2014 Toyota Yaris Consumer Reviews
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
I rented many vehicles from Enterprise and Hertz to "live with" all the models I was considering (and to see how they had held-up with all the different crazy drivers they see), and the Yaris' were always "tight and right" regardless of how many rental-car thrashing miles were on them...except one particular Yaris (I rented 3 different Yaris' once I narrowed my search down) that had been wrecked and had a very worn tire that roared on the highway. But it still drove pretty good considering what it had been through and they were still renting it out. This is not a high volume seller for Toyota because of the Corolla and Prius C being priced slightly higher than the Yaris. That is a shame, for it might possibly be one of their best built cars. I love the fact that it has the bullet-proof 1.5L engine and old-tech transmission that have been around for "many" years with used one's out there in the 300+ thousand- mile range with very little (if any) problems. Plenty of space for larger people, great legroom in back. Trunk space kinda small with rear seats up, but fold them down?....and you get a "lot" of room back there (enough for two people to go to the beach for a week or camping for a week). Rides great, gas mileage is great, it is pretty quiet on the road (never understood how the Car Magazines said it is noisy....try a Rio5 when it is cold...sounds like a blender grating ice. That worried me when the Rio5 salesman said "That is Gas Direct Injection Technology, it quiets down once it warms up" I did not like that at all. And many small cars are going to that Gas Direct Injection...except the Yaris..."yay"). The old-tech transmission on the Yaris is a smooth, very simple automatic transmission that does not need 5th or 6th gearing. It is a road cruiser! It keeps up with and passes traffic plenty-fine...quite peppy once broken-in correctly! The simplicity of the car is what attracted me compared to Rio5, Accent, Fiesta, Fiat, Versa and Fit. Did not try the Mazda2 due to past experience with that company. The Yaris' just felt better built than those others and too many features eventually break after time and are not cheap to fix. The only thing I do not like is that the dash and door panels can mark-up easily (have to keep a microfiber towel around) and the bluetooth has cut-out on me once in a while...probably the fault of my flip phone and no tachometer except on the SE Model. But I do enjoy this car. Sure, I could have bought something more exciting, but the Yaris is fun, simple, comfortable and the "VERY Simple Maintenance" requirements make it a great value as well. It does not pretend to be something it is not. I got it for a very fair price...some dealers are willing to deal. It has the features you truly only need (power everything, remote, tilt, a/c, cruise, great stereo, bluetooth)and nothing more. It is worth a look.
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Critical Review
I give the 2012 Toyota Yaris 5dr Liftback Auto LE model an overall 6/10 rating. I have yet to have any major mechanical issues with this model or my previous 2007 Toyota Yaris Base 4dr Sedan model, which had 130,000 miles on it before I traded it in for this 2012 model. My main reason for staying with the Toyota Yaris was due to the excellent gas mileage, low maintenance costs, and superb maneuverability and drivability benefits. Unfortunately, when it comes down to comfort and overall value of what you're getting, there is much to be desired in comparison to the 2007 Toyota Yaris. This 2012 model has had a complete body style transformation. Personally, I'm not a fan of the missing arm rest, bizarre hatchback body style (which basically has the visual appeal of a miniaturized mini-van), the still prevalent manual windows, the exact same laggy engine, and the small viewing window reversal which now sits in the front window area instead of the rear. With the small viewing window being positioned up front now, it makes it easier for potential thieves to bust out that window and have direct access to the interior automatic door locks. In the 2007 Yaris, the viewing window being in the back was genius because the sideways styled locks could not be accessed easily by a thief. On the other hand, the bonuses of the 2012 model versus the 2007 model are the TPS (tire pressure sensor) detection, cruise control, automatic door locks (only from the inside of the vehicle), nine airbags (yes, you read that right), stability control, actual gas gauge meter (goodbye silly battery style gas meter that the 2007 model bore), and mostly black interior which used to be only for the sportier SE models. Overall, this model is just as gas efficient and easy to drive as its fore sisters, is safer (as far as airbags are concerned), and has some useful additional features that its predecessor didn't offer. It may not be the prettiest or sportiest or most spacious compact sedan out there, but at the end of the day, "it's a car!"
2014 Yaris Reviews
Showing 8 of 60 reviews.
This car will be good for transportation and the fuel economy is good enough for young person who is now starting life and want a car to make his or her errands this is one of the best cars for you
Reliable and very cost efficient. Best vehicle for overpriced cost of gasoline and inflated vehicle prices these days. Wouldn't want to drive anything else.
Don’t get me wrong I love the Yaris it’s a good car but it’s two small and low to the ground for me so I don’t feel safe
I bought my Yaris new and have been the sole owner for over nine years. In that nine years, this car has taken me from Dallas to Sacramento more times than I care to count. It has hauled grandchildren, pets, and a surprising amount of stuff when the back seat is down. Most importantly, when I was driving down I-40 in New Mexico, it took the impact of large metal toolboxes flying off the back of a flatbed trailer and slamming into the car at highway speeds. Everyone in my car, human and canine, walked away. The only problem I have with the car is the quality of the paint job - the clear coat is peeling badly. All things considered, I think I can get the car repainted.
Zippy, great for city driving
Tiny fuel tank
Had to turn it in for a car with 4WD, but I drove my Yaris across the country twice and it performed admirably. Equipped with a decent set of snow tires, it got me through a blizzard outside Chicago where lots of SUVs and trucks were stranded. Kept it for almost a year in the Oregon mountains and it did just fine on the highway in the winter. In the summer, since it weighs almost nothing, it zips down the highway at 80-90 MPH with no issues at all, and when the cruise control is engaged, the engine roars like it's trying to be a racecar. Really fun to watch drivers of big trucks get irritated when I passed them. Super cramped on the inside, especially the backseat, but if you're just using it for 1 or 2 people, it's fine.
Easy to maneuver and park
Cramped, little cargo space.
Peppy car with decent acceleration but it's very lightweight and swerves easily when driven over uneven road (like the seam on a freeway lane), so I would be very careful driving this at high speeds (over 70 mph). The interior is also cramped, especially the back seat, so I wouldn't take more than one passenger on long road trips (you can't fit that much luggage in the back, anyway). Cup holders are a little difficult to access because they're almost under the dashboard. And the horn makes a very annoying beep when I start the engine. I wish I could figure out how to shut that off.
Easy to park.
I'd get a little upgraded model next time
Car has never failed me. Always started even in 10 weather in upstate NY. Good on gas mileage. easy to drive.
Fantastic Economy
Not A Ferrari
I got this car used (98,000 miles) in 2018 when I was desperate and this was the only vehicle I could afford. What a delight it's been. No, it doesn't handle like a sports car so whipping in and out of traffic is not the main deal here. This little car has driven all over the Midwestern US and down to South Carolina with no problems ever. I keep it regularly maintained and I even wash it once a year or so. When I moved from Arkansas to SC, I was able to bring two suitcases, a bunch of supplies (kitchen stuff and sewing machine), one cat, a litter box, a huge bag of cat food and other things I forget now. I ended up stuffing some items under the seats and others on the front seat, my point being that for a small car, this little thing can carry an impressive amount of stuff. And although the Yaris is not known for speed or instant response, I can get out of tricky situations when I need to. This has been the most reliable car I've ever owned (not including the Camry--nothing beats Camry's). I love this little car and I plan to drive it until Jesus comes back.
