Used 2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback Review & Ratings

The Yaris sub-compact has been produced in some form or another by Toyota since 1999, and underwent a complete revamp for 2012. Their only entry into the mini-compact niche, the Yaris has consistently been the least expensive car produced by Toyota. However, this is not the only reason why the Toyota Yaris Hatchback enjoys its share of popularity. It is because it offers a splendid combination of practical yet stylish design, exceptional fuel economy, an attractive ad roomy cabin and great road handling.

The 2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback comes as either a three-door or five-door hatchback. The Yaris is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces106 horsepower ad 103 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired with a standard five-speed manual transmission that is a pleasure to use. Those who prefer a traditional four-speed automatic can add it from the list of options. The Yaris can accelerate zero to 60 mph in about 9.3 seconds, which is quite slow, but most people aren't buying this vehicle to win any races. This is a car you buy when you want exceptional fuel-economy, without forking out the money for a hybrid, as it returns 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.

Ideally, the Toyota Yaris is a town car, although it handles itself well on the open road. One of the first things that Toyota took care of for 2012 was the past suspension problems which had been the subject of many negative reviews in previous versions. Now all passengers enjoy a much smoother ride.

Despite being a mini-compact, the Yaris provides a surprisingly generous amount of space for its driver and passengers, this includes the rear seat. A lot of that extra space is due to the extremely long wheelbase, which provides a lot of additional leg room. Then, when you add that to the more than adequate roof clearance, you can easily understand why this is a preferred sub-compact choice for drivers who need to be able to haul several passengers on a regular basis.

When it comes to carrying cargo, the Yaris does fall a little short of others in this segment, but certainly offers plenty of room for groceries and other essentials. Also, loading and unloading is a piece of cake, thanks to the Yaris' panoptic rear opening. A couple things you will notice when you take the Yaris on the road is that the handling is quite pleasant. It maintains composure around corners surprisingly well. However, when you go to park, you may be surprised that it doesn't squeeze into tight spaces as well as you would like, due to its larger turning circle.