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Good Grades: Light, quick acceleration at low speeds from the 1.5-liter, 106 hp 4-cylinder engine, decent climate controls, bi-level glove boxes, easy to park, excellent fuel economy.
Bad Grades: Annoying center-mounted speedometer and gauge cluster—who in the world thought that was a good idea? Uncomfortable driving position (especially the steep angle of the gas pedal)—this is not a good road trip car—the fatigue sets in quickly. Also: loud engine (especially at highway speeds), cheap, low quality interior plastics, cumbersome rear hatch operation, seat belt placement on the back seats are annoying; folding the seat backs down can be a chore. The Yaris three-door is too small when it comes to carrying larger cargo, or something like a bicycle.
Final Grade: I had the opportunity to drive several of these recently, and my impressions were the same for both. The Toyota Yaris three-door is okay for around town, light errand-running or maneuvering through traffic jams on the highway. But if you need more out of a car–and most people do–you may want to look elsewhere.
The Car Exam Grade: C
Base MSRP: $12,605
The Car Exam 