By Jim Powell
When one climbs into the revised Toyota Yaris iA sedan, one would think they had seen this interior in another vehicle, in fact from another manufacturer! It is no secret that Toyota needed a better sub-compact, inexpensive sedan. After several models under the extinct Scion brand, the newest Toyota Yaris is designed and built by Mazda. Just to confuse even more of the public, this model is labeled with theiA badge. Another note to confuse customers even further, Toyota has rebadged the 2020 Mazda 2 Hatchback as the 2020 Toyota Yaris with a new interior and 1.5-liter powertrain.
Whatever the name, this 2019 Toyota Yaris iAis still on sale and is a well-built and logically designed sedan that fills the entry-level segment of Toyota’s line up. Availability of the Yaris iA is also good news since the Mazda2 sedan has not been offered in the US.
After a week of running around town and a few trips on the freeway, I am sure this is a better car than Toyota’s first-generation Yaris. So many of the rough characteristics of the earlier models have been addressed. The cabin is quieter and the road noise is diminished considerably. Mazda’s design team has taken lessons from their own Mazda-3 and Mazda-6 and applied them to the Mazda-2.
This is a small car taking up only 171 inches in length and 67 inches in width. The seat height is slightly higher than some competitors so ingress and egress was suitable for even taller drivers. This is not a Crossover (CUV) but has good room and a decent backseat for a total of 4.5 passengers.
Also, Toyota has kept the starting price at a very low $15,450. Because it is a sedan and not a subcompact CUV, the cost of ownership is also lower. The fuel mileage is close to a hybrid with 32 city / 40 highway / 34 mpg combined.Without much effort, our mileage was 41 mpg on the highway.
Yaris comes with a 6-speed manual transmission in the baseL and also theLE trim level which adds fog lights, keyless start, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Yaris XLE sedan gets a 6-speed automatic gearbox, leatherette upholstery, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and a rear spoiler with an MSRP of only $16,450. This can be a good value, however all 2019’s are missing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto software for the Mazda-based infotainment system. Toyota adds this to the 2020 models.
Power still comes from a rather weak 1.5-literDOHC 16-valve 4-Cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing w/intelligence (VVTi). It produces 106 hp up at 6,000 rpm but the 12.0-1 compression ratio means that driving in the upper rpm’s can add some fun to an otherwise economic-focused sedan. The Yaris is not a sports car but it could use just a few more horses for safer merging and passing.
The chassis is relatively firm and the suspension keeps the Yaris planted on the road at higher speeds. Using MacPherson struts in the front and a torsion beam in the rear, I rather enjoyed steering the Yaris through canyons, even at 75 miles per hour. The larger stabilizer barsand the electric power steering worked well enough to help me feel confident in the corners, even in high winds (which are common in Southern California high deserts).
The Yaris also gets Mazda’s touchscreen infotainment system which gives the driver the choice of controlling audio and communication apps with a center control knob, voice recognition, or using a finger on the center 7” screen. There are also steering wheel controls for simple operations. This bright touchscreen gives a high-contrast picture in all but the most brilliant sunshine and it displays the standard backup camera image. Satellite radio with a “SiriusXM® All Access” 3-month trial is included. This older system even includes an auxiliary audio jack with a USB port down on the console.
Compared to the Honda Fit, Yaris is lacking in interior space. However, the fit-n-finish and simple drivability make this car a contender in the small, entry-level sub-compact sedans. The handling is agile compared to a Nissan Versa or Hyundai Accent, and the manual transmission makes Yaris fairly fun to drive.
The 2020 Hatchback Yaris has a few more amenities and would be a step up in style. Driving impressions on the newest Yaris (Mazda2) are coming soon. Meanwhile, the Toyota Yaris Sedan will fill the bill for a first-time buyer on a budget.