Used 2020 Toyota Yaris

The 2020 Yaris subcompact sedan is Toyota’s least expensive vehicle, starting at less than $16,000. At that price, it’s about $2,000 below its sibling, the Yaris Hatchback. The Yaris is an appealing vehicle for city dwellers, individuals on a tight budget, or youthful buyers.

Beyond its low price, the 2020 Yaris boasts stylish design, standard tech features like Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and fuel efficiency that hits 40 mpg. The Yaris is badged as a Toyota, but it’s made by Mazda in a joint venture and thus looks like a smaller version of the alluring Mazda3.

The Yaris also touts the fun driving manners for which Mazdas are known. The Yaris includes a low-speed automatic emergency braking system, but doesn’t offer other active safety systems such as lane-departure warning and blind-spot monitoring that are available in the revamped 2020 Nissan Versa.

With a mere 106 horsepower, the Yaris won’t be winning many street races. Then again, this is a smaller car with not a lot of weight to move, so it doesn’t feel sticky-slow, either. Most buyers will opt for the automatic transmission, a refined 6-speed that matches well with this engine. If you’re willing to put in the effort or simply like more engagement, the 6-speed manual transmission is easy to use and will help you wring a bit more out of the Yaris’ little 4-cylinder engine.

The Yaris sedan tolerates being pushed in corners and may just make you smile a bit doing it. At higher speeds the cabin can be noisy, as is common in this class. The Yaris is best suited for shorter, in-city jaunts, and its small size makes it a friend to both cramped garages and tight parking spots. But if you do a lot of highway driving or have a long commute, we’d recommend stepping up a size or two, even if it’s just to a Corolla.

The Toyota Yaris’ 5-passenger interior looks and feels more sophisticated than its entry-level status would suggest. And if you’ve been inside a Mazda lately, that’s what this Toyota will look like. Since the Yaris is essentially a Mazda2 sedan (not sold in the U.S., but available in other markets), it brings that automaker’s sense of simple elegance.

Most prominent is the 7-inch infotainment display that sits atop the middle of the dash. Primary controls for its audio, phone and other features are controlled by a couple of dials just south of the gearshift. Other aspects, such as climate controls, are simple but intuitive. We also like the literal feel of the steering wheel and its easy-to-use buttons for audio, cruise control and phone functions.

The front seats are well-bolstered, and if you pony up for the top-line XLE trim you’ll be treated to artificial-leather upholstery. As you’d expect, rear-seat legroom is in short supply at just 34.4 inches. Trunk cargo room is quite respectable at 13.49 cubic feet, but still below that of the Nissan Versa.

 As with its interior, if you mistake the Yaris’ swoopy, stylistic lines for that of a Mazda, you’d have good reason since the Yaris is based on the sedan version of the Mazda2 sold outside the U.S. The Yaris looks like a smaller version of the Mazda3 sedan, and to our eyes that’s a good thing. Mazda’s sedans have a premium design that belies their price, and that pays dividends here considering that even the fanciest Mazda-made Yaris starts below $19,000.

Base Yaris models ride on small 15-inch steel wheels, which is just one more reason we’d suggest paying a little more for the Yaris LE, which gets 16-inch wheels and more rubber. Yaris XLE models are both easier on the eyes and easier to see with their LED headlights and LED daytime running lights.

STANDARD INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
The Yaris stands out among its rivals in that even base models include a 7-inch infotainment system that is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. While competitors offer that compatibility, it isn’t found on their least expensive trim.

LOW-SPEED PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM
Effective at speeds up to 18 mph, the Yaris’ low-speed pre-collision warning system scans the road ahead for potential trouble and alerts the driver. If a collision seems imminent, the system can activate the brakes to prevent or lessen the effects of a crash.

Toyota’s Yaris sedan comes in three trims: L, LE and XLE. At its most basic, the Yaris L includes power windows and door locks, 6-way-adjustable driver’s seat, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, push-button start, and an infotainment system with 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, AM/FM/satellite/HD Radio, two USB ports and Bluetooth streaming.

The Yaris’ safety features include six airbags and the low-speed pre-collision system, which can automatically apply the brakes at speeds of 18 mph or less. We recommend spending $1,000 more for the LE trim, which adds keyless entry, 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, rear lip spoiler and heated exterior mirrors.

An automatic transmission is optional on Yaris L and LE trims, and is standard on the XLE. That most expensive Yaris also includes Leatherette upholstery, leather-trimmed steering wheel, automatic LED headlights and LED running lights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and automatic climate control.

All models can have their infotainment system upgraded to include navigation for about $400. Otherwise, other major options are limited to accessories such as a center armrest, doorsill protectors and other dealer-installed items.

The lone engine offered in the 2020 Yaris sedan is a Mazda-sourced 1.5-liter, direct-injected 4-cylinder that makes 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque. As noted in our driving impressions, that isn’t much power, but the Yaris doesn’t feel as paltry as those numbers might suggest. After all, the Yaris sedan only weighs 2,385 pounds in base form, and is still under 2,500 pounds in top-line XLE trim.

The Yaris is front-wheel drive and comes with a 6-speed manual transmission or the more popular 6-speed automatic for an extra $1,100. Note that the automatic is standard in XLE models. The Toyota Yaris’ fuel economy is predictably impressive, scoring up to the 40-mpg mark with the automatic and 39 mpg via the manual.

1.5-liter inline-4
106 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
103 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 30/39 mpg (manual), 32/40 mpg (automatic)