Expectations can be a funny thing.  You either set the bar high and reality throws you a sucker-punch, or you leave little to the imagination and anything knocks your socks off.  It’s rare that something surpasses the high water mark set by expectations, but that’s what happened to me when I had the opportunity to test the Yaris, Toyota’s answer to rising gas prices.

A car that might be more at home on the packed roads of Japan or in the busy cities of Europe alongside the Smart Fortwo, Yaris seems like an anomaly in the U.S.—the land of large SUVs and even larger pickups, but that’s a stereotype this car shatters the minute you get your first glimpse at it.  No, Yaris’ design isn’t going to set the world on fire, but at the same time it isn’t as staid as what many Americans have settled for in the entry econo box segment, which is filled with such yawns as the Chevy Aveo. 

To say the Yaris is a breath of fresh air would be an understatement. The two-door hatchback is the cutest of the family (there’s a five-door, too), with its modern, yet fun demeanor.  The bulbous exterior is welcoming and not overly garish, while the interior is simple and thoughtful at the same time, thanks to its myriad of cubby holes and storage bins—it’s almost as if this car was designed with pack rats in mind. While the center-mounted gauge cluster takes a little getting used to, it’s quirky, like the car itself.  One clever interior feature is the design of heating and ventilation controls, which are stacked in a neat singular column below the radio, which is a standard Toyota setup.

Power is provided via a 106-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, which was mated to the optional 4-speed automatic transmission.  While the tuning of the transmission left little to be desired in off-the-line performance, who in their right mind would expect this car to go like the wind?  Remember reality?  While 106 horses may not seem worth shouting about, there’s more than enough gusto here to keep up with interstate traffic and pass those slow moving semis.  Although you must be warned that slamming the throttle in passing situations will do a job on your ears, as the 4-cylinder sounds like it’s grinding coffee.  Again, would you expect the quietness of a Lexus for a mere $11,850 base price?  Reality is calling again! 

VERDICT:  A car worth more than it’s eocno box stigma.