Is a Yaris Really That Slow?

[Yaris Hilton]

Yep. I'd be perfectly happy with less power than it's got with the 1.5L engine. It's a rare event when I put the pedal to the metal. I'm sure I'd be OK with the 1.3L engine, and probably the 1.0L. Heck, I drove my dad's old Diesel Chevette for years.

I'd LOVE to have the 1.4L turbodiesel and would have paid the difference just to have one, but I don't want the new "clean diesel" technology with urea injection, catalysts and particle filters to clean out.

But the 1NZ-FE is a nicely balanced engine for the car, with plenty of reserve power on tap AND excellent fuel economy. Puts out peak power on par with the nervous race tuned sports car engines of my youth, with fast rough idles, no low speed torque and plugs that would quickly foul if you drove around town. But it's a perfectly tractable daily commuter that runs on the crappy low octane modern regular gas (at a 10.5:1 compression ratio!) with a torque curve that's nearly flat across the whole RPM band! I think it's amazing, and I'll say again that you folks who're complaining just don't get it! If you want a faster car, buy one, there are plenty out there. This is an economical, reliable small family car, not a sports car. For what it is, it's perfect.