On the road
The Yaris doesn't claim to be a sports car. But on a sunny day, it will take you from Montreal to Les Escoumins without the slightest hitch. When the wind picks up, we have to keep both hands on the steering wheel: tall and well padded, the car tends to make the passengers nervous because of its sensitivity to side winds. While not disastrous, it's better to slow down (90 km/h) rather than maintain 110 km/h on the highway. But I discovered that you can order shorter springs at the dealer's. This minor option (nevertheless expensive with the installation) increases the car's stability and speed in the city as it reduces the pitch. It might not affect our comfort; we'll have to see. I know that a few dealers in Montreal East have successfully set this fashion since the time of the defunct Echo.

The Yaris doesn't claim to be a sports car.

Urban first and foremost
Toyota is a past master in the designing and manufacturing of small cars. The first Corollas of the 1970s were successful models not only because of their efficiency and layout but also because of their reliability. But the Japanese manufacturer is trying to do too much or to make everything bigger, and it seems that it's forgetting what made it a success in the first place: outstanding small cars. The reliability is still there, but the layout needs to be reviewed. The Yaris sedan is the size of the old Corollas, but it just doesn't measure up. Yes, it deserves the attention it's getting, but the competition can do better in terms of interior layout.


Photo Credit : Amyot Bachand