2011 Toyota Yaris Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Toyota Yaris review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 Yaris, and includes Toyota Yaris safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Toyota Yaris is due for a significant refresh in 2012 so the only change for 2011 is a sun visor extension.

The 2011 Toyota Yaris is available in three models: a three-door hatchback, a five-door hatchback and a four-door sedan. The three-door hatch is the least expensive of the bunch while the sedan is the most expensive, yet less than $1,000 separates the prices between the three models.

All three models come standard with multi-reflector halogen headlights, 14-inch steel wheels, intermittent front windshield wipers, rear window defogger, roof-mounted AM/FM antenna, audio prep package with four speakers, air conditioning, four-way adjustable driver and passenger seats with seatback pockets, fold-down rear bench seat, a 12-volt auxiliary power outlet, digital clock, dual sun visors with extenders and vanity mirrors, trunk lamp and a remote hood and fuel-filler door releases.

Optional packages for the 2011 Yaris include an All-Weather Guard package, Convenience package, and a Sport package.

The All-Weather Guard package includes a larger window washer tank with low-level indicator, heavy duty and starter and rear heat ducts.

The Convenience package comes with an AM/FM stereo with CD player, auxiliary audio input jack, XM satellite capabilities, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, 15-inch alloy wheels with full wheel covers, all-season tires and a rear window wiper.

The Sport package includes color-keyed front and underbody spoilers, rear spoiler, front fog lights, sport front seats with sport cloth seat trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power doors, power windows, AM/FM stereo with CD player, auxiliary audio input jack, satellite radio capability, iPod interface, audio sound leveling, 60/40 folding rear seats, 15-inch steel wheels, all-season tires, rear window wiper, anti-theft system and keyless entry.

The 2011 Toyota Yaris comes standard with the following safety features: Toyota’s Star Safety System, driver and front seat passenger airbags, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) for outboard rear seating positions, child-protector rear door locks and a tire pressure monitor system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the 2011 Yaris as good, meaning that it received the highest scores of good in front offset and side impact test results, and a rating of acceptable in roof strength test results. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has not yet crash tested the 2011 Yaris.

The Yaris is one dependable machine and both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates agree. Consumer Reports rated the 2011 Yaris as much better than average in terms of reliability while J.D. Power and Associates gave the 2011 Toyota Yaris a predicted reliability rating of better than most.

The 2011 Toyota Yaris is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 106 horsepower. Yes, that’s a small engine for a small car and at times the engine feels and sounds labored. A five-speed automatic transmission comes standard on all models; an optional four-speed manual transmission is also available.

Depending on the model you choose, the EPA estimates that the 2011 Yaris will return an average of about 32 mpg. The Yaris lives up to its fuel economy ratings of between 26 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. We covered 350 miles during a week that included long highway jaunts and short neighborhood errand runs. We averaged 32 mpg without overtly trying to maximize fuel economy. For a car that went up and down mountain passes multiple times, that’s impressive.

As the least expensive car in the entire Toyota/Scion stable, you don’t expect lots of sizzle and style in the Yaris. So don’t be surprised if you’re a touch underwhelmed when you open the door. But as a daily driver that gets solid fuel economy combined with exceptional reliability scores since 2007, the Yaris deserves consideration.

Especially if you’re looking for an affordable car.

Our test Yaris three-door hatch topped $16,000 largely due to the $1,500 addition of the power package that brings power to windows, power door locks and adds an upgraded stereo and 15-inch steel wheels to the mix.

Here’s what you can expect behind the wheel. First, the engine is small and if you have to merge into fast traffic, give yourself some time to get up to speed. It’s unrealistic to demand a lot of punch from a 106-horsepower engine. Press the accelerator hard and the engine whines as it strains to accommodate your heavy-footed request. But it gets the job done. Eventually.

Second, while reliability scores are better than average, the seats are worse. But maybe it’s not just the seats. The worst part of driving the Yaris is the lack of a telescoping steering wheel that results in a cramped driving position. I’m 5’9” and fit comfortably in virtually any car. But the Yaris is the first car in a long time where a two-hour ride left my back feeling strained. Pay close attention to your driving position during any test drive if you’re over six-feet tall. However, smaller, and yes, by implication, younger drivers will find little to complain about.

We liked the split rear seat in the hatch that was large enough to fit a smaller mountain bike in the back with both seats folded flat. You could possibly squeeze a larger bike inside, but I would recommend a bike rack instead.

We’ve recently driven both the Yaris sedan and the three-door hatch and we prefer the hatch because the smaller car is actually more fun to drive and the hatchback creates a more practical storage space for groceries, gear and even that small mountain bike we mentioned. And if you’re someone who can somehow manage to get lost even on a one-way street, you’ll appreciate the tight turning radius of the small Yaris hatch that makes it possible to flip a U-turn in the tightest of quarters.

That said, if you plan to regularly ferry friends or family around town, spend some time in the sedan or the four-door hatchback to determine which Yaris best fits your needs.

The 2011 Toyota Yaris is definitely on the budget end of the compact car equation. In fact, the base model doesn’t even include a radio. The Yaris is less expensive than the Nissan Versa or Mazda Mazda2, but more expensive than the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo. Drivers choose the Yaris for its fuel economy scores and proven reliability. Since the current Yaris design and platform is older and due for a refresh in 2012, it lags many of its more recently updated competitors. But that looming redesign may be the ammunition you need to push your Toyota dealer for a great price on this competent small car.

By Michael Waterman and Alex Callister