Posts: 234
Consumer Reports is only good for appliance reviews.
__________________
2006fronty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2009, 04:45 AM   #18
ddongbap
Banned
 
Drives: yw calls me douche and racist.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: hay
Posts: 2,183
Wouldn't just be Yarisworld, if people didn't post crap like this.
ddongbap is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Consumer Reports not too pleased with Yaris Befuddled General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 132 02-28-2011 02:57 PM
Yaris & Consumer Reports bobby General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 57 01-31-2009 11:17 AM
Consumer Reports Kaotic Lazagna Off-topic / Other Cars / Everything else Discussions 28 04-29-2007 01:13 PM
Consumer Reports Best & Worst 2007 Cars Bretsuaz General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 23 03-15-2007 05:51 PM
Consumer Reports on Ethanol Driver General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 6 09-01-2006 11:21 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:19 PM.




YarisWorld
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.