Logo
No matching results

Recent Articles

Popular Makes

Body Types

2007 Toyota Yaris Photo Gallery

Style and substance come in little packages

AS
by Autobytel Staff
May 2, 2006
4 min. Reading Time
fallback

The 2007 Toyota Yaris offers ample room, zippy power, surprising style, and great value in its sedan and hatch back variants. And while typical subcompact compromises exist in this new model, such as road and engine noise, the Yaris does a good job of changing the equation and meeting heightened expectations. The only question is this: with bigger, more powerful and cheaper competitors coming from all corners, the Yaris will be challenged for the king of the small car mountain. Replacing the sour memory of the Echo is great, but for Yaris, the competition is going to get a whole lot tougher – and soon.

Sedan and hatchback

Whether you’re looking for a new car under $12,000 or interested in moving up to a sportier subcompact, the 2007 Toyota Yaris offers a choice in two well-equipped vehicles. Indeed, no matter which version of the 2007 Toyota Yaris you prefer, you’ll get a well-equipped vehicle at a competitive price. Aside from body style and the starting sticker, there are significant interior styling and material differences between the Yaris sedan and hatchback models. The sedan, for instance, gets the benefit of what feels like higher grade materials and better instrument panel lighting. This is because the two models were designed separately, the hatchback in Europe and the sedan in Japan.

fallback

Comfort and convenience

Comfort and convenience features include air conditioning, power steering, a tilt steering wheel, intermittent windshield wipers, vanity mirrors, and cupholders both front and rear. All Yaris models come standard with P175/65R14 tires on 14-inch wheels. Four-way adjustable front seats are offered in the hatchback; sedan buyers will also enjoy height adjustable front seats. Other differences are in rear seating configurations: the hatchback gets a fold-down rear seat, while the sedan offers a fixed rear seat. Storage compartments are also different, the hatchback getting driver and passenger glove compartments, while the sedan uses a center console compartment in addition to a traditional glove box.

fallback

Power and pace

All 2007 Toyota Yaris models are powered by the same engine that was found in the Echo, a 1.5-liter, inline four-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) that makes 106 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, and delivers 103 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. Power is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic which gets Toyota’s shift logic technology to reduce the frequency of gear shifts while driving up or down hills. The powertrain is, of course, designed with efficiency in mind, with EPA city/highway fuel economy ratings set at 34/40, thanks in part to electric power rack-and-pinion steering as opposed to the traditional hydraulic pump setup.

fallback

Hatchback Style

The 2007 Yaris hatchback looks great, with short overhangs, color-keyed door handles and side mirrors, and a chrome-trimmed front grille all brought together by a sharply pointed design. With the hatchback, it’s a case of form and function. The large taillights look good, and serve to enhance safety. The rear door is attractive, wide and easy to use. Inside, the Yaris hatchback has nice fabric, and almost 13 cubic feet of cargo room. Also available in the hatchback are reclining rear seats, a pretty darn nice feature in a subcompact car.

fallback

Rear seat features

The rear seats of the Yaris hatchback not only recline but can also move forward and back, though you have to pay extra for all of these features. Up front, the gauges are centered, a convenient location for Toyota as the Yaris is sold worldwide, but this arrangement is similar to the oft-criticized setup in the Echo.

fallback

Driver side configuration

One of the benefits of the Yaris interior configuration is a plethora of storage compartments. The Yaris hatchback features three “glove compartments”: two on the passenger’s side and one in front of the driver, each a handy area for stowing paperwork and other materials.

fallback

Center gauges

For U.S. drivers, the center display takes some getting used to – perhaps because we’re not as used to world car design – but it’s safe to say that all drivers appreciate gauges right in front of their noses.

fallback

Center display, audio

Audio controls are placed directly under the center instrument panel display, and below that, three large knobs control environmental settings. All are exceedingly simple and easy to use. Problems with the hatchback’s interior design include the absence of a tachometer, that odd center-mounted gauge display, and seat construction that felt less able to meet the expectations of Toyota durability.

fallback

Sedan style

While the outside of the 2007 Toyota Yaris sedan may lack some of the sporty trendiness offered with the hatchback, buyers will be pleased by a superior interior with nicer, more durable interior materials and a smart design. On the outside, the Yaris sedan has an arched beltline, with the tires pushed outward and a stylish front fascia that adds a splash of flair. The slightly extended snout and lower profile also give the Yaris a sportier look, though pretensions toward performance are quickly compromised by those standard 14-inch wheels. Buy the 15-inch rims, and improve the look and performance – at least a little.

fallback

On the road

We climbed in behind the steering wheel of the 2007 Toyota Yaris with four critical measurements in mind: noise, roominess, stop-and-go driving, and fuel economy. The Yaris gets high marks on all, as a stylish, roomy vehicle that offers a quiet ride for its class, pleasant performance and great fuel economy, whether you choose the hatchback or the sedan.

fallback

`

Interested in Getting a New Car?

Used Cars Near You

No Data Available

Powered by Usedcars.com
©2024 AutoWeb, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Some content provided by and under copyright by Autodata, Inc. dba Chrome Data. © 1986-2024.