By Derek Mau

Pros

• Passengers get their own door and ample leg room
• Versatile split rear folding seats
• Spirited cornering
• Excellent value

Cons

• Engine is tuned for economy, not performance
• Thin sheetmetal designed to save weight

The Toyota 5-door Yaris looks and feels about right as the utility vehicle for the new economy. It is cheap, roomy, economical and versatile. And it accomplishes all of this with a bit of style and flare. Its EPA numbers of 29 City/35 Highway is not quite at the level of the tiny Smart Fortwo’s mpg of 33/41. But we believe the Yaris is a better car in every respect and it is the smarter choice.

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Uh-oh, another recall, and this is a big one.

Toyota, largest automaker in the world has to recall one of its most popular models, the Yaris. As a matter of fact, they are recalling 1.3 million of the little buggers, so this is a pretty big deal (BTW, just what IS the plural of Yaris? Is it Yarii? Or is it both singular and plural, like moose?). A lot of people find the Yaris an unattractive ride, but a lot of people, especially women, we’ve noticed, are really taken by its cuteness and proportions. It’s also inexpensive, well laid out on the inside gets great mileage and has been a big hit for the company. So if you own a Yaris, read on.

On Wednesday Toyota said the recall involves 134,900 of them residing in the United States. The recall is due to a seatbelt defect. In extreme front-crash situations, the defective seatbelt unit could cause a foam pad to ignite. However, no cases of fire have been reported to Toyota or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall includes 2006 and 2007 model year Yaris vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall next week via a letter from Toyota.

Well, we guess the good news is that” … no cases of fire have been reported … “, but still, if you own a Yaris, and you don’t hear from Toyota, call up your dealer.

Safety first kids, safety first.

Source: LeftLaneNews

By Kurt Gensheimer

Whether or not you’ve grown up as a car buff, unless you’re a troglodyte who still walks barefoot from point A to point B, you’re probably familiar with who “The Big 3″ automakers comprise. And if you’ve watched any of the executive groveling before our esteemed panel of D.C. dunderheads we call our “leaders”, then you’re absolutely familiar with The Big 3. However in the aftermath of Toyota’s recent ascension past GM to become the number #1 selling automotive brand in the world - in addition to its involvement in NASCAR and multiple American manufacturing plants - the old Big 3 moniker may need revision to include Toyota.

And who would be “The Other 2″? Honda and Nissan seem to fit the role quite well, with similarly expanding market share and multiple U.S.-based factories. Yes, it seems that when people nowadays refer to “The Big 3″, there needs to be some level of clarification - New School or Old School?

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Interesting. Yaris was derived from two words. The first part is from the German expression yes, “ja” and the second part from the Greek goddess, Charis (representing beauty and elegance). I’m not quite convinced the Yaris represents anything near beauty and elegance, but it definitely represents the new generation of economy vehicles with excellent fuel economy numbers and respectable quality. Read my review of the new Yaris or get a woman’s perspective by reading Natasha’s review.

More photos of the Yaris in the photo gallery.

It was Toyota week for us at CarREVIEW.com. I spent some quality time driving and evaluating the 2007 models that are gas misers. A special thank-you goes out to Goeff and his team at Stevens Creek Toyota for trusting me with the keys to any car I chose on the lot. The people at Stevens Creek Toyota were very helpful with finding the right vehicle and getting the cars cleaned up for the photos.

Reviews soon to be published are the Camry Hybrid, Corolla and Yaris. Click on the photos to access the reviews.