The Subcompact car segment has always been hot as these cars invite new audience to motoring. While manufacturers try to woo buyers primarily by aggressive pricing, high-end features are also becoming a growing trend in this segment.
The subcompact car segment has always been hot, especially with hatchbacks offering high value for money. While manufacturers try to woo buyers primarily by aggressive pricing, high-end features are shaping into the new norm in this segment. While not the most exciting car to drive, the 2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback comes with a good deal of features, bundled together with reliability in the form of a daily-driving compact vehicle. The Yaris Hatchback comes with its own points that we like and dislike, but it sure offers a clever alternative to the Honda Fit, the Nissan Versa and the Ford Fiesta.
The 2018 Toyota Yaris hatchback comes in two body styles: A 3-door or a 5-door hatchback. Up to 5 different trims are available, and one pick one based on requirement. There are several options and packages to further upgrade your Yaris Hatchback as well. The following list gives an outline of all the various trims and features offered with the 2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback.
Trims |
3-Door L |
3-Door LE |
5-Door L |
5-Door LE |
5-Door SE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$15,635 |
$17,285 |
$16,760 |
$17,660 |
$18,260 |
Key Features |
15-inch styled steel wheels |
Features Of 3-Door L Plus: |
15-inch styled steel wheels |
Features Of 5-Door L Plus: |
Features Of 5-Door LE Plus: |
Daytime Running Headlights (DRL) |
Steering wheel audio control |
Daytime Running Headlights (DRL) |
Steering wheel audio control |
Shift lever |
|
Bold Front Fascia and grille with Chrome Accent |
15-inch Machined Alloy wheels |
Bold Front Fascia and grille with Chrome Accent |
15-inch Machined Alloy wheels |
16-in. machined alloy wheels with P195/50R16 tires |
|
Entune audio |
Remote Keyless Entry |
Entune audio |
Remote Keyless Entry |
Power-assisted ventilated front disc brakes; rear disc brakes and Star Safety System™ |
|
Nine Airbags |
Color-keyed Power Outside Mirror |
Nine Airbags |
Color-keyed Power Outside Mirror |
Rear spoiler |
|
Tilt Steering Wheel |
Tilt Steering Wheel |
Sport fabric-trimmed front seats |
|||
Toyota Safety Sense C (TSS-C) |
Toyota Safety Sense C (TSS-C) |
Leather-trimmed steering wheel |
|||
60/40 Split Fold-Down Rear Seats |
60/40 Split Fold-Down Rear Seats |
What’s impressive is that the 3-door base Yaris L, costing $15,635, gets standard Toyota Safety Sense C (TSS-C) bundled with advanced active safety features and driver assistance systems. Next in line is the LE trim, with a price tag of $17,285. Toyota offers a lot more premium features with the LE trim, helping in making the Yaris easier to live with. The Yaris SE 5-door costs $18,260 and tops the range. It is yours for the taking with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.
2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback Buying Advice
Although the base L trim is well equipped for the price, The SE trim gets plenty of upmarket features like the leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel, better upholstery, larger wheels, better tires and most importantly, rear disc brakes. We suggest you opt for the SE trim, where your extra $3,000 would be worth the price.
Although the sub-compact Toyota lacks brutish grunt, the tractable naturally aspirated 1.5L Inline-4 engine is high-spirited around town. The 5-speed manual is decently smooth, even fun to some extent, and we recommend against the primitive 4-speed automatic. However, both of these transmissions lack ratios high enough to make the Yaris feel relaxed on the open road.
The Toyota Yaris comes with only a single engine option, a 1.5L naturally aspirated Inline-4 developing 106 hp and 103 pounds-feet of torque. Within city limits, you can punt around in this car effortlessly as the slick 5-speed manual easily shuffles the available power to the wheels.
Models |
2018 Toyota Yaris 5-Door L |
2018 Honda Fit LX |
2018 Nissan Versa Note S |
2018 Ford Fiesta S Hatch |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$16,760 |
$16,190 |
$15,600 |
$14,415 |
Engine |
1.5L Inline-4 |
1.5L Inline-4 |
1.6L Inline-4 |
1.6L Inline-4 |
Transmission |
4-Speed Automatic |
6-Speed Manual |
CVT |
5-Speed Manual |
Power |
106 hp |
130 hp |
109 hp |
120 hp |
Torque |
103 lb-ft |
114 lb-ft |
107 lb-ft |
112 lb-ft |
Comparing the competition, the Honda Fit offers the most horsepower and torque to play with. The Ford Fiesta packs a decent puch too, offering 120 horsepower on the tap. The Nissan Versa Note and the Toyota Yaris lag behind significantly, offering lesser power and torque figures out of nearly equally-sized Inline-4 engines.
The Toyota Yaris has been designed keeping more focus on efficiency, than on gut-wrenching acceleration. Its 0 to 60 launch time of 10.2 seconds may seem yawningly slow, but other competitors aren’t exactly quick either.
While the Yaris measures to be the lightest compact hatchback among its competitors, it performs equally well in terms of braking. The 2018 Toyota Yaris manages to come to a complete halt from a speed of 60 miles per hour in 127 feet, which is not bad.
Models |
2018 Toyota Yaris 5-Door L |
2018 Honda Fit LX |
2018 Nissan Versa Note S |
2018 Ford Fiesta S Hatch |
---|---|---|---|---|
0-60 MPH |
10.2 sec |
9.1 sec |
9.2 sec |
9.7 sec |
Quarter Mile |
17.0 sec @ 80.1 mph |
16.8 sec @ 85.8 mph |
17.8 sec @ 78.2 mph |
17.2 sec @ 80.4 mph |
Curb weight (lbs) |
2335 |
2522 |
2460 |
2537 |
60-0 MPH (ft.) |
127 |
130 |
127 |
129 |
Among the competition, the 2018 Honda Fit shows the best promise in terms of performance. While a 9.1-second 0 to 60 climb is nothing quick, it still is the fastest time compared to the rest. The Honda Fit also delivers the best quarter-mile time, crossing the finish line in 16.8 seconds. While all the cars in the lot weigh nearly the same, the Toyota Yaris boasts the least weight. The Yaris ties with the Nissan Versa note for the best braking distance, achieving a 60 to 0 descent in 127 feet.
Owing to their feather-light curb weight and powertrain tuned more for efficiency than performance, the subcompacts are the most efficient automobiles this side of hybrids. With that in mind, the 2018 Toyota Yaris delivers 30 miles to the gallon in the city and 35 on the highway. The Yaris also comes fitted with a 11.1 gallon fuel tank that can take you as far as 400 miles on the highway without refueling.
Model |
2018 Toyota Yaris 5-Door L |
2018 Honda Fit LX |
2018 Nissan Versa Note S |
2018 Ford Fiesta S Hatch |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
30 |
29 |
31 |
27 |
MPG (Highway) |
35 |
36 |
39 |
35 |
MPG (Combined) |
32 |
31 |
34 |
30 |
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
11.1 |
10.8 |
10.6 |
12.4 |
Range (City/Hwy) |
333 / 400 |
335 / 421 |
307 / 382 |
335 / 434 |
While the Yaris can achieve better fuel economy through taller gear ratios, a combined MPG figure of 32 is fairly acceptable. The Nissan Versa Note S offers the best fuel economy, delivering better MPG figures in the city, highway and combined than its competitors. The Ford Fiesta comes with the largest fuel tank among the competition, and delivers the highest range.
The interior of the Yaris has plenty of hard plastic, and while it may seem obvious at this price, rivals offer better interior quality for roughly the same price. Front seats are roomy though, and it's perfectly fine for lone commuting. However, with a front passenger, things get on the cozy side and the rear seats are even tighter.
Although Toyota says the tiny Yaris can seat 5-people, be warned that it's comfortable for no more than two adults whether you choose the 3-door Yaris or the 5-door Yaris. Also, tall people will find it difficult to find a good driving position as the steering wheel does not telescope. While alone, it's perfectly usable but with a passenger in front, it gets intimate with minimal shoulder room.
Model |
2018 Toyota Yaris 5-Door L |
2018 Honda Fit LX |
2018 Nissan Versa Note S |
2018 Ford Fiesta S Hatch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Passenger capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
39.3/52.5/40.6 |
39.5/54.8/41.4 |
40.8/51.7/41.3 |
39.1/52.7/42.2 |
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
37.6/51.8/33.3 |
37.5/52.6/39.3 |
38.0/51.9/38.3 |
37.2/49.0/31.2 |
At the front row, the 2018 Nissan Versa Note offers the most headroom, while the Honda Fit comes with the most shoulder space. The Ford Fiesta Hatchback has the most legroom to offer at the front. At the second row, things are equally tight for all cars in the lot. The Versa Note has the most headroom to offer, while the Honda Fit boasts the most shoulder space, as in the case of the first row. The Honda Fit offers a class-leading 39.9-inch rear legroom, which is great. Some key features offered with the 2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback include:
As with the rest of the car, the 2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback gets a basic infotainment system. The base Yaris L comes with a 6.1-inch touchscreen-equipped infotainment system and a 6-speaker stereo system. Bluetooth audio streaming is supported as well.
However, no version of the Yaris gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.Some major infotainment features offered with the 2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback include:
The 2018 Toyota Yaris offers 15.6 cubic feet of luggage space, which is pretty average for a subcompact car. However, you can't fold the rear seats to liberate more space as in the competitors. If you need plenty of luggage capacity at this price point, consider the Versa Note with 18.8 cubic feet of luggage capacity. There isn’t much practicality offered inside the cabin either. The glove compartment is non-existent, there is no armrest storage, and the door bins are tiny.
Model |
2018 Toyota Yaris 5-Door L |
2018 Honda Fit LX |
2018 Nissan Versa Note S |
2018 Ford Fiesta S Hatch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Behind 2nd Row (Cubic Feet) |
15.6 |
16.6 |
18.8 |
14.9 |
2nd Row Folded (Cubic Feet) |
N/A |
52.7 |
38.3 |
25.4 |
It is just unfortunate that the Toyota Yaris doesn’t let you fold its rear seats down for additional storage. Even with the rear row upright, the Nissan Versa Note has the greatest cargo space to offer. The Honda Fit comes close, buthe Ford Fiesta offers the least space behind the second row. Behind the first row, the Honda Fit offers the most cargo space, and that too by a considerable margin over the closest competitor, the Nissan Versa Note, which offers 38.3 cubic feet of space.
The 2018 Toyota Yaris has received some recent cosmetic revisions. Although the nose and gaping grille are the same as the 2017 Yaris, the grille itself is now wrapped and the body colored nose is combined with the bumper.
A wider tail light and refreshed bumper design complete the changes to the rear. Overall, the Yaris doesn’t look all that bad for a compact hatchback. The proportions are decent, and the design elements fit well with the persona of the Yaris. While the gaping front grille is rather ungainly, the overall design is fresh and clean.
Model |
2018 Toyota Yaris 5-Door L |
2018 Honda Fit LX |
2018 Nissan Versa Note S |
2018 Ford Fiesta S Hatch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Length (in) |
155.5 |
161.4 |
163.7 |
159.7 |
Width (in) |
66.7 |
67 |
66.7 |
67.8 |
Height (in) |
59.4 |
60.0 |
60.5 |
58.1 |
Ground Clearance (in) |
5.5 |
4.4 |
5.1 |
N/A |
Wheelbase (in) |
98.8 |
99.6 |
102.4 |
98.0 |
Among the competition, the Nissan Versa Note boasts the greatest length and height, while the Ford Fiesta measures the widest. The Toyota Yaris comes with the most ground clearance, which is great for unfavourable roads. While the Fiesta Hatchback offers the least wheelbase, the Nissan Versa Note comes with the longest wheelbase.
The 2018 Toyota Yaris comes with a surprising level of safety, that you wouldn’t expect from a budget hatchback. Features such as Pre-collision system, Lane Departure Alert, and Automatic High Beam, bundled with Toyota Safety Sense are offered as standard. Despite being a tightly arranged vehicle, the Yaris has managed to score “Good” under IIHS’ tests. Some key safety features offered with the 2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback include:
The Honda Fit costs slightly more than the Yaris, but more than makes up for its higher asking price. Its spacious interior is unrivaled in the subcompact segment, offering plenty of headroom and legroom in the front and rear seats. Moreover, the trunk is capacious and the flexibility of magic seats is unbeatable. Add to that impeccable fuel economy of CVT-equipped Fit and you get a car that's hard to go wrong with.
The Ford Fiesta is one of the best-selling subcompact cars and it's the go-to car for driving enthusiasts in this price bracket. Although its base engine is not significantly better than the Yaris engine, it still manages to pack a punch. However, its interior is even tighter than that of the Yaris, which also gets plenty of high-end active safety features as standard.
The Nissan Versa is one of the cheapest cars you can currently own, with a starting price of $12,000. However, it's clearly built for the price and features bare-bones interiors with low-grade materials. Still, if you hate capitalism and want maximum bang for the buck, the Versa offers expansive interiors for a higher price and offers capacious boot space as well. The CVT delivers excellent fuel economy.
Whether you are looking for your first car for lone commuting, or are searching for a small city runabout to complement your large family car, the 2018 Toyota Yaris will impress you with its nimble character and good ride quality, topped with Toyotas excellent reliability. Moreover, the amount of features and advanced driver assistance technologies loaded in this tiny subcompact is unprecedented. That being said, the tiny dimensions mean the interior can accommodate no more than two adults comfortably. Also, the rear seats are even tinier, so that’s a thumbs down. All in all, the Toyota Yaris is not a car to cart around 4 adults. If you are looking for a roomy and flexible subcompact car, spend little more and get the Honda Fit. It also brings exceptional fuel economy as a bonus. However, if you are a lone commuter and a Toyota Loyalist, the Yaris will certainly not disappoint. Buy one and enjoy years of worry-free no-nonsense motoring.