We usually make our weekend plans long before i do know what I'll be driving, and my family's plans don't change for anything-not even a 2012 Toyota Yaris. The plans: grocery shopping, picking up a huge birthday gift and hauling some shrubs for a landscaping project. The challenge: How much stuff could I cram into Toyota's subcompact? Especially after seeing the way it didn't come with regards to the contest in our recent $16,000 Subcompact Shootout on the subject of cargo space.
The Yaris fit greater than you'd think, actually, but first let's return to 2007, when it first hit the market. I drove it then and was underwhelmed by its pokey powertrain, loss of ride composure and high level of road noise. It scored points, however, for its decent fuel economy and its maneuverability.
A lot has changed since then-more with me than the auto. I carry a load more stuff now. As a house owner and mom, i've more baggage than I did in 2007, this means that there's always a kid-safety seat within the backseat, a diaper bag within the trunk, and after we grocery shop, we fill the auto to the brim. Last weekend was like several other, except the Yaris is among the smallest vehicles I've tested in many years.
Toyota's tiniest car is supplied in two flavors: two- and 4-door hatchback models. The sedan version was dropped for model-year 2012. Prices start at $14,115 for a base two-door. I drove a four-door hatchback within the top- of-the-line SE trim with a sticker price of $17,200. Add $180 for floor mats and the $760 destination fee, and my test car's final price was $18,140.
In the four-door model, available cargo space behind the rear seats is 15.6 cubic feet. Not bad when you think about that the Mazda2 only has 13.3 cubic feet of space, nevertheless it's crummy for those who check out what's available within the Chevy Sonic and Hyundai Accent-19 and 21.2 cubic feet, respectively. The Yaris' cargo room expands when the 60/40-split folding backseat is down-unless you're within the base version. Then you definately're out of luck; the L model's seat only folds in one piece.
In total, I drove the Yaris 160 miles over two days and 4 outings of assorted cargo necessities. Here's the way it performed:
Trip One: On our first trip out, the Yaris only needed to take my daughter and me to brunch. Her rear-facing convertible child seat took up a whole lot of space within the second row, stealing several inches of front passenger legroom. For this trip, that seat was empty, so the 2 people had a lot of space. My daughter's regular stroller was too large for Yaris's cargo area, however, so I needed to downgrade to the smaller umbrella stroller for the trip. It easily fit.
Trip Two: After brunch, it was off to the toy store to pick out up an early birthday gift for my almost 2-year-old. The toddler picnic table I had chosen came in sizable box measuring 11.8 by 17.8 by 29.5 inches. It barely slot in the cargo area. Though it took up all available space, it was convenient that I didn't need to put among the seats all the way down to make it fit. We needed to stash the stroller within the backseat, however. Don't worry; at her age, my daughter will still be surprised on her birthday.
Trip Three: The Yaris' biggest test was after we took it to Home Depot. Since my 6-foot husband joined us for this trip, his knees were practically within the glove box due to the kid seat installed behind him. The backseat also held two 3-foot trees, and the cargo area was loaded with three shrubs and several other trays of ivy. The 3 people miraculously found space for the quick ride home.
Trip Four: After unloading all that greenery, we picked up my sister for a family visit and grocery shopping trip, increasing the backseat passenger count from one to 2. The Yaris was in a position to handle several bags of groceries, three adults and one toddler in relative comfort (though front seat passenger may beg to vary).
Though it's still slow, loud and essentially every bump is heard and felt through the cabin, this tiny, 153-inch subcompact swallowed virtually everything we threw at it. Were we comfortable? It is dependent upon who you ask, but for this kind of small vehicle, the Yaris handled the weekend better than expected and higher than its size indicates. Maybe it's redeemed itself somewhat since our Shootout.
From WhatNewsToday.net
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