2009 Toyota Yaris S

The 2009 Toyota Yaris S sedan has an MSRP of just over $15,000 and offers plenty for that price. The Yaris S does not sacrifice any efficiency (its 1.5-liter I4 engine gets 29 city/36 highway mpg when paired with the five-speed manual transmission), but does get some nice amenities. The exterior features color-keyed front and rear under-bumper spoilers, side rocker panels, and rear spoiler; integrated front foglamps; and 15-inch steel wheels with P185/60R15 tires and full wheel covers. Interior additions include an amber-illuminated Optitron speedometer, tachometer, odometer, twin tripmeters, and fuel level gauge; an AM/FM/CD stereo with MP3/WMA playback capability, auxiliary input jack, iPod interface, and CD text display; a heavy-duty rear window defroster; a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; and front seats with unique sport fabric. The track (the distance from the center of one tire to the opposite tire) is also shorter on the S trim than the Base sedan, allowing the S to make sharper turns.

By Tim O'Sullivan