My Initial Review -- Long Version

[schreck]

After driving the 2009 Yaris 5 door hatchback for slightly over a month and roughly 1,000 miles, I feel somewhat qualified to make several comments.

First, the positive:

1. For those who feel acceleration is lacking, please be advised this is not a Ferrari. I find no great problem with scooting around and the only time I feel lag is when I decelerate and then accelerate without stopping (for example, when going around a corner blending into another highway). For whatever reason, the tranny seems to hang instead of dropping down.
2. Complaints abound about engine noise when under heavy acceleration. Unless my 09 is different than the rest, I hear it as a nice growl. Unpleasant noise is what you get from the Chevy Aveo under load.
3. Smooth ride. Surprisingly smooth.
4. Fuel mileage is not bad. I got 370 miles on 9.5 gallons and mainly city driving. That’s around 39 mpg. The only car I’ve ever owned with better mileage was my 90 Daihatsu Charade and it had a 1.0L (60 CID), 5 speed manual, and 3 cylinders with about 45 hp. The Yaris has close to 110 hp out of a 1.5L (90 CID) 4 cylinder engine and an automatic tranny. The difference in mpg between the two is probably 5 or so.
5. I find the center mounted gauge cluster a winner. I take my eyes off the road less than with a center mounted version since it sits higher on the dashboard.
6. The interior is a nice assortment of well designed cubbyholes and appointments. Like the cloth on the door instead of the usual cheap plastic.
7. If you can’t find a storage space, get a van. You’ve got 3 glove boxes and a couple hidden cubbyholes, not to mention more space in the rear above and beside the spare.
8. The minimalist switch design is appreciated. Want to have some fun? Get into a MINI and see if you can figure out what half the switches activate. With the Yaris you get three switches with easy to understand diagramming.
9. Might not sound like much, but that rear window defogger is killer. It clears my window off within 2 minutes unlike my Mazda3 that could take several minutes and several miles to get clear.
10. The electric throttle and steering is unique, to say the least. As stubby as the front end is, there is space behind the engine to add additional things (such as a turbo for the adventurous in the crowd).
11. Maintenance is relatively easy. My previous Mazda3 had an inaccessible battery tray setup and an oil filter that could be accessed only by removing the front air dam. I can actually see the oil filter on the Yaris by just popping the hood.
12. Small touches help. 30 second power allowance to raise or lower windows after the engine is off is nice. The engine “cool” light is okay and the flashing gas gauge to tell you, “Hey, stupid, you’re just about out of gas” is nice, too. Really do like the extender on the driver’s visor that allows you to extend the visor’s coverage when using it as a side deflector.
13. Just a minor point, but the power windows are the quietest I’ve ever had. Barely a peep up or down.
14. My insurance premium dropped substantially from the Mazda3.

Now for the negatives:
1. Who dreamed up the radio display? It’s not visible in any amount of daylight and there’s no way to increase the contrast. And what about the size of the unit itself? It appears to be a double DIN but it’s not quite there meaning any radio replacement requires a retrofit kit.
2. Intermittent wipers are nice, but some adjustment would be nice. Also, why a huge wiper on the driver’s side and such a small one on the passenger’s? Cripes, it looks like a 3 foot wiper on my side and about a 12 incher on the other. May as well have used the Mercedes one wiper system.
3. No intermittent wiper in the back, which would be nice. On or off but nothing in between.
4. Cruise control on the left of the steering wheel is awkward. All of my previous cars have had it to the right of the wheel. Also, why no cruise indicator light on the dash?
5. You have your choice of trip A or B or overall mileage on the gauge cluster, but not two at the same time. Minor inconvenience.
6. If you have a 20 ounce soft drink bottle and use the front cup holder, you block the a/c vent. Yes, I know the door has a holder but have you tried to reach that while driving? On the positive side, running the a/c means my drink stays cold longer!
7. One power outlet up front? They’re not that expensive, Toyota. Same for no tach except on the dressed up models. Not that expensive.
8. Steering wheel adjusts up and down but not telescopically while the seat only goes forward and back. You’d better not be too tall or too short or you’re just too screwed.
9. Bridgestone tires are A rated, but the treadwear is only good for about 15,000 miles? Nearly everybody I’ve run in to that has owned a Yaris had to ditch the tires after about 1.5 years of driving. Worst part is, these tires aren’t cheap to replace unless you go other than Bridgestone.
10. You have two sets of lights in the roof assembly. The ones up front are for reading maps and the light assembly in the center is activated when the doors are opened or the key removed. Problem is, the lights up front result in a roof bump that partially blocks the rear view mirror (and does anybody use maps that much anymore?). One or the other, but not both. Meanwhile, the trunk light is puny to be of any worth.

Now for the recommendations for Toyota:
1. Add a tachometer for all models along with an engine temperature gauge.
2. Replace the radio display with one that can be read during the day.
3. How about a trunk release on the remote?
4. Upgrade the tires to have better treadwear.