Like the Echo, the Yaris has a centre-mounted instrument cluster

Centrally-mounted instruments appear to float on the pitch black backdrop. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

that's smack dab in the middle of the dashboard, but this time around it's not canted towards the driver. With what small space was available, the Yaris has an extra-simplified set of gauges with an analogue-style read-out and electro-luminescent backlighting. You get a speedometer and a tachometer, but really, that's about it. There's no engine temperature gauge (just a symbol for when it's cold or overheating), and a digital fuel meter that simply measures six tank increments, plus a multi-function odometer. In the spirit of cost cutting, the centre-layout makes sense, allowing for easy conversions from right to left hand drive models. But, it really does make me wonder, why not just make the whole layout digital?

The

Small engine is more than enough to move the featherweight Yaris. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

all-important horsepower and torque numbers in the Yaris haven't budged since the previous generation. In fact, it's quite easy to assume that no changes have been made without experiencing it first hand, as it's the same 1.5-litre inline-four with variable valve timing. Toyota's tweaks, however, are subtle, focusing on the delivery of power and torque, both which have been boosted in the low- and mid-range areas for improved take-off and traffic-speed performance. No tradeoff was made in this modification, as the car's top-end power is still preserved. With 106 horsepower, this little engine is more than capable of bringing the 1,052-kilo (2,319-lb) Yaris up to highway speeds, and because it's made with lightweight components, it's delightfully revvy and free-spinning. Smiles? You bet. The nice thing about the powertrain package is that because the Yaris' exterior shell is quite aerodynamic, once your target speed has been attained the car doesn't feel burdened to maintain it. The Yaris also represents a pinnacle in fuel efficiency; realistically, it's edged out only by diesels or hybrids.

I've got mixed opinions on the manual gearbox. While its action is

Echo hatch owners will find the tailgate release a familiar touch. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

precise, and changing gears is a low-effort task, I never could get used to a couple of its quirks. For some reason, I couldn't modulate the clutch with a great deal of finesse - take offs usually involved a brief bit of shudder or over-revving. This is not to say that I can't drive manual; I was born and bread on do-it-yourself shifting. I also never felt completely comfortable in the driver's seat, my big, rubber-soled Rockport loafers had precious little space to multi-task in the cramped footwells. Small pedals didn't do much to help the problem, either.

Between

Problem-free except for the silly little CD player glitch. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

classes, and eating, sleeping and writing articles, I spend a great deal of time on the road - you'd be fairly accurate in saying that I am perpetually on the move. In three weeks, I drove just about 3,000 km (1,864 miles) during the time it was in my possession, a phenomenally high amount by most peoples' standards, but never once did the Yaris skip a beat.

The CD player did seem to skip beats, though; in fact, it skipped several tracks at a time on my collection of CDs for a reason I can't quite imagine. And it outright refused to play anything by Broken Social Scene. Somehow, I don't think I remembered seeing "Onboard Music Critic" on the list of standard features.