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The Toyota Yaris was launched in the market as the replacement model for the Toyota Echo nameplate. Toyota Motors Company designed Yaris in such a manner, so that people enjoy driving it. This year, Yaris combines excellent contemporary exterior styling and an upscale interior cabin. To add to this is its impressive fuel efficiency and overall low cost of ownership. It has everything, style quality, reliability and powerful driving features.

Body Styles

For 2008, the Yaris line-up is available in two body styles- Liftback and Sedan. The models are styled at Toyota's European design studio, ED? and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Design Division. Both the models have excellent contemporary exterior styling and an upscale interior with truly impressive fuel efficiency. The Liftback comes in six colors and the Sedan is offered in nine colors. Only two colors, Polar White and Black Sand Pearl, are shared by both body styles.

Exterior Body

The Liftback models feature color-keyed front and rear under-bumper spoilers, amber illuminated tachometer, sports seat fabric, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, rear window defroster and rear window wiper. The distinctive rear styling features large taillights and a wide liftgate for easy cargo access. Even though the Sedan resembles the Liftback to some extent, yet it has its own distinctive styling. It can be noticed from the front side “T” shaped grille that is framed by sharp character lines integrated into the aerodynamic hood and windshield. In the rear, the tail lamps frame a wide trunk opening. The Yaris Sedan with a 100.4- inch wheelbase is a bit longer as compared to the 96.9 inches wheelbase for the Liftback. The Yaris Sedan comes with an overall length of 169.3 inches, while that for the Liftback is 150.6 inches.

Power Under The Hood

Both the body styles- Liftback and Sedan share the same engine- 1,496 cc 1.5 liters in-line 4 front engine with 74.9 mm bore, 84.6 mm stroke, 10.5 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder 1SZ-FE. The Yaris in all versions offers superb fuel economy. It gives a fuel economy of 29-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. The engine is equipped with 5-speed manual overdrive transmission. This transmission is standard on all models. A 4-speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive (ECT) transmission is also available but as an optional package. Moreover it also has a standard 4-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) that makes the engine even better.

Smooth Driving

The automatic transmission features uphill/downhill shift logic to reduce gear "hunting". This ensures a smooth performance while driving in hilly areas as well as plain land. The fuel efficiency of the Yaris models is among the best in the subcompact segment. The L-arm MacPherson strut front suspension has a 0.9-inch stabilizer bar. A hydroformed torsion beam axle is there in the rear suspension. It provides anti-roll stabilization, so that there is no need for a separate anti-roll bar. The suspension and steering, play important roles for responsive handling and excellent maneuverability, along with a remarkably small 32.6-ft. turning radius. All models have a number of handling and control technologies.