Toyota Yaris - Eccentric in Appearance

The 2010 Toyota Yaris is excellent for its fuel economy, eccentric appearance, and comprehensive package of safety features. All that said, it also has a painfully bare cabin and an awkward driving position and has a hard time competing with class leaders. Nothing has really changed for the 2010 year model, but now coming standard is the Toyota Star Safety System, which will include driving aids like vehicle stability control and traction control as standard.

The 2010 Yaris is offered as a three and five door hatchback or a four door sedan. The Yaris is a budget car, so performance expectations should be limited, but the car does have some zip to it and a decent fun to drive quotient. The 2010 Yaris offers a 1.5-liter four cylinder engine that can produce 106 horsepower that comes with a five speed manual transmission standard, with a four speed automatic upgrade option. The Yaris does stand out with its impressive fuel economy. The EPA rates the car at an average of 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Of the over 30 cars in its class, only the Honda Civic Hybrid and Smart ForTwo surpass the Yaris in the fuel economy department. The exterior styling of the 2010 Yaris is enjoyable in both its more conservative sedan and contemporary hatchback model. The car does feature a Camry-style snub nosed front wheel, but the rest of the car has been referred to as a potato on wheels. The interior is where it comes up short. While the front seats are comfortable, there are complaints about the awkward driving position, lack of room and practically nonexistent standard features.