What Is It?
2006 Toyota Yaris
What's Special About It?
As the replacement for the clown car, sorry, we mean the Toyota Echo, the Yaris has some pretty big shoes to fill. All kidding aside, the 2006 Yaris looks to be a much more attractive choice for small car shoppers.
A model of space-efficiency, the Yaris is a three- or five-door hatchback that boasts about 35 inches of space between front and rear occupants, which is equal to cars, such as the Corolla, in the next biggest segment. There is also up to 26 cubic feet of cargo space available. Like its sibling, the RAV4, the Yaris also has Toyota's "Easy Flat" split/folding/reclining/sliding rear seats that flop flat at the pull of a lever.
The center-mounted instrument panel will probably draw some barbs, but it does allow three gloveboxes to be fitted to the dash, including one directly ahead of the driver. As with the Prius, the Yaris offers the Smart Entry and Start system that allows you to enter the vehicle and start it without removing the key from a pocket or purse.
Big safety features come on this little car. Side-impact airbags are standard, as is ABS with BrakeAssist. Curtain airbags and even a driver knee bag are available as well.
Although no information was available regarding U.S.-specification power, an inline four of 1.5 liters or so generating roughly 100 horsepower is a safe bet. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual and Toyota's Multi-Mode Manual with automatic clutch. A rarity in this segment, the latter can function as an automatic or be shifted sequentially by the driver.
What's Edmunds' Take?
After fielding something of a joke in this segment, the well-rounded Yaris puts Toyota back in the small car game. — John DiPietro
2006 Toyota Yaris
What's Special About It?
As the replacement for the clown car, sorry, we mean the Toyota Echo, the Yaris has some pretty big shoes to fill. All kidding aside, the 2006 Yaris looks to be a much more attractive choice for small car shoppers.
A model of space-efficiency, the Yaris is a three- or five-door hatchback that boasts about 35 inches of space between front and rear occupants, which is equal to cars, such as the Corolla, in the next biggest segment. There is also up to 26 cubic feet of cargo space available. Like its sibling, the RAV4, the Yaris also has Toyota's "Easy Flat" split/folding/reclining/sliding rear seats that flop flat at the pull of a lever.
The center-mounted instrument panel will probably draw some barbs, but it does allow three gloveboxes to be fitted to the dash, including one directly ahead of the driver. As with the Prius, the Yaris offers the Smart Entry and Start system that allows you to enter the vehicle and start it without removing the key from a pocket or purse.
Big safety features come on this little car. Side-impact airbags are standard, as is ABS with BrakeAssist. Curtain airbags and even a driver knee bag are available as well.
Although no information was available regarding U.S.-specification power, an inline four of 1.5 liters or so generating roughly 100 horsepower is a safe bet. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual and Toyota's Multi-Mode Manual with automatic clutch. A rarity in this segment, the latter can function as an automatic or be shifted sequentially by the driver.
What's Edmunds' Take?
After fielding something of a joke in this segment, the well-rounded Yaris puts Toyota back in the small car game. — John DiPietro
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