All Yaris grades now come with a number of standard safety features, including anti-lock brake system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags. New exterior colors for the 2009 Yaris include Zephyr Blue, Blue Streak, Yellow Jolt and Carmine Red.
Estimated EPA fuel economy ratings are 29mpg (8.11L/100km) in the city and 35mpg (6.7L/100km) on the highway for automatic models. Fuel economy for manual models are rated at 29mpg (8.1L/100km) in the city and 36mpg (6.5L/100km) on the highway.
Original: Small cars are hot commodities in the increasingly price and efficiency-sensitive U.S. market, and Toyota is gearing up to take advantage of the shift. The five-door Yaris hatchback is already on sale in several other markets around the world, including Canada, but to date only the 3-door hatch and four-door sedan have seen U.S. sales.
Toyota is bringing the slightly bigger Yaris hatch to the U.S. to help broaden appeal of the affordable and efficient (34mpg city, 40mpg highway) range. The company has confirmed that the five-door Yaris will go on sale next month with pricing expected to be revealed closer to launch. For the 2009 calendar year, Toyota is projecting 130,000 Yaris sales, with the five-door accounting for about a third, reports Automotive News.
The company's sales have been falling off last year's pace over the past several months, but it is in a unique position to leverage its overseas products to bring quick and affordable solutions to the U.S., unlike most of its American counterparts.
"As the pendulum swings towards smaller, higher-mileage vehicles, we're well-poised to offer the right products at the right time," said TMS President Jim Lentz.
June sales at Toyota Division were down just over 10% compared to the same month last year. May sales were also down, although the company's Corolla and Camry moved into the top three in sales during that month.
Reader Comments
Tue Jul 1 2008 1:49 PM
Stewie says
Wonder if this will step on Scion's toes. I am sure that it will be smaller than the Matrix.
Tue Jul 1 2008 2:14 PM
chris says
yeah its a subcompact... which basically means you can fit 4 people fairly comfortably in a compact... and then you have a "sub-compact"... this.
when i saw the article... i was in disbelief. im glad the article mentions it....... i dont understand WHY so many models are offered in canada that arent offered in the USA... if they're coming here... why not bring em there? the easiest international boarder for anything to cross... and companies restrict themselves like that.
Tue Jul 22 2008 8:20 PM
NoNameDenton says
Jeez, the nose on this thing is ugly
Tue Jul 22 2008 8:23 PM
amac says
Traditionally, Americans have never been fond of 5-door hatchbacks for some reason. Maybe that's changing...
Tue Jul 22 2008 8:43 PM
NoNameDenton says
Explains why Ford is brining the 5 door Fiesta here with the sedan.
Tue Jul 22 2008 9:34 PM
Ayax says
So you say that nose is ugly? I see it as having potential..
Here where I live, the've stuck 4AGTE in em making 250hp, and when fixed up its a looker.. as looker as a nice compact might look obviously.
Tue Jul 22 2008 9:39 PM
NoNameDenton says
I dunno, I personally just do not like it, same goes with the Aveo, I prefer the kinetic design on the Fiesta.
Tue Jul 22 2008 10:07 PM
Ayax says
Granted the fiesta looks "meaner" than this.. I really do think that its targeting 2 diff tastes.. each car is on its own trend..
Wed Jul 23 2008 4:48 AM
NoNameDenton says
That is why I said I personally, not everyone has to agree with me, which explains why I have seen many of the 3 door versions running around.
Tue Aug 5 2008 8:14 PM
Timppa says
This car is awesome. Plenty of head room for a tall guy like me, good fuel economy etc etc. If it only had better leg space around the pedals - then it would be perfect.
It's a winner here in Europe, and probably in the States too as soon as you guys have to pay 9 bucks a gallon like we do here. :)
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