The Yaris is Toyota’s smallest offering and has been battling other subcompacts such as the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Hyundai Accent for quite some time now. To keep up with the all-new Accent, Revised Versa and refreshed Fit, the Yaris enters its second generation for the 2012 model year. Billed as being the ‘right-sized’ subcompact, the all-new Toyota comes in two liftback forms: three and five door. It also features a new interior, exterior and suspension tuning so the Yaris can stay competitive in a fast growing segment.
“There is a lot of excitement in the subcompact category today, but the all-new 2012 Toyota Yaris is at the top of the list when it comes to combining value and fuel efficiency with style and fun,” said Toyota Division Group Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter. Compared to last year’s model, the 2012 Yaris has a two inch longer wheelbase. This allows for a larger interior volume; a usual subcompact car downfall. Cargo volume is up 63 and 68 percent for the three and five door respectively. The fabrics have been improved upon, the seats have been widened and the previous generation’s center mounted instrument cluster is gone: replaced with a good-ole’ fashioned driver side cluster.
The exterior has changed for 2012 as well. Looking much more European than the previous Yaris, the 2012 is overall longer and lower. The corporate front grille and badge screams Sienna minivan, but the profile and the rear are now a Yaris strong suit. A sloped tailgate works well with the subtle spoiler and gives the Yaris an appearance of being larger than it actually is. When dressed in SE trim, the Yaris gets sporty with smoked headlamps, foglights and color matched trim. The SE also benefits from a stiffer suspension set up, faster ratio steering and disc brakes all around. This will be the most equipped and sharpest Yaris, followed closely behind by the LE and L trim levels.
Powering all 2012 models is Toyota’s 1.5 liter DOHC four cylinder with variable valve timing. It’s power rating may be lower than its competition at 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque, but the littlest Toyota will still achieve 38 mpg on the highway, besting the Honda Fit’s average. Two transmissions are offered: a manual and an automatic. The manual is a close-ratio five speed that will only be available on the base L and sporty SE trim levels. The automatic, standard on the LE, is old for the times as it only houses four speeds. It is lighter than last year’s, but a four speed in a 2012 model year car is still questionable.
The 2012 Toyota Yaris features a fairly standard suspension set up for a subcompact. Struts work up front while a torsion beam set up does the job for the rear. Base MSRP for the lowest L three door with the manual is $14,115. The most expensive Yaris, a five door SE with an automatic, is $17,200.
Source: Toyota
