2016 Toyota Yaris Review

The Yaris is unchanged for 2016.

The 2016 Toyota Yaris is what you'd expect from the Toyota of subcompact cars: economical and well-built. But with so many impressive models competing in this segment, Toyota's entry gets lost in the crowd.

The 2016 Toyota Yaris is a Japanese subcompact hatchback with European roots. Originally designed to excel on the tight streets and crowded cities in France and Germany, it prioritizes maneuverability and efficiency above all else. That doesn't mean it's a no-frills car, however, as it comes with plenty of modern features that make it a solid competitor in the entry-level class.

All Yaris models come standard with Toyota's Entune digital interface, which includes a 6.1-inch touchscreen, HD radio, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and a USB connection. It also packs nine standard airbags into the Yaris' cabin along with other typical safety features like traction and stability control. A small exterior means a small interior, but the Yaris still has ample rear legroom. Unfortunately, cargo capacity isn't as strong as some others in the segment. The standard 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine doesn't produce a prodigious amount of power, but it doesn't use a lot of fuel either. It might do even better if it wasn't saddled with an older four-speed automatic transmission, but there is a five-speed manual available if you're willing to shift yourself.

The Yaris also packs an ownership perk others don't: namely, two years and 25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance, which is a rarity for a non-luxury car.

Competitors in the segment include the versatile 2016 Honda Fit which provides great fuel economy and tremendous cargo capacity. The 2016 Ford Fiesta has a much more engaging driving experience while the 2016 Hyundai Accent and 2016 Kia Rio offer strong warranties but fall behind on fuel economy and driving experience. The Yaris, with its "B" rating, isn't the strongest option amongst these, but a solid one.

The front-wheel-drive 2016 Toyota Yaris is powered by a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque. Two transmissions are available: a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. The manual is standard on the two-door L and the four-door SE; the four-speed automatic is optional. The automatic is the only transmission choice on the four-door L hatchback and all LE models.

In Edmunds testing, a four-door Yaris with the five-speed manual went from zero to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds, while an automatic-equipped four-door took 10.7 seconds. Both times are decent times for the class, but rivals like the Honda Fit or Hyundai Accent are quicker.

EPA fuel economy estimates for the manual-equipped Yaris are 33 mpg combined (30 city/37 highway). With the automatic, these numbers dip to 32 mpg combined (30 city/36 highway). These numbers are solid, but not class-leading.

Standard safety features include antilock brakes (rear drums for all models except the SE, which gets four-wheel discs), traction and stability control, active front head restraints, front-seat side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, front-seat cushion airbags and a driver knee airbag.

In Edmunds brake testing, a four-door Yaris LE with rear drum brakes stopped from 60 mph in 126 feet, which is a bit longer than average for this segment. A four-door Yaris with the optional rear disc brakes was about average and stopped from 60 mph in 123 feet.

In government crash tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the four-door hatchback Yaris received four out of five stars for overall crash protection, with four stars for frontal-impact protection and five stars for side-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the four-door Yaris hatchback its top rating of "Good" in its moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact, roof strength and head restraint (whiplash protection) tests. In that agency's small-overlap frontal offset test, the Yaris scored a second-lowest (out of four) "Marginal" rating.

There's nothing sporty about the Yaris. The 106 hp and marginal acceleration provided by the four-cylinder engine is sufficient at best. There's enough punch to deal with the cut-and-thrust of low-speed suburban traffic flow, and the Yaris has no problem keeping up on the highway, That said, most competitors to the Yaris are more muscular.

The four-speed automatic transmission doesn't help. It feels ancient given the range of transmission offerings from competitors. They allow competitors to make better use of the power available from their small-displacement engines. If you don't mind dealing with a manual transmission, it's the better bet on the Yaris from the standpoint of acceleration and fuel economy.

The Yaris is steady around turns and has a reasonably smooth ride. The SE's rear disc brakes and larger wheel and tire package help handling and braking performance, but we wouldn't go so far as to actually call it sporty.

The Yaris' interior couldn't be simpler or easier to use. There are just a couple of gauges to read, and the large speedometer is mounted directly in front of the driver. Those worried about sitting low in a subcompact will find the high-mounted front seats help provide good outward visibility. However, the lack of a telescoping steering wheel and firmly padded seats can make long journeys uncomfortable for some body types. In back, there's a refreshing amount of rear-seat legroom, but the sloping headliner restricts rear headroom a bit. Two average-size adults will fit in the backseat just fine.

Materials within the 2016 Toyota Yaris remain an improvement from previous models, but the prevalence of hard plastics make it feel a step below some of its competitors. The Yaris comes standard with basic tech features, including a user-friendly touchscreen interface, Bluetooth with streaming audio capability and a USB input, but you won't find support for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

The four-door Yaris has 15.6 cubic feet of cargo space (15.3 in the two-door) behind its rear seat. You'll find more room for your carry-ons in the hatchback versions of the Chevrolet Sonic (19 cubic feet) and the Hyundai Accent (21.2 cubic feet). The Yaris' split-folding rear seat helps make the most of the available space, but even then, it still trails most competitors, especially the ultra-practical Honda Fit.