Over the years, the humbly priced subcompact car has evolved in the best way possible, and today's models deliver much more than just basic transportation. Quite a few choices in this entry-level class offer features that were formerly reserved for cars that are larger and more expensive. In many ways, the 2015 Toyota Yaris hatchback holds its own with the current crop of overachieving subcompacts – but also trails them on certain significant fronts. The boasts many appealing attributes. It's a nimble and agreeable companion around town, and its competent suspension helps the car cruise around turns with impressive stability. Overall, this is a pleasant and easy car to drive. This interior is spacious, with rear seats that are comfortable even for adults.

1. 2015 Camry Navigation System

And the cabin boasts solid design and materials quality. Feature content is generous, and amenities like a touchscreen interface, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and USB/iPod integration are standard on all models along with more basic items like air-conditioning, power locks and mirrors, and a height-adjustable driver seat. In other ways, though, competition has left the Yaris in the dust. Its outdated four-speed automatic transmission is a step down from the six-speed or continuously variable automatics available on competing models, and leaves the Yaris feeling slow-witted during passing maneuvers. Also, other key models boast a more composed ride quality, more comfortable seats, sharper handling or greater cargo capacity. The subcompact segment is packed with compelling picks designed to appeal to every stripe of small-car shopper.

Buyers seeking outstanding versatility should take a look at the redesigned, whose unique rear-seat design allows for unmatched passenger and cargo space. Those who prioritize performance should consider the. It's arguably the most fun-to-drive car in the segment, while also having one of the most attractive cabins.

Drivers looking for well-rounded alternatives will want to check out the and, as they offer a choice of body styles (sedan and hatchback), spacious interiors, stylish good looks and more horsepower than the Yaris. Shoppers on the tightest budgets should investigate the Nissan Versa sedan, since it's the least expensive new car on the market. While the 2015 Toyota Yaris is certainly not a segment leader, its generous standard feature content, reasonable price and Toyota's sterling reliability reputation make the Yaris value-rich choice for those after basic transport.

Plus, its improvements for 2015 make it more fashionable, better to drive and pleasant to be in. Still, any of those above competitors may go above and beyond to suit you better.

The 2015 Toyota Yaris is a subcompact economy car available as either a two- or four-door hatchback. The L and LE trims are offered in both these configurations, while the sporty SE trim is offered only as a four-door. Standard features on the L include 15-inch steel wheels, power door locks and windows, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-only steering wheel, a trip computer, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and a six-speaker sound system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen, a CD player, HD radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB/iPod interface. The LE adds or substitutes 15-inch alloys, power side mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control, metallic interior accents, chrome interior door handles and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. Those who opt for the SE trim get 16-inch alloy wheels, projector-beam headlights, LED running lights, foglamps, special exterior styling elements, a rear spoiler (available as an option on L and LE trims), a sport-tuned suspension, sportier tires, four-wheel disc brakes, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter, and upgraded cloth upholstery. A navigation system is available on all Yaris models as a dealer-installed option.

The front-wheel-drive 2015 Toyota Yaris is powered by a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 106 hp and 103 pound-feet of torque. Two transmissions are available: a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. The manual is standard on the two-door L and the four-door SE, while the four-speed automatic is optional on these models. The four-speed automatic is the only transmission you can get on the four-door L hatchback and all LE models. In Edmunds testing, a four-door Yaris with the five-speed manual went from zero to 60 mph in 9. 5 seconds, while an automatic-equipped four-door took 10.7 seconds. Both times are decent times for the class, but certain rivals like the Honda Fit or Hyundai Accent are quicker.

2015 Camry Navigation System

For the manual-equipped Yaris are (30 city/37 highway). With the automatic, these numbers dip to (30 city/36 highway). These numbers are solid, but not class-leading. Standard safety features include antilock brakes (rear drums for all models except the SE, which gets four-wheel discs), traction and stability control, active front head restraints, front seat side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, front seat cushion airbags and a driver knee airbag. In Edmunds brake testing, a four-door Yaris LE with rear drum brakes stopped from 60 mph in 126, which is a bit longer than average for this segment.

A four-door Yaris with the optional rear disc brakes was about average and stopped from 60 mph in 123 feet. In government crash testing, the Yaris four-door hatchback received for overall crash protection, with four stars for frontal-impact protection and five stars for side-impact protection.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Yaris hatchback its in its moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact, roof strength and head restraint (whiplash protection) tests. In that agency's small-overlap frontal offset test, the Yaris scored a second-lowest (out of four) 'Marginal' rating. Given the expectations that most people have for this class of car, the 106 hp provided by the 2015 Toyota Yaris will probably be sufficient. There's enough gumption to deal with the cut-and-thrust of suburban traffic flow and the Yaris has no problem holding common freeway speeds, though getting up to those speeds can take some patience. Its main competitors are usefully more muscular. Not helping things is the four-speed automatic, which is a relic given the six-speed automatics or continuously variable transmissions in newer competitors that make better use of the power available from their small-displacement engines.

If you don't mind dealing with a manual transmission, it's the better bet on the Yaris from the standpoint of both acceleration and fuel economy. The Yaris is steady around turns and has a reasonably smooth ride. The SE model's quicker steering calibration and upgraded brakes and suspension add a sportier bent to the 2015 Yaris' economy-oriented mission, but we wouldn't go so far as to actually call it sporty.

The Yaris' interior couldn't be simpler or easier to use. There are just a couple of gauges to read, and the large speedometer is mounted directly in front of the driver.

Those worried about a subcompact car affording a low view of the road will find the high-mounted front seats help provide good sight lines. However, the lack of a telescoping steering wheel and firmly padded seats can make long journeys uncomfortable for some folks. In back, there's a refreshing amount of rear-seat legroom, but the sloping headliner restricts rear headroom a bit. Two average size adults will fit in the back seat just fine. Materials within the 2015 Toyota Yaris are an improvement from the previous generation, but there is still a lot of hard plastics and top rivals feel more refined.

The car comes standard with all the basic tech features you're likely to want, including a user-friendly touchscreen interface, Bluetooth with streaming audio capability and a USB input - amenities you'll often have to pay extra for in this price range. The four-door Yaris has 15.6 cubic feet of cargo space (15.3 in the two-door) behind its rear seat. You'll find more room for your carry-ons in Chevrolet's Sonic (19 cubic feet) and the Hyundai Accent (21.2 cubic feet). The split-folding rear seat helps make the most of the available space, but even then, the Yaris still trails most competitors – especially the ultra-practical Honda Fit.

Edmunds expert review process This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors. We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

This week we’re driving the 2015 Toyota Yaris hatchback, a low priced sub-compact that comes in either L, LE or SE dress. Be it a two-door or four-door, the most noticeable change for ’15 is an all-new front treatment featuring a large “twin-grille” up front coupled with an enhanced tail design with re-shaped taillights and bumper. The end result is an aesthetically appealing little hatchback that fits in wherever one might go.

Along with an excellent Consumer Reports reliability rating, Yaris competes with some stiff competition, amongst them Ford Fiesta, Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Chevy Spark, Mazda2 and Kia Rio (to name a few). Not counting a few suspension upgrades, Yaris for 2015 is identical mechanically to the 2014 model. Power comes from Toyota’s trusty 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. This engine has been around powering the Yaris since 2008, which is both good and bad depending how you judge a vehicle’s mechanical evolution.

Our tester came in upper SE trim with the five-speed manual which I recommend over the dated four-speed automatic. Most competitors offer more advanced automatics from CVT to six-speed.

Still, Toyota sticks with the four-speed automatic which indeed delivers decent 30 city and 37 highway MPG numbers yet won’t perform as “nice” as a multi-speed automatic. Granted, Yaris delivers fine MPG numbers, but most competitors offer better fuel economy which makes Toyota’s out-of-date automatic a potential “deal breaker” to consumers who demand the most.

Pricing, however, is excellent. The entry two-door L hatchback with a manual transmission costs only $14,845, or $15,945 for the four door. The automatics are about $800 more. Yaris LE two-door starts at $16,505 while LE four-doors start at $16,880. Our tester’s base is $16,820, while an automatic SE will base at $17,620. If you can get by with a two-door and a manual tranny, Test Drive recommends the base L at $14,845 as a Yaris best buy. On the safety end, Yaris is strong and sturdy.

Toyota’s noted Star Safety System features a cocoon like nine airbag occupant safety setup and then adds brake assist, traction control, disc/drum ABS brakes, air, and even Smart Stop technology. What’s noticeably missing is a rear safety camera, something this scribe has gotten used to the last few years and I’m sad to report this feature is not available on any Yaris. If you want one, it’s time to consider a compact Toyota Corolla for $19,990 where it comes standard. (Corolla’s automatic is a seven-speed for $22,240). The aforementioned 1.5-liter four-cylinder delivers 106 horses and 103 lb. These may not be big numbers compared to other cars on the road, yet when coupled to a lightweight sub-compact and the manual transmission, our Yaris proved both peppy under acceleration and fun to drive. Our SE is the sporty Yaris, featuring special 16-inch machined alloy chrome black wheels and sport tuned suspension.

Available only as a four-door, SE receives special treatment like LED/projector headlights, rear-defogger, four-wheel ABS disc brakes, upgraded cloth seating and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The interior is similar to last year, which means it’s all business. New is a padded area instead of plastic, and other areas features more sound deadening applications. If you happen to be the passenger that sits in the backseat, you’ll be surprised by both the legroom and headroom, as even six-foot tall passengers will have no problems. The drawback to more rear legroom is less cargo space, where Yaris trails competitors in cubic feet available.

The Yaris sound system receives a thumbs up, as occupants will enjoy Toyota’s six-speaker Entune stereo with a 5.1-inch audio interface. I like the radio turn dials that help find stations “the old way” versus 100-percent touch systems which all prove cumbersome and take the driver’s eyes off the road. Included is CD, HD radio, USB, iPod and Bluetooth with voice recognition. Our model did not have Sirius/XM, but the radio is “Satellite ready.” Our model also came with an $899 Navigation system which is unnecessary. Important numbers include a wheelbase of 98.8-inches, 2,315 lb.

Curb weight, 36.1 ft. Turn radius, 11.1 gallon fuel cell and 15.3 cu. Of cargo space.

Overall, and although Yaris is Toyota’s entry model, it’s time to update the mechanicals and add the rear backup camera for safety’s sake. 2015 Toyota Yaris Entry Price: $14,845 Price as tested: $18,824 Likes: New looks Good fuel mileage Reliability Dislikes: Dated drivetrain Expensive options Heated seats not available ( Greg Zyla writes weekly for BestRide.com and other GateHouse Media publications.).