New hatchback Toyota Yaris E 2016, 2017

The New subcompact hatchback Toyota Yaris E 2016, 2017 is the company's lowest-priced car sold in the U.S. It's smaller than the Corolla compact and Camry mid-size sedans, both of which greatly outsell it. And it's a different take on a small car than the Prius C subcompact hatchback that may sit next to it on dealership floors. It's the traditional small car, including a few unfortunate echoes of the bad old "econobox" days. Back in the 1990s, a small engine, a low sticker price, and great maneuverability were together enough to appease budget-strapped commuters. But these days, the Yaris has tough competitors. Its underpowered engine and archaic drivetrain are noisy, the Yaris is slow, and its fuel economy isn't that good. Overall, aside from Toyota reliability, the French-built Yaris has very little that causes it to stand out above other subcompacts in this increasingly competitive market segment. The Yaris design, now in its fourth year, is tall yet nicely proportioned from the side, and comes in either three- or five-door versions. Last year it got new hood sculpting, a swooping line of brightwork around a large Toyota emblem, and a larger trapezoidal grille with new black mesh design texturing. The result is a bold, even startling, front end on an otherwise straightforward hatchback shape. Inside, the practical and intuitive layout includes lots of storage areas, and the instruments are located in front of the driver, unlike previous Yaris generations. The dash has horizontal, shelf-like lines and the controls are simple, cheerful, and easy to understand.