Another Look: 2015 Toyota Yaris

After making a great first impression, I had high hopes for the Absolutely Red 2015 Toyota Yaris SE subcompact. Was it really possible that the better-than-expected little car would still feel “better-than-expected” after a few days of driving in and around Chicago traffic?

How Was It?

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In a word: fun.

Toyota has taken a lot of heat for building boring, plain-Jane cars over the last few decades. Back in the 1980s and early 90s, though, Toyota had a different reputation. That was the Toyota that built the sporty Celica, the inexpensive and exotic mid-engined MR2, and- of course!- the all-conquering MK IV Supra. Fast forward to 2015, and Toyota is trying- hard!- to shed that image. It’s bringing back the Supra, it’s not afraid to get weird, and it’s also spreading some of that sporty love to the rest of the brand’s offerings … including the freshly updated 2015 Toyota Yaris SE.

Toyota’s desire to make its cars feel more engaging absolutely shows through in the 2015 Toyota Yaris. It’s not going to set the world on fire or terrorize big-bore Porsches on the Autobahn anytime soon (or, ever, really), but the Yaris SE and its think-rimmed steering wheel definitely encourage some spirited driving.

If you do it right and tick the “manual transmission” option box on your Toyota Yaris sales sheet, you might even have a shot at bringing home a local autocross trophy!

What Do I Expect Now?

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So far, the 2015 Toyota Yaris SE has passed every test I’ve thrown at it with flying colors. The latch system readily and eagerly hooks my Recaro baby seats into place. The small trunk has just enough room to carry the folding baby stroller plus a few shopping bags with reasonable amounts of room to spare. Heck, even loaded up with 3 adults and an apparent mountain of baby gear, the not-so-little-on-the-inside Yaris was perfectly capable of holding its own on Chicago’s highways.

Heck, look at that picture, up there! The 2015 Toyota Yaris is about the same size as the Mitsubishi iMiEV and Chevy Spark subcompacts I drove, but somehow manages to actually look like it has some curves! What I’m really expecting, I guess, is to really not want to give up the keys to the bright red little car come Monday.

Source: Gas2

First Date: 2015 Toyota Yaris

“Do you really want to send me another Lexus?” I asked Toyota’s fleet manager, upon hearing that my next vehicle would be the 2015 Lexus ES Hybrid. “You know I’m just going to say it’s overpriced, then I’m going to complain about the infotainment system, and then I’m going to tell people to buy a Toyota Avalon, instead. Who does that help?”

He laughed, of course. “Well, most people would love to drive around in a free Lexus for a few days,” he said (more or less — I’m paraphrasing, here). “But if you want to drive my Yaris, I’ll be more than happy to leave that with you, instead.”

A 2015 Toyota Yaris? A small, nimble, and honest little commuter with a small footprint, a low price tag, and a towering reputation for reliability and fuel economy? Yes, please! A few days later, a 2015 Toyota Yaris SE 5 door appeared wearing a set of 16 inch alloy wheels, a coat of “Absolutely Red” paint, and not a whole lot else.

As far as first dates go, this one seemed more than promising!

How We met + First Impressions

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As I mentioned, above, the Yaris drive happened more-or-less organically after I declined the opportunity to take out the Yaris’ more polished and expensive sibling. In person, the Yaris is a bit better looking than it is in pictures — which is surprising in the day of post-process editing. It’s not a squat and ultra-sporty snarler, like it seems to be in some articles. Nor is it a stripped-down soul-crushing beater, as you might expect. Instead, the 2015 Toyota Yaris SE is — well, kinda cute.

What I Learned

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Despite my lack of appreciation for most of the Yaris’ pricier stablemates, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the 2015 Toyota Yaris SE was fairly well-appointed. It lacked the huge screen and navigation system that inhabits the bigger Lexii and Toyotas, sure, but it also lacked their abominably stupid mouse/track pad thing, which is a huge win.

In place of Enform, the Yaris featured a functional, double-DIN audio unit that had no problem connecting to my iPhone 6 Plus and playing music, podcasts, and more. The interface was simple and intuitive, as were the HVAC and cruise controls. Heck — even the seats had lumbar support and side bolstering in all the right places!

Guys, I know it’s just the first date … but I’m really excited about this one!