Toyota YARIS
Toyotas new Yaris is a car that really gets people talking. Vanessa Hinkley finds out why
Like most people in the thirty plus age group, as a child I was fascinated by the sci-fi series Doctor Who. Thankfully, none of that scary stuff could break the force field that kept my big brother and I safe from harm behind Dads armchair. Having said that, even the greatest amount of imagination couldnt make the corner of the living room spacious and comfortable like the Doctors Tardis. As we grew, and viewing conditions became even more cramped, we admitted defeat and watched from the settee.
After all, you just cant make something thats small on the outside and big on the inside. Those were the days of black and white and it was probably then that car manufacturers first began working on making the Tardis concept a reality. Today,
Toyota has crossed the final frontier - enter the Yaris. For me, interior space is a top priority when choosing a car and that would probably be the case no matter what my lifestyle involved its not just important for mums with a couple of kids and a dog to find room for.
In fact, its a major issue whether youre a business woman with a load of kit to haul around, or simply run-of-the-mill like me. (A shopaholic, chocaholic married to a tall football playing bloke who can rarely find enough leg/ headroom. Weve also been blessed with the standard 4.2 feline companions to transport to the vet, etc.
) Having said all that, most of us dont want to nip down to the chippy in something that resembles a small house, either. If youre wondering if theres a point to all this rambling, the answer is yes; and youll understand when you step inside the
Toyota Yaris. This car offers all the advantages of a tiny Citycar low fuel consumption, ease of parking, cheap insurance groupings and low purchase price with all the benefits of a larger, faster modern Supermini. I probably dont have to tell you that a Yaris would definitely suit my needs.
Give me a car for a week and within a couple of days the back
seat will be lost under a sea of things that could just be useful various tapes, CDs, food, drink (alcohol-free of course), spanners, sinks, things for recycling, etc. In fact, I like to think of a cars rear seating area as a handy extension of my handbag but not in the Yaris. With tons of storage space, over 15 litres, lots of cubbies hidden around the cabin and a good-sized split-level glovebox, I turned into Mrs Tidy Car. On the road the cars 1.
0-litre VVTi (Variable Valve Timing intelligence) petrol engine is both lively and economical. Toyota say the Yaris can reach a top speed of 96mph and achieve 0-60mph from rest in around 12 seconds. There are also 1.3-litre, 1.
5-litre petrol and D4-D diesel options.
As I climbed into the drivers seat for the first time I was teleported back into sci-fi land. There was no traditional dashboard; where were the instruments? In true Doctor Who style they were beamed aboard when I turned on the ignition. Take a look at the Yaris yourself and youll notice the central binnacle which houses an F1-style digital LED display something thats seldom seen on road cars, and certainly never previously seen on an affordable little hatchback like this. It is angled towards the driver for better visibility and shows speed and revs in numbers.
All models have a trip computer that provides information on fuel consumption, average speed and range or external temperature. On the road, the Yaris lives up to Toyotas promises it handles safely and competently.
At prices that start from only £7,295 theres no denying that this car offers excellent value for money. Buyers have the option of five doors, and all variants come with impressive equipment levels just like a larger car. Four trim levels (T2, T3, T Spirit and T Sport) are available and theres the choice of three and five-door bodystyles. Go for the bottom end of the range and the price tag is about what youd pay for a base
Ford Ka or a Fiesta.
Plus theres a more versatile Verso model. Equipment levels are high with ABS and EBD brakeforce distribution standard across the range: twin airbags are standard on all but the entry-level version. The Yaris is also is covered by the companys comprehensive three-year warranty.
This is a car thats a real charmer and on top of all of its other attributes, it looks good. Yes, I could live with one and wed be very happy together.
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