Test Drive: 2010 Toyota Yaris RS hatchback

2010 Toyota Yaris RS hatchback. Click image to enlarge

The most tangible bonus to the gauges’ placement is to interior storage, as the space normally occupied by the gauges is used for a covered storage cubby to complement a similar dash-top compartment and traditional glove box on the passenger side (curiously, the Yaris sedan doesn’t get the dash-top bins). Then, there are smaller open compartments on either side of the centre stack and two shallow bins in front of the shifter. Cupholders move from the expected spot in the centre console to the left and right-hand corners of the dash.

So, there’s plenty of space for odds and ends, but the Yaris is surprisingly roomy for people too. The tall roof means good headroom all around, and even rear-seat legroom is more generous then you’d expect. There are three seatbelts in the rear, but put a trio of adults back and none of them will like you by the end of the drive. The RS hatch gets a rear seat that slides fore and aft several inches (which serves mostly to increase cargo space; more on that shortly), and a reclining backrest, nice touches in a little car, even if you have to go for the top trim model to get them.

The front seats are nicely shaped and reasonably supportive, but long-legged drivers will find the driving position uncomfortable: the car is set up to favour shorter people, and even I, at just five-foot-seven, found the pedals too close for comfort. Adjust the seat to favour your feet and you’re then too far from the steering wheel, which tilts but doesn’t adjust for reach (to me, a fully-adjustable driving position is an important for safety as stability control, anti-lock brakes and all the airbags you can stuff into a car). Long highway drives are where I’d miss cruise control the most, as using it would at least allow you to stretch your right leg once in a while. (Strangely, you can still get cruise in other, lesser, Yaris models.)

2010 Toyota Yaris RS hatchback. Click image to enlarge

If the Yaris’ passenger compartment makes you forget how small the car is, the tiny trunk will remind you: in hatchback form the Yaris offers just 229 litres of cargo space. All Yaris hatches get a split-folding rear seat, so the RS’ sliding rear bench looks like a cool bonus at first glance. Upon reflection, I couldn’t see much point in the adjustable rear seat; moving it up more than an inch or two renders the rear seats unusable by most adults, and if you have no rear seat passengers but need to move cargo too large for the trunk as it is, why not just fold the seat down?

For the record, the Yaris sedan is worth a look, as it offers both more cargo space (387 litres) and a 90 mm (3.5 in.) longer wheelbase.

The Yaris’ dash is all hard plastic, but that’s common in the subcompact set; it can be a bit of a reach to some of the climate controls, thanks to their vertical arrangement on the dash. Note that this differs from the Yaris sedan, in which the big, chunky knobs are set up in a triangle, which puts them up higher and closer to hand. The radio is well-placed, but the volume knob is tiny, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls aren’t available.

The Yaris is a very good small car, but the awkward driving position is a deal-breaker for me. This isn’t the only subcompact out there, however, and you should shop around for the right fit, just like you would for clothing or shoes: the Hyundai Accent is one of my favourites in this class, for its more traditional interior, better cargo space and cushier ride (even if comes at the expense of handling; also, the Accent can’t be had as a four door hatch, but its Kia Rio near-twin can), and the Nissan Versa is bigger inside and drives like a larger car. Meanwhile the Honda Fit has a trick rear seat and very roomy interior on its side. Chevrolet has its Aveo, the Suzuki SX4 is pricier but comes with more standard kit and can be had with all-wheel drive, and Ford and Mazda will soon have their own, much-anticipated entries in the class. All to say that, just because you don’t have much cash to spend, it doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to a car that fits you the way you want it to.