The Yaris IA is based off a Mazda, more specifically a vehicle that is known as the Mazda 2 in other parts of the world. The Yaris IA feels just like a Mazda, which is why it is my favorite car in the subcompact segment. Immediately you notice that this isn’t your usual chintzy Hyundai Accent or Nissan Versa. It doesn’t have sloppy handling or sluggish acceleration like all the other entries, and it still has a competitive starting price and MPG figures that rival all the other entires. Below are some of my driving impressions.
Immediately you notice that this car just feels like a smaller Mazda 3. The steering is pretty direct, the throttle response is quick and sharp, the brakes inspire confidence, the transmission is really smooth and has that “read your mind” feel, and it zips around corners really well. Even the ride quality is so much better compared to the other entries. When you feel like driving at a more relaxed pace, the ride is very accommodating and just kind of glides down the road. It keeps a constant speed well and it’s just a really easy car to drive.
First of all, I really enjoy the throttle response in this car. Just like in the Mazda 3, the accelerator feels directly connected to the engine. It’s not overly touchy and responsive, but not dead and mushy either. The response is just right. No dead travel or unpredictable feedback, you simply just tap the accelerator and the iA moves. The engine is pretty typical of a subcompact car, though. With only 106 horsepower and 103 lb. ft. of torque, it certainly won’t win any drag races. However, with the more response Mazda-sourced 6-speed automatic, this engine definitely feels more eager to get up and go compared cars like the Versa or the regular Toyota Yaris hatchback. I also personally like the feel of Mazda engines. This particular engine has a smooth, linear power band, and it has decent torque even in the low RPM range. It likes to be revved out, and it’s fairly quiet and refined. Something that the 1.6 in the Versa or the 1.8 in the Accent is definitely lacking.
As I mentioned above, the 6-speed automatic really listens to what you want it to do. It’s smooth shifting, but that isn’t totally the reason why I like this transmission. I enjoy it because it is so quick to shove you into that passing gear whenever the car senses that you need it. It’s not resistant or hesitant like so many modern cars. You just dip your foot into the throttle a little, and you get a lightning quick downshift with the perfect amount of passing power. It just feels so eager and perfectly tuned in with your foot, and the transmission really holds those lower passing gears for as long as you need them. Under normal acceleration, the transmission shifts through its gear set with nice streamlined precision, and it always seems to upshift at the perfect time. The transmission keeps the engine in the heart of its power band, which helps that puny 1.5 liter engine feel faster than it looks on paper. The powertrain and the response out of this car feels very similar to the Mazda 3.
I was actually surprised at how easy it was to pass on the interstate in this car. Most cars in this class feel like they’re gasping for air at higher speeds, but the Yaris IA has the passing power of a vehicle a few classes above. The Yaris IA obviously doesn’t encourage you to speed excessively and weave in and out of traffic, but for this class of car it was extremely easy to just dip into the throttle and get around those slower moving cars. The Versa, Yaris Hatch, Accent and the Rio do not pass nearly as effortlessly on the interstate as the IA does. It really just drives like a regular Mazda 3 in subcompact form.
Well, maybe that is a slight overstatement. While the road manners in this car are very controlled for the class it competes in, there are times when you can tell you’re still in a cheaper subcompact car. The wind definitely buffets this thing around on the interstate a little bit more than your average compact or midsize sedan, and the wind and road noise are very loud and prevalent. The suspension feel and the handling don’t always feel the highest in quality either, especially when maneuvering the vehicle at higher speeds. While the Yaris IA rides better, handles better, and overall feels quicker and more composed compared to many of the other entires in the class, it’s not perfect. Nothing in this class of vehicle is perfect, so minor hiccups in the drive are to be expected every now and then.
All that said, when you’re just driving along during your usual errand runs, the Yaris iA just glides down the road with a certain kind of solidity that is rare for the class. The steering points straight, and feels really well matched to the front tires. It’s not rubbery and vague like the Versa or the regular Yaris; the iA feels just like a Mazda 3. I don’t think the steering in this car is anything to write home about necessarily, it is pretty light and numb. That said, the initial turn in responds decently fast, the steering points where you want it to go, and it just feels easy to pitch the car in turns or plant it wherever you want it on the road. Some of the other entires definitely feel more raw and connected (maybe even somewhat “old school”) in their steering feel compared to this car, but the iA’s steering feels more accurate, precise, and elegant compared to those other entires.
The Yaris IA isn’t a sports car, but this car handles the corners with refinement and solidity. If you see a bend in the road up ahead, you just have more confidence to toss it around the corner, knowing that you’ll come out of it just fine. The chassis just feels really predictable around turns, and for the class it feels fairly zippy and rigid. It’s not so much the handling capabilities that I like, it’s more the way it feels nicely refined throughout the duration of the corner, and the chassis doesn’t give you any surprises.
I also love the braking feel. The brake pedal just has the perfect balance between stiffness and looseness, and the response is immediate at the top of the pedal. They respond quickly, but it’s not touchy or too responsive. It’s really easy to manage your stopping power, and the brakes just feel super refined and confidence inspiring, even for a regular midsize car.
Is the Yaris iA a Mazda 3 in subcompact form? Not quite. I think the Mazda 3 definitely has a more substantial chassis compared to the iA. The road noise is quieter in the Mazda 3 as well, and the ride and suspension are more refined and less prone to crashing over bumps. The iA just feels a little rickety at times, but for the most part it feels every bit like a Mazda product. The throttle and braking response are both really good, the 6-speed automatic is excellent just like it was in the Mazda 3, and the steering, while feeling a little light and numb, is fairly quick and playful. I believe that the Yaris IA is the best choice in the subcompact class hands down. If you’re looking for something that feels pretty fun to drive, something that doesn’t mind a little bit of speed every now and then, and something that feels fairly luxurious all in a cheap fuel efficient package, the Yaris iA makes a resounding case for itself.