2012 Toyota Yaris SE 5 door

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This 2012 Toyota Yaris SE five-door is a hell of an improvement over the old Yaris, which I once called one of the worst cars on the market. The updated model has way better styling and the interior is much improved, with a good driving position, simple design and everything where one would expect it. I was a little disappointed with the materials inside, but this is what you get nowadays for less than $20,000. It's also a more refined driver, and the car is actually not a bad little commuter. My biggest beef is power, or the lack thereof. I spent most of my time foot to the floor, rowing the five-speed for all it's worth. And that was just to keep up with traffic. That said, I like the steering, and this car is a fun little thing for scooting around town. I'm also reasonably certain that it'd last forever, which would make it a nice first car for a young person. DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Seeing your name next to a Toyota Yaris on the car board is sort of like getting paired with the nerdy kid in gym class (at least I assume that's what it's like--I was the nerdy kid). I started looking for someone I could bribe, and I even considered concocting a tale about having to help a hapless neighbor move that evening, rendering the Yaris an unsuitable companion. In the end, I took the keys--after all, the goal is to broaden reviewers' horizons by driving everything, and I hadn't been in the refreshed Yaris. Surprisingly, I'm glad I did. I'd be willing to consider this car for a "most improved player" award--it's eons better than its dumpy, rounded predecessor, and it shows that despite recent high-profile stumbles, Toyota the Competitor is lurking in the shadows. The reworked Yaris is actually attractive in the small-car idiom, on par with the Kia Rio, the Hyundai Accent and the Chevrolet Sonic. As far as driving impressions go, the Yaris was powerful enough to get out of its own way, and the engine didn't mind zinging to the rev limiter, but the experience was in no way sporty. Handling, steering, brakes--all the same. It was decidedly competent, but the car didn't encourage the driver to push a little harder like an old Corolla GT-S might have. The interior was also about what you'd expect in this class, with one notable exception: The meaty, leather-wrapped steering wheel our SE arrived with felt lifted from a much sportier car, though it needed telescoping capabilities to match my frame properly. And Toyota, where's my armrest? I don't care how good the car is, if you don't give me somewhere to set my elbow, you're off the list. It's a painfully obvious example of decontenting and inexcusable in any vehicle. Tirades aside, the 2012 Toyota Yaris also makes financial sense, and price hasn't been Toyota's competitive edge lately. It's right there with the Rio, the Accent, the Fiat 500 and the Honda Fit with comparable levels of equipment. That won't necessarily cause converts to flock to Toyota showrooms, but it will give brand loyalists (and there are still a lot of 'em) a competitive car from their make of choice--something they haven't had in a while. 2012 Toyota Yaris SE 5-Door Base Price: $17,160 As-Tested Price: $17,340 Drivetrain: 1.5-liter I4; FWD, five-speed manual Output: 106 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 103 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm Curb Weight: 2,295 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 33/29.9 mpg Options: Carpeted floor mats and cargo mat ($180)