Personal Review of the New 2010 Toyota Yaris

A month ago, our loyal 95' Chevy Tahoe took it's final breaths while my mom was driving home from work. At a stop light a concerned stranger pulled up next to her to warn her that her back tires were wobbling dangerously. We knew that it was only a matter of time before the car would completely conk out, and since we couldn't afford to maintain it, we finally decided it was time to get a new car.

Owning two Chevy's for almost 16 years, my family is used to driving large cars. Aside from the negative stigma attached to SUV's, they come with many advantages. For one thing, you can see farther ahead of you and a Chevy Tahoe can drive through almost any terrain. This was especially handy since we were a family of frequent road trips across the country. Secondly, the crash ratings proved that you'd most likely survive a collision in a larger SUV.

But the cons were eating up the pros. Every stop at the gas station was about 75 - 90 dollars for a fill-up. Since the Tahoe was old and barely chugging along, the miles per gallon (MPG) was closer to 10. And of course with the oil spill and the explosion of more eco-friendly, affordable cars, I realized that a more fuel efficient car was necessary for my wallet and my long-term health. Though we haven't been financially stable lately (as is the case with more than 50% of the country during this recession), the immediate need for a car was undeniable, which is why the Toyota Yaris seemed perfect: it had better MPG, it was cheaper, and it would fit in almost any nook and cranny parking space in Los Angeles.

With all of the controversy surrounding Toyota, good deals were flying out of Toyota lots around the country at light speed. Commercials were begging people to come down and experience a Toyota for 0 down, 0 APR financing. Salesmen were groveling at our feet, saying they needed to feed their children. And honestly, I wanted that salesman to be able to feed his son or daughter tonight. What sort of person would I be if I didn't?

That Saturday afternoon I went with my mom and boyfriend down to the Toyota on Lincoln in Marina Del Ray. We wanted a "Whale of a Deal", and that's what they're known for. Luckily after searching the lot for 5 minutes, we found the exact Toyota Yaris we were looking for: 2010 five door hatch back in Black Sand Pearl. We took it for a test drive and then bargained for nearly 45 minutes to get the best deal possible. Eventuallly we settled on a price, and since my mom's credit score is pretty good, we left the lot with NO DOWN PAYMENT and 0% interest for 60 months. The monthly bill would be a little less than 300. We decided to go with the cheaper option and buy it instead of lease since we would be driving more than 15,000 miles a year.

Frankly, I am pleasantly surprised with the Yaris. I wasn't sure what to expect since I've never driven a Toyota before. But after driving it for more than a month, I love it a little more each day. The MPG is approximately 36 combined. Each time I go to the gas station, I'm paying about 20 to 30 dollars to fill up the 1.5 liter Yaris-and my gas station visits have even become less frequent. Not to mention it's a cutie: I think the hatchback has more personality and is better looking than the sedan. The seats are surprisingly comfortable for what it's worth, the ride is very smooth, and we were given free maintenance for up to 2 years. The turn radius is awesome and it weaves in and out of traffic like nobody's business. And--it's faster and more maneuverable than I expected. Plus, you'll soon be able to buy an aftermarket turbo kit for the Yaris to make it really fast. Sure, there is less space for your feet and there's no snazzy seat warmers...but there's an auxiliary outlet for your ipod, there are multiple cup holders (Hello, Coffee bean!) and you'll find many cool secret compartments to hide your things.

The only set back was the limited options. Surprisingly, power windows are not a standard option so we had to pay for the power package (which wasn't that expensive) since we didn't want to go back to the days of manually rolling down the windows. The standard rims are ugly and cheap, so my boyfriend and I yanked them off and the car looks way better without them. The Toyota Yaris has limited hatchback space, large enough for about four paper grocery bags, but the back seats can be easily layed flat to give more room. The tall roof of the hatchback-compared to the sedan-allows maximization of cargo space when needed.

Overall, the Toyota Yaris hatchback is the perfect daily driver. Efficient, affordable, and quite cool looking.