Acceleration
"Spry enough for commuter duty with manual transmission, but overmatched in fast-moving traffic, hilly terrain, highway driving with automatic. Overall, among the slowest compact cars. "

Value
"As a replacement for the slow-selling Echo, Yaris brings a welcome dose of style and utility. Buyers who want lively acceleration will want to shop elsewhere, but Yaris' slow-lane nature is offset by the promise of good fuel economy. And Toyota's reputation for quality and reliability is always a plus. "

Ride
"Yaris absorbs bumps, rougher pavement impressively well, and better than rivals among smallest compact cars. Generally stable at highway speeds, too, with little float or wallow."

Economy
"No opportunity to measure, but Toyota's estimates put it among the most fuel-efficient gasoline-engine cars in the United States. "

Noise
"Engine, tires noisy at highway speeds. Some wind rush evident from base of windshield, but otherwise impressive isolation for the class. "

Comfort - Front
"Generous head and leg clearance, especially in hatchback, which has nearly an inch more head room than sedan. Sedans counter with seats that adjust for height, for slight advantage in driver positioning. Cushions not too firm, nicely contoured, provide good lateral support. "

Comfort - Rear
"Taller riders fit comfortably, enjoy plenty of head and leg room. Three-abreast seating abetted by flat floor, but too tight for long trips. Hatchback's available sliding/reclining rear seat a versatility bonus, though 2-dr body style taxes rear entry/exit. "

Controls
"Instrument cluster mounted in center of dashboard rather than in front of driver; some testers find layout diverts attention from road. Dashboard's fold-out cup holders are unsubstantial, but solid-feeling panels, nice textures give cabin impressively upscale feel at this price level. "

Cargo Room
"Sedan trunk relatively roomy, has low liftover, and added storage in spare-tire well. Lid opens wide, but hinges intrude and aperture too small to easily accept bulky items. Hatchback has more useful cargo space, abetted by fold-flat rear seatback. Plenty of small-item storage throughout cabin."