5-door LB availability in the US

[eht13]

I wonder what the deal is with the availability of 5-door liftbacks in the US. They have been available here since the '09 model year, so the current model year is the second. But I very rarely see 5-doors out and about... every Yaris I see is either a 3-door or a sedan, about 50/50. Looking at dealer's sites out of curiosity also indicates that none or very few have 5-doors available. It seems odd given that the 5-door was introduced here for a reason... to sell more Yarises. So is the problem that low availability from Toyota has led to low sales, or that low sales has been interpreted as low demand? Toyota has the Matrix as a 5-door, plus the Scion xB and the xA/xD too... but they are also competing against the Fit, which is only a 5-door, as well as other models like the hatchback version of the Versa. So it just seems odd.

[b_hickman11]

Originally Posted by eht13

I wonder what the deal is with the availability of 5-door liftbacks in the US. They have been available here since the '09 model year, so the current model year is the second. But I very rarely see 5-doors out and about... every Yaris I see is either a 3-door or a sedan, about 50/50. Looking at dealer's sites out of curiosity also indicates that none or very few have 5-doors available. It seems odd given that the 5-door was introduced here for a reason... to sell more Yarises. So is the problem that low availability from Toyota has led to low sales, or that low sales has been interpreted as low demand? Toyota has the Matrix as a 5-door, plus the Scion xB and the xA/xD too... but they are also competing against the Fit, which is only a 5-door, as well as other models like the hatchback version of the Versa. So it just seems odd.

The same goes for the S and the RS. They offer it but you vever see them. I have only seen one 5 dr and it was on a lot. I have never seen any on the road. I see more Sedans that LB in my area. Probably 80% Sedan and 20% LB.

[ozmdd]

Hmmm, I see a fair number of 5-doors here. Still mostly seeing sedans, but that is not surprising, since most cars sold are sedans in every brand. I'm guessing that the demand for 5drs and 3drs is still significantly greater in places like Europe, Asia and Central/South America than in N. America, but we're catching up. Now if we can just get the TS...

[DevilGirl]

I parked next to one yesterday in our employee lot (absolutely red). I've seen a blazing blue 5-dr LB in the lot on other occassions too.

[TwoBearWisconsin]

I have a 5 door, but I rarely see any other ones.

[Gideon]

I've seen tons of 5 doors, in fact I think I see more of them than 3 doors.

Never seen a 5 door S though. Was at a dealership yesterday and they had none, although a few 5 doors. Asking 16K, LOL.

[06silveryaris]

Originally Posted by TwoBearWisconsin

I have a 5 door, but I rarely see any other ones.

At least for me I am waiting for it to come in a 5 speed

[mr9865]

I never see any yari on the road let alone the rare 5 door. lol

[33OH]

I've seen one 5-door ever. A bunch of 3 doors and even more sedans.

[maryinredding]

I too wondered why you don't see many 5 door. Every once in a while I see what looks like one then it turns out to be a Matrix. I have seen 2 since they came out in 09.

[enviri]

yeah it was a pain in the ass to get my 5dr 5spd. there are 3 running around my area, one is a 2009 red 5dr "S". purdy.

[grampi]

I've never seen a Yaris on the road or in a dealer's lot with the factory alloy wheels. Why are these so rare?

[wooverstone8]

I rarely see any Yaris liftbacks in my town, but the Yaris sedans seem to be abundant everywhere in town. The only subcompacts I see on a daily bases are Honda Fits and Hyundai Accents.

[b_hickman11]

Originally Posted by grampi

I've never seen a Yaris on the road or in a dealer's lot with the factory alloy wheels. Why are these so rare?

The Yaris is an entry level car. They know that most people who are going to buy the Yaris is looking to spend as least amount of $ as possible. Therefore putting the steelies with caps is going to make the car cheaper and appeal to more buyers.

[Nova8518]

I've only seen two five doors both sport other than mine. No one wants to pay for the 5 door sport even if they can find them. I was lucky to find one especially in black and I also got a deal on it cause they were getting the 2010's in.

[GeneralDon7]

I rarely see any sedans around here, I mostly see LB's. But i have started seeing a few 5 doors. I would say now its about 50/50 for LBs and 5 doors.

[dvm2nd]

I have a '09, 5dr blazing blue, auto, for '10 you can now get a 5sp tranny. I also put in cruise with the help of YW. I told my son that the Yaris will some day be a true classic. He thought that I needed the men in white coats. The Yaris dash reminds me of the Morris Minor 1100 dashboard. And fun like the original Mini Cooper.

[Mister Z]

I recently just picked up a 5 door and its 5 speed :)