2020 Toyota Yaris

Pros: Excellent fuel economy; spritely handling; generous level of standard equipment for the money

Cons: Middling acceleration; limited back-seat room; polarizing front-end styling

CG Says: The 2020 Toyota Yaris sedan is joined by a new 4-door hatchback and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality is now standard on all models. Yaris has a convoluted history. The Toyota Yaris iA dropped the iA suffix for 2019 and is now simply Yaris. The Yaris was formerly the Scion iA. Toyota closed its youth-oriented Scion division after the 2016 model year and the Scion iA became the Toyota Yaris iA for 2017. Plus, there was a Yaris Liftback based on a different platform that discontinued after 2018. The current Yaris is a subcompact-sized sedan and 4-door hatchback that is essentially a restyled version of the Mazda 2. (Mazda has elected to not offer the Mazda 2 in the U.S. market.) A 106-horsepower 1.5-liter 4-cylinder is the sole engine choice. The Yaris sedan comes in three trim levels: L, LE, and XLE. The hatchback in LE and XLE trims only. Besides paint color, the only options are 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission (standard on XLE sedan and all hatchbacks) and dealer-accessory-type add-ons. Thankfully, even the base Yaris L comes fairly well-equipped—its standard features include a 7-inch multimedia touchscreen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and even a low-speed collision warning and mitigation system. The collision mitigation system is capable of automatically applying the brakes at speeds under 18 mph. LE and XLE add keyless entry with push-button start. The Yaris is a compelling entry in the subcompact market that offers competitive pricing, a nimble driving personality, pleasant interior trimmings, and a good level of standard features.