2012 Toyota Yaris three-door LE (photos)
The mild-mannered Toyota Yaris is back for 2012 with a new look and a spacious cabin.
Antuan Goodwin
2012 Toyota Yaris LE
The 2012 Toyota Yaris features a new aesthetic that is less anonymous than that of the previous generation. There are hints of Prius, Matrix, and Camry to be found in its new fascia, and I rather like it.
It's a car!
The automaker's promotional materials proudly proclaim that the Yaris "is a car!" Yep, you hit the nail right on the head there, Toyota.
1.5-liter engine
The 106-horsepower four-cylinder engine may not wow you with its performance, but it certainly doesn't disappoint, either. Less can be more.
Four-speed automatic gearbox
The four-speed automatic gearbox probably costs the Yaris dearly when the time comes tally the miles traveled per gallon of fuel.
Small footprint
A small footprint, particularly like our three-door tester's, is beneficial in a city car.
Excellent visibility
With lots of glass all around, the Yaris offers excellent 360-degree visibility, making it easy to park and maneuver.
Junk in the trunk
Part of the Yaris' allure is that the small vehicle offers a great deal of interior space.
Rear hatch
The rear hatch offers enough space for a few carry-on bags or a load of groceries.
Fold-flat seats
Folding the rear seats flat opens up a ton of space for cargo.
Spare tire
Beneath a false floor, you'll find a space-saver spare tire--and what seems like a ton of wasted storage space.
Single front wiper
A single massive wiper handles rain-clearing duties for the front windshield.
Simple cockpit
The Yaris' cabin is simple and nearly devoid of potential distractions.
Basic instrumentation
The instrumentation is basic, just a speedometer and a fuel meter. Stepping up to the SE trim level nets you a tachometer to fill the empty third gauge.
Six-speaker audio system
Bluetooth audio streaming is present and accounted for, but a weird AVRCP glitch prevents it from really being useful.
Digital audio sources
HD Radio, USB/iPod connectivity, and an analog audio connection round out the Yaris' audio sources.
Oddly placed connections
Toyota placed the Yaris' digital audio connections in the glove compartment, rather than at the base of the center stack where they'd be useful.
Plays well with smartphones
If you're a fan of Google's Voice Search or Apple's Siri, you'll love the Yaris' hands-free system because it hands off voice control to your smartphone.
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