2007 Toyota Yaris

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The steering is just about quick enough to make the Yaris feel nimble, while also offering reasonable weight and decent feedback, all of which allows you to throw the Yaris around with unexpected vigor and confidence. When it does run out of grip, it happens very progressively and is easily corrected with a lift of the gas pedal and because you're constantly thrashing it to within an inch of its life, the Yaris driving experience is surprisingly exhilarating and amusing. Yeah, the brakes did start to show signs of fade after a while, and yes, the gearchange is a little rubbery, but compared to the dynamics of its rivals, the Yaris is almost like a pint-sized Porsche.

Which leaves only the yet-to-be-released price to discuss. I reckon the base hatch will be priced at around $12,000, which buys you a manual gearbox, air conditioning, 14-inch steel wheels, power steering and little else. Most buyers will spend a couple of hundred bucks more on the Convenience Package, which includes 15-inch steel wheels, a rear wiper and defroster and a CD stereo with an MP3 input jack, and an extra grand or so on the Power Package which offers power windows, locks and mirrors, ABS and those clever rear seats. Sadly, a tachometer, cruise control, a tilt-adjustable driver's seat and an engine immobilizer are not offered on the hatchback. The sedan's Convenience Package offers a split rear seat instead of a rear wiper and the Power Pack throws in cruise control as well as a tachometer on automatic models. Side and curtain airbags, alloy wheels, spoilers and fog lamps are stand-alone options on both models and there's also a Sedan S model, which has the Convenience Package, alloys and a body kit as standard.

Toyota has had to de-content the Yaris to make it price-competitive with other subcompacts but because the car is expensively engineered to compete in Europe, they've had to strip it to the bare bones to get there. Still, that's the way I'd rather have it. The Yaris might be sparse but it's robust, cute looking and surprisingly pleasant to drive, while also being utterly painless to own. In fact, I think Toyota should bring more of its European products here because despite being the most utilitarian car in Toyota 's lineup, the Yaris is more charming and fun than just about any other car they make.

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2007 Toyota Yaris

Base price: $12,000 (est.)

Engine: 1.5-liter in-line four, 106 hp/103 lb-ft of torque

Transmission: Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

Length: 150.0 in (hatch) 169.3 in (sedan)

Width: 66.7 in (hatch) 66.5 in (sedan)

Height: 60.0 in (hatch) 56.7 in (sedan)

Wheelbase: 96.9 in (hatch) 100.4 in (sedan)

Curb weight: 2,293 lb (manual)

Fuel economy: 34/40 (city/highway EPA, manual), 34/39 (automatic)

Standard safety equipment: Dual front airbags

Major standard equipment: Power steering, air conditioning

Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles

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