2017 Toyota Yaris iA Road Test and Review

We’re writing this review of the 2017 Toyota Yaris iA exactly a year from the time Toyota announced it was killing off the Scion brand (February 2016); at that time, the iA was a brand-new Scion model, its first and only sedan. Most of Scion’s lineup, at the time of the brand’s shuttering, seemed like they’d be redundant once they were rebranded as Toyotas (per Toyota’s plan). The iA, though, seemed to make more sense than most of the others, especially once folded into the existing Yaris line.

Toyota’s always had a lot of models on its roster, and now that the company has completed the absorption and re-branding of all those Scions, dealerships must be awfully crowded. Ultimately, consumers will vote with their wallets, but time will tell if they think there are just too many similar choices. Let’s take a look at the 2017 Toyota Yaris iA, a subcompact sedan that isn’t entirely new, but is new to the Toyota lineup this year.

The 2017 Toyota Yaris iA starts at $15,950, equipped with a manual transmission. Opting for the automatic transmission bumps the price to $17,050. And that’s pretty much it. There are no option packages available for the Yaris iA, and all of the exterior color options are available without an extra surcharge. Buyers who are desperate to spend a little more on a Yaris iA can do so in the dealership’s accessories department, by adding accoutrements such as a cargo net, a roadside assistance kit, or a set of decorative door sill plates—nothing that affects the car’s performance or overall experience. For now, at least, it looks like Toyota is sticking with the shopping experience that was supposed to make the Scion brand unique—very few options, resulting in a low-stress buying experience.

For what it’s worth, the regular Toyota Yaris keeps its status as the brand’s cheapest model, with a starting price of $15,250.

The front-wheel-drive 2017 Toyota Yaris iA makes just 106 horsepower from its 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (which it shares with the Yaris). Our test car had the base 6-speed manual transmission; a 6-speed automatic is available.

We were pleasantly surprised by the Yaris iA’s performance, but that could have had more to do with the transmission than the engine. They seemed like a decently matched pair. The drivetrain responded particularly well to downshifts, resulting in acceleration that allowed passing with ease, even on the highway. Generally speaking, cars in this class, particularly with automatic transmissions, don’t accelerate this quickly or eagerly.

The Toyota Yaris iA is actually a thinly disguised Mazda2 sedan (a variant of the Mazda2 subcompact hatch that was never sold in the United States, and has largely been forgotten since the U.S. version of the Mazda2 disappeared so quickly). Yet, Toyota’s done a decent job making this car look like something it designed, and most consumers would be none the wiser. The Toyota Yaris iA blends in rather than stands out, and unlike most competitors in the subcompact class, its color palette is pretty muted (ours was finished in Graphite).

The Yaris iA comes equipped with wedge-shaped halogen headlights and daytime running lights that lend the front end a slightly sporty look; they are the car’s single most interesting styling element. The side mirrors feature integrated LED turn signals. A set of bland 16-inch alloy wheels is included, as well. (If there's an upside, these wheels are unlikely to become a theft target.)

For a really basic car, the Yaris iA has a surprisingly comfortable interior. The seats are cloth, and there’s no option to upgrade, but they get the job done. The upholstery in every Yaris iA is a combination that Toyota calls “Mid-Blue Black,” which consists of black bolsters with a mesh-like black/blue pattern on the larger panels, and contrasting blue stitching. The cloth texture and quality look like they'll hold up decently over time.

The cabin layout in the Yaris iA is nice and simple, owing mostly to the fact that there are no “extra” features to clutter it up. The seats are simple to adjust, and the infotainment system is easy to reach.

Trunk space, at 13.5 cubic feet, is pretty good for the class. A wide opening makes that space easily accessible. A folding rear seat, split 60/40, makes it easy to stow larger items.

The Toyota Yaris iA shines here—it includes a lot of features that are competitive for this class, omits expensive extras, and keeps things simple. The Yaris iA comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s easy to reach and use. The system features a 6-speaker audio system, Bluetooth wireless integration, an auxiliary port, two USB ports, Pandora, and iPod integration. The iPod integration was surprisingly easy to use—it even recognized a really old iPod nano with a 30-pin connector via the USB port. The steering wheel controls were also very easy and intuitive to use (more so than in some cars that are much more expensive).

Other standard equipment includes cruise control, a rearview camera, remote keyless entry, and pushbutton start. Another nice feature is a digital tachometer that shows the current gear and prompts the driver when it’s time to upshift or downshift.

We’ve already gone through all the 2017 Toyota Yaris iA’s available equipment, but there’s no harm in laying it all out in one place. The Yaris comes with a 106-horsepower 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engines. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard; a 6-speed automatic is optional.

There are no trim levels, so everything that was included with our test car comes standard, such as alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, pushbutton start, a rearview camera, and power locks and windows. The cloth seats have manual adjustments. The touchscreen infotainment system includes Bluetooth, auxiliary and USB inputs, and steering wheel-mounted controls. The dealership can add a navigation system to the infotainment system, if you’re so inclined—this is considered an “accessory” rather than an “option,” a carryover from Scion’s terminology.

The 2017 Toyota Yaris iA is a good pick for safety-conscious consumers on a budget. This car earns a 5-Star Overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for crashworthiness. Other evaluations from the IIHS include an Advanced rating for front crash prevention, a Marginal rating for the ease of use of the car’s LATCH child safety seat anchors, and a Poor rating for the headlights.

You can’t get the Yaris iA with all of the latest and greatest safety equipment, but it includes the essentials. In addition to the typical list of safety equipment, such as airbags, stability control, and anti-lock brakes, the features list includes a low-speed collision mitigation system and a rearview camera. If you want features such as blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, or radar cruise control (which are uncommon in this class, yet available), you’ll have to look elsewhere. Check out the regular Toyota Yaris, which comes standard with Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of features.

Cool features? Well, there really aren’t any, but that’s part of the point. The biggest point in the Yaris iA’s favor is its simplicity. Sure, we’ve mentioned the bland design and the boring exterior colors, but what we sometimes forget is that these can actually be attributes for some buyers. The subcompact class is full of funky designs and loud colors to capture the attention of younger buyers, and Toyota is going in the exact opposite direction. If you want a small car, but you’d rather fit in than stand out, the Yaris iA is a good choice. 

We don’t know how long Toyota plans to maintain Scion’s “one trim level, no options” methodology with the Yaris iA, but for now, at least, this car has an easy-to-understand list of key features, which makes it easy to buy. This is a good time to shop, especially if you’re the type of consumer who gets stressed out at the thought of negotiating with a car salesperson.

Of the handful of small and midsize Toyotas we've driven from mid-2016 until now, the Yaris iA is our favorite. Part of it, we’ll admit, is that the Yaris iA was equipped with the 6-speed manual (at our explicit request), which has a way of bringing a car to life in a way that a CVT or an automatic just can’t match. It forces the driver to stay engaged. Three pedals go a long way toward making the Yaris iA interesting, and, well, kind of charming. The other main perk in the Yaris iA’s favor—comparing it to its Toyota family members as well as other affordable compacts—is its simplicity, which we’ve already discussed in detail but is worth hammering home. This new Yaris iA isn’t the nicest, the fastest, or the most fun to drive, but it’s a well-put-together option for less than $16,000. And it might have a chance, now that it lives in high-traffic showrooms.