2018 Toyota Yaris review

1. City-friendly size

The joy of a little hatchback is how easy it is to drive around narrow city streets. So if you live in the center of town or frequently commute from the suburbs, the 2018 Toyota Yaris is a great option. It's available as either a three-door or five-door trim depending on the look you're after (although the SE trim only has the five-door option). The three-door Yaris looks sleek but the five-door trim gives you added practicality and ease of access to the rear seats. This is handy if you regularly carry passengers.

2. Plenty of driver aids

Even back in 2018, Toyota had a strong driver-assistance package. The base model features pre-collision warning, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams. Jump to the mid-range LE trim and you'll also get cruise control and a remote keyless entry system. These features make driving easier than ever and give you peace of mind out on the open road.

3. Practicality and performance

The hatchback shape of the 2018 Yaris perfectly combines practicality with performance. It's light enough to feel nippy as you pull away from a junction and doesn't need huge amounts of power for that fun factor. Despite its small size, you'll still get 15.6 cu-ft on all five-door trims (15.3 cu-ft for three-door trims). That's plenty for transporting your shopping haul back from the city and even enough to swallow up a few bags for your next vacation. 

4. Well-equipped across all trims

The base trim gives you all the necessities such as a rearview camera, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and Toyota's Entune^™ multimedia system with Bluetooth^® integration. But if you need more, jump to the SE trim and you'll find a slightly sportier look with added features such as a larger touchscreen, 16-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed seats—as well as leather on the steering wheel and shift lever—and much more. 

5. Peppy little engine

All trims come with a 1.5L four-cylinder engine that puts out 106 horsepower. It might not sound like much but in a small car, it means a lot. This isn't a sports car but you'll enjoy how agile it feels. The base L trim has a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, making it feel sportier, and the available automatic makes city driving even easier. That small engine has a payoff, too, as it'll achieve an EPA-estimated 32 mpg combined on automatic models and 33 mpg combined with the standard manual gearbox.