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2013 Toyota Yaris Adds Standard Audio Upgrade

Subcompact Continues with Three- and Five-door Models

Charles Krome
by Charles Krome
November 21, 2012
3 min. Reading Time
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It’s really a bit of a conundrum: While its automaker is reaping some hefty sales gains on the car side of the ledger, the 2013 Toyota Yaris comes to market as the slowest-selling mainstream vehicle in its segment. In October, when the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry enjoyed sales increases of 29 percent, 52.4 percent and 35.8 percent, respectively, the Yaris cratered to the tune of a 62 percent decline. On a volume basis, the car’s 2,579 trailed even the Fiat 500. And it’s not as if the Yaris trails in terms of much else. In fact, now that the Hyundai and Kia subcompacts have seen their fuel-economy marks slip by a few mpg, the Toyota is right in the heart of the segment as far as EPA grades go.

Of course, one company’s loss is another company’s gain, and the rejiggered EPA standings, combined with a notable audio enhancement and the segment’s only three-door model, should have the 2013 Toyota Yaris in line for at least modest gains during this selling season.

2013 Toyota Yaris: What’s New

After launching as an “all-new” model for 2012, the 2013 Toyota Yaris will receive just one upgrade for the current model year, but it’s a worthy one: All the content from last year’s Tech Audio Package becomes standard across the Yaris family. In the mix here are Bluetooth technology for audio streaming (and hands-free calling), six speakers, AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA playback ability, both a USB port and an auxiliary input jack, automatic sound-leveling, and what the automaker calls “MP3 sound enhancement.”

The 2013 Toyota Yaris is then available in three grades:

  • Yaris L—Offered in both three- and five-door configurations, the base model opens at $14,370 and, along with the above-mentioned audio setup, brings air conditioning, power door locks, halogen headlights, five-speed manual transmission, nine airbags and the full Toyota Star Safety System (stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, Brake Assist and Smart Stop).
  • Yaris LE—The mid-level Yaris is stickered from $15,955 and also is available in both body styles; the price premium adds a four-speed automatic, power-adjustable side mirrors, an upgraded driver’s seat, 60/40 fold-down rear seats, cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, power windows and remote keyless entry.
  • Yaris SE—The hot-hatch version of the Yaris only comes as a five-door, with an MSRP of $16,480, and wears an aero-style body kit, sport-style grille, 16-inch alloy wheels, integrated fog lights, sport-fabric seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, and model-exclusive instrumentation.

  

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2013 Toyota Yaris: Fuel-efficiency in the Spotlight

The 40-mpg benchmark is, of course, entirely symbolic, but some observers do think that achieving the milestone provides more of a marketplace advantage than the difference between, say, 40 mpg and 39 mpg really deserves. Well, we may be about to see if that process works in reverse, too, and in a way that benefits the 2013 Toyota Yaris.

The Yaris can post an EPA line of up to 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined, which meant that, last year, it was one of just two mainstream subcompacts that couldn’t reach the 40-mpg plateau (the other being the Honda Fit). But now that the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio have been removed from the honor roll after procedural issues turned up in their fuel-economy ratings, more than half the subcompact entries are below that point, so the Yaris looks that much better in consumers’ eyes.

Compare the top efficiency marks of today’s mainstream subcompacts (and we’ll include the Fiat 500 as the Chrysler Group’s player):

Vehicle

EPA ratings (city/highway/combined)

Nissan Versa

31/40/35

Fiat 500

31/40/34

Chevrolet Sonic

29/40/33

Ford Fiesta

29/40/33

Toyota Yaris

30/37/33

Hyundai Accent

28/37/32

Kia Rio

28/37/32

Honda Fit

27/33/29

Suddenly, the 2013 Toyota Yaris looks a lot more competitive than it used to, especially if you keep in mind that it does its best work in its least-expensive trim, while rivals like the Ford and Chevy require powertrain upgrades—and price premiums—to achieve their highest fuel-economy marks.

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