Road Test: The 2010 Toyota Yaris 5-Door Hatchback

There used to be only a few five door hatchbacks in the subcompact economy car segment and most of them were so bad that they made buying a bus pass seem like a worthy alternative (cough* Chevy Aveo5 *cough). As a result, buyers flocked to trusted stalwarts like the 2010 Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Nissan Versa.

But the 2011 model year is going to usher in a whole lot more competition in a segment that already counts razor thin profit margins as an ever growing concern. Thanks to the launch of the all new 2011 Ford Fiesta and Mazda2, you just have to wonder how a model like the Toyota Yaris will fare in the sales race.

The 2011 Fiesta and Mazda2 are both incredibly stylish, feature high quality interiors and apparently are a whole lot of fun to drive. No, I haven't driven either of these vehicles yet but once I do it will call for an in-depth comparison test.

But first things first, let's examine the 2010 Toyota Yaris in a multitude of areas to see if it can even hold a candle to the mighty 2010 Honda Fit I tested earlier this year. So read on to find out if the 2010 Yaris is an also-ran or if it can still keep up with the youngsters in its segment!

Exterior Styling

I think the five door Yaris marks itself out as the cutest variant of a model range which also includes a four door sedan and three door hatchback. The tall greenhouse and friendly front end design combine to give the Yaris a look that can only be likened to an animated Japanese cartoon character.

The styling of the five door Yaris is also more bulbous and whimsical than the slab sided 2010 Honda Fit and Nissan Versa. But even though the Yaris pips the Fit and Versa in the exterior design stakes, it still looks rather staid when compared to the 2011 Fiesta.

Interior Styling, Design and Utility

The interior of the 2010 Toyota Yaris is like a dream come true for anyone who loves to be organized and neat. There are at least 8 cubbies and gloveboxes built into the dashboard with my personal favorite being the lidded compartment located right behind the steering wheel where the gauge pod would normally go. (Note: the speedometer is located topside in the center of the dashboard.)

But if you are a less organized (or anal retentive as the case may be) person than I am, you might have trouble remembering where your cell phone is once it starts ringing in one of the myriad hiding places. Considering the number of dashboard cubbies, I found it odd that the driver and front passenger have to share one small cupholder.

There are bottle holders in all of the doors to quench the thirst of those who favor water or perhaps Gatorade. Not that drinking fluids that actually hydrate you is a bad thing but if you are like me and have found yourself addicted to Diet Coke this is a potential deal killer.

Now, this is where the five door Yaris gets slaughtered by the Honda Fit. With the second row seats in use, the Yaris offers up only 9.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Even worse, the standard cargo cover feels about as sturdy as a piece of cardboard and routinely came loose during testing.

Fold the second row flat, however, and the five door Yaris becomes an urban mini-moving van. The rear seats in my test model also split 60/40 and slid back and forth. With the rear seats all the way back, the 2010 Toyota Yaris five door offered up plenty of legroom for 6-foot tall passengers.

Visibility out of the 2010 Toyota Yaris is excellent thanks to the low slung dashboard design. The power window switches reside conveniently on the upper panel of the doors and the only thing missing for the driver is a center armrest. That one feature would make the Yaris a much better long distance cruiser as you are forced to rest your elbow awkwardly on your leg during extended freeway jaunts.

Pricing, Features and Fuel Economy

With EPA fuel economy estimates of 29 city/35 highway, I expected exemplary efficiency returns from the 2010 Toyota Yaris. Thankfully, the Yaris leaves this test with its gas sipping street credentials left intact. Over a week of driving I averaged an excellent 33.8 miles per gallon.

The five door 2010 Toyota Yaris starts at $13,455 and includes a four speed automatic transmission, a 1.5 liter 106 horsepower/103 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder engine, air conditioning, halogen headlamps, tiny 14 inch steel wheels, an audio prep package with 4-speakers, anti-lock brakes, vehicle stability control, traction control, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution and six airbags.

In my opinion, if you want to make your 2010 Toyota Yaris five door livable, then you have to invest another $1,705 into the Power Package. Ticking this option box adds power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player with Aux-input jack, 15-inch wheels with wheel covers, a 60/40 split rear seat, a recline function for the rear seat, a rear window wiper and an engine immobilizer.

My test model came with some non-essentials like a rear spoiler ($299), floormats and a cargo area mat for $299 and cruise control for a whopping $250. Unless you plan on routinely taking long road trips in your Yaris, you probably don't need cruise control. As for the rear spoiler, let me just say it is unnecessary from both a visual and practical point of view.

Driving Impressions

Given the power output from the standard 1.5 liter 4-cylinder engine (106 horsepower/103 lb. feet of torque) and the use of a geriatric 4-speed automatic transmission, I expected acceleration akin to that of your average garden snail. But with a 0-60 time of 9.8 seconds, the Yaris actually proves to be a smidgen quicker than the more powerful Fit with a five-speed automatic.

The key to this performance conundrum is the fact that the 4-speed automatic in the Yaris isn't afraid the engage in double downshift behavior to keep the engine in its optimal powerband. Even so, the engine in the Yaris does struggle when passing traffic at the elevated freeway speeds of Southern California.

In its segment, only the 2011 Mazda2 has less power but the engine in the Yaris remains relatively quiet and smooth most of the time. At freeway speeds you can also hear wind and road noise but it is easy to drown it out with the stereo. If you are one of those weird people who drive without the radio on then perhaps you should save up to buy the hybrid Prius. That is one quiet automobile.

Around town, the Yaris felt a bit like a go cart with light and precise steering that only started to feel nervous at elevated freeway speeds. The playful suspension set-up gave the Yaris a feeling of agility that was tempered by a tendency to tramline in the grooves Big Rig Trucks leave in the fast lane of the freeway. This is, after all, a car designed mainly as an urban/suburban runabout. Just try and remember that.

How Dog and Kid Friendly is It?

As with any Toyota, the interior of the Yaris is solidly built to withstand all of the abuse dished out by canines and children. But due to the small 9.3 cubic foot cargo hold, the five door Yaris is not ideally suited for parents who need to haul strollers or other baby clobber with them regularly. For those instances I would recommend you have a look at the larger Toyota Matrix.

But the 2010 Toyota Yaris claws back points on the Fido friendliness count thanks to a very roomy rear seat that can accommodate two large breed dogs. The rear seats also recline so your spoiled pooch can feel relaxed as he or she watches the world go by through the large rear windows.

Final Thoughts

The 2010 Toyota Yaris is a high quality, efficient and inexpensive entry into the Toyota family. It may lack the whiz-bang styling of the 2011 Ford Fiesta or the cargo hauling dominance of the Honda Fit but it is a happy compromise between both extremes.

The Yaris five door hatchback may not be the class leader in its segment but you must remember that the Yaris is also one of the oldest designs. But what the Yaris has is an eager spirit and a unique personality all its own.

But what is the most important factor in this segment despite the launch of technology laden new competition? Most new owners of cars like these just want to know how inexpensive it will be to buy and to own. And on that count, the 2010 Toyota Yaris offers up a truly unbeatable combination of safety features, efficiency and low running costs.

Vehicle Tested: 2010 Toyota Yaris 5-Door Hatchback

Base Price: $13,455

Price as Tested: $16,652 (including destination)

Options on Test Model: Cruise Control--$250, Power Package--$1,795 : (includes power windows, door locks and mirrors, 60/40 split rear seat, 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, rear window wiper, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player with aux-input jack), Rear Spoiler--$299, Floormats--$193.

Engine: 1.5 liter 4-cylinder

Power: 106 horsepower/103 lb. feet of torque

0-60: 9.8 seconds

Transmission: 4-speed automatic

Fuel Economy: 29 city/35 highway

Economy as Tested: 33.8 miles per gallon

Fuel Tank Size: 11.1 gallons

Cargo Volume: 9.32 cubic feet

Crash Test Ratings (NHTSA frontal): driver-5 stars, passenger-4 stars

(Side impact): front seat-5 stars, rear seat-3 stars

(Rollover Protection)-4 stars

Warranty: 3 years/36,000 mile bumper to bumper

5 years/60,000 mile powertrain

2 year/25,000 mile free maintenance package

Vehicle Provided by: Toyota USA

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