2018 Toyota Yaris Road Test and Review

2018 Toyota Yaris blue city ・ Photo by Toyota

The Yaris is Toyota’s smallest and least expensive vehicle. It’s also one of its most fuel-efficient. Toyota has been selling the subcompact Yaris in America since 2006 and it received its last full redesign in 2013. Now in its third generation, it received an extensive list of improvements for 2018, including upgrades to its styling and its interior.

Don’t confuse the 2018 Toyota Yaris hatchback with the Yaris iA sedan. Although their names, prices, and specs are similar, the vehicles are built on two different platforms, with the Yaris iA using the underpinnings of the Mazda2, which is not sold in America. And while the Yaris iA is built in Mexico, the hatchback is assembled in France. In America, the Yaris competes with small hatchbacks from all over the world, including the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Chevrolet Spark and Sonic, Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa Note, and Kia Rio.

Two Body Styles to Choose From

Toyota offers the 2018 Yaris hatchback in two body styles — a three-door and a five-door — and there are three trim levels available. Both body styles are available in the L and LE trims, while the five-door is also offered as the sporty and best Yaris SE.

Unlike on most other Toyota models, there are no options or option packages on the Yaris.  Prices start at $16,530, including an $895 destination fee, for the three-door Yaris L. The better-equipped LE costs about $1,500 more. Five-door models start at $17,655. Our test vehicle, a 2018 Yaris SE equipped with the four-speed automatic transmission, had a base price of $19,955. A $298 Preferred Accessory Package added carpeted floor mats, a cargo mat, and cargo net and drove its as-tested price to $20,253.

Cute Curb Appeal

For 2018, Toyota has updated the look of the Yaris. The changes aren’t radical, but they add a welcome aggression to the little hatchback. It’s still as cute as a golden retriever puppy, but the 2018 Yaris looks a little younger and a little more modern than it did before. There’s a new, bolder front grille with a chrome surround and reshaped headlamps on the L and LE models, while the sporty SE gets a black mesh grille that gives it a hot-hatch vibe, and blacked-out B-pillars that visually lower its roof. All models get new wider horizontal taillights that make the car look wider and lower to the ground. The SE also gets projector beam headlights and 16-inch alloy wheels.

At just 155.5 inches long, the Yaris is not a large automobile. In fact, it's inches shorter than many cars in its class, including the Chevrolet Sonic and Ford Fiesta. The three-door Yaris is attractive, but the more sculpted and better-proportioned five-door looks a little more upscale and substantial.

Photo by Toyota

Simple, Comfortable Interior

No one is going to mistake the interior of the Yaris for something from Mercedes-Benz or BMW, but the subcompact’s cabin isn't rental-car blah either. It's well put together, attractive, and comfortable. It’s also ergonomic with three well-sized knobs that control the heat and air-conditioning, simple instrumentation, and an easy to reach 7-inch touchscreen to work the infotainment features, which include Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and apps for traffic and navigation. There are also proper knobs to tune the audio system and adjust the volume.

Outward visibility is excellent, and the seats in our test vehicle were comfortable. The upholstery, which Toyota calls Sport fabric, looks and feels good, and the contrasting stitching is an upscale touch. A height-adjustable driver’s seat and a tilting steering column are standard on every model, so getting comfortable is not a problem. Unlike on some competitors, though, a telescoping steering column is not available. Our Yaris SE test vehicle did have a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, a leather-wrapped shift knob, and a gated shifter. That’s sports-car stuff. A backup camera, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beams are standard on all models. Onboard Wi-Fi is not offered.

Photo by Toyota

Family-Friendly?

Parents using child seats will appreciate the easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the Toyota’s outboard seats and its easily accessed upper tether anchors. However, if you’re planning to install a reverse-facing child seat, you should check first to make sure it fits in the Yaris without any interference from the front seatbacks. Parents of older kids will be glad to hear that the Yaris seats five, and its rear seat includes adjustable headrests for each passenger. Still, the Yaris is a subcompact car, which means sitting in the middle of the backseat for long drives is not recommended.

In crash testing, the 2018 Yaris has not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but the 2017 model scored an overall safety rating of four stars. Many cars in this class, like the Chevy Sonic and Honda Fit, netted five-star scores. Toyota’s three-year, 36,000 mile-warranty is also subpar compared to others like the Hyundai Accent, which is covered for five years or 60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper and 10 years or 100,000 miles for powertrain components.

Photo by Toyota

Fair Cargo Space

Behind its back seat, the 2018 Toyota Yaris five-door offers 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, which is below average for the class. The Honda Fit offers 16.6 cubic feet behind its rear seat, and the Hyundai Accent offers 21.1 cubic feet. Every Yaris comes with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. Drop the rear seats, which takes just a few seconds, and the hatchback’s cargo volume is enough to swallow a kid’s 20-inch BMX bike.

Interior storage inside the Yaris is limited. There’s no center console bin between the front seats and the door pockets are small, although they do include water bottle holders. There is a little cubby ahead of the shifter that is perfect for your phone, and the two front-seat cupholders, which are also ahead of the shifter, are large and easy to reach.

Adequate Horsepower

There isn’t a hybrid or electric version of the Yaris. Buyers looking for electrification should shop the similarly sized Toyota Prius C hybrid. Every 2018 Toyota Yaris is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 106 horsepower. It doesn’t sound like much, but the Yaris only weighs about 2,300 lbs, which makes it one of the lightest cars on the market. Acceleration is adequate and the four-cylinder engine is just smooth enough to fend off any complaints. Still, the Yaris is outpowered by nearly all of its competitors, including the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio, which pack 130 hp, the 120-hp Ford Fiesta, and the 128-hp Honda Fit.

The Yaris' four-speed automatic transmission dates back to silent movies, but it gets the job done. Plus, the Toyota’s gated shifter makes manual gear selection easy. The three-door Yaris L and the five-door Yaris SE versions are also available with a five-speed manual transmission that only dates back to Prohibition. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive isn’t offered on the Yaris or its competitors.

Photo by Toyota

Strong Fuel Economy

Few buy a subcompact like the 2018 Toyota Yaris to win drag races. This market segment is all about fuel economy. And the Yaris delivers with some of the strongest fuel economy numbers in the class. EPA ratings are 30 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with the four-speed automatic, like in our Yaris SE test vehicle. I recorded 31 mpg in mixed driving, on regular-grade gasoline. With the five-speed manual transmission, the highway rating increases to 36 mpg.

Although those numbers are strong for the subcompact class, you should know that the 2018 Toyota Yaris iA sedan, which costs just $315 more than the Yaris hatchback, gets significantly better mileage on the highway. The EPA rates that model at 32 mpg city and 40 mpg on the highway.

Photo by Toyota

Sporty and Easy to Park

Those looking for a sporty driving experience in this class might cross-shop the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit, but the 2018 Toyota Yaris is sporty enough to satisfy most drivers. This little car is agile and responsive. Its steering is quick, and the hatchback’s light weight and small size make it easy to maneuver around town and fun to squirt through traffic. It’s also extremely easy to park.

Many shoppers think a subcompact car has to feel tinny and fragile, but the Yaris doesn’t. It cruises well on the highway, where it feels substantial and stable. Wind from passing trucks doesn’t upset the little car, and its ride is generally comfortable. Yes, the Yaris is best used as a city or commuter vehicle, but it'll road-trip too.

Photo by Toyota

Final Thoughts

Overall, the 2018 Toyota Yaris delivers high fuel economy, comfort, and functionality at a very affordable price. It’s also sporty and fun to drive. It’s a solid choice in the very competitive subcompact class.

Although the Yaris LE will be enough for some buyers, step up to the better-equipped SE if you can. You’ll appreciate the additional features and style over time. If you don’t have to have a hatchback, buyers looking for a little more fuel economy, performance, and refinement can find it in the Yaris iA sedan, which costs just a few hundred dollars more.

Photo by Toyota