This Could Have Been A Hit: The 2008 Toyota Yaris Sedan

The 2008 Toyota Yaris surprised me--seriously, it did. This smartly-styled entry level Toyota had a surprising level of interior room and engine peppiness I didn't expect. The fuel economy in the Yaris is excellent; I averaged in the mid-30 mpg range in mixed driving. Nevertheless, it has serious shortcomings that can't be overlooked. These shortcomings prevent it from being a hit, making it a major disappointment.

When I sat in the 2008 Yaris, I was immediately surprised with the spacious interior. It was much larger than I expected it to be (especially trunk space, which is very good for a small car like the Yaris). Even passengers in the rear seat have good leg room--no small feat. The driver's seat was fine, too. There was good room up front, but here's where the trouble begins.

The placement of the gas pedal is simply terrible! It sits at a 90-degree angle which causes serious fatigue for your foot. It is not comfortable at all, and would make driving a long distance pure torture. Too bad, especially since the engine feels surprising lively. Even with the 4-speed automatic transmission, the 106 horsepower, 1.5 liter four-cylinder engine feels peppy; there is some lag between 40-60 mph, but it was still alright for such a small engine. At least this Yaris had cruise control--so you can give your extremely fatigued foot a much needed break.

Speaking of placement, I don't know why Toyota found it necessary to place the speedometer and other crucial instrumentation in the middle of the dashboard. It looks absolutely ridiculous. While I did adjust to it somewhat after a while, it never seemed right. The instrumentation was easy to read, though. The climate control knobs are big, but difficult to turn. The stereo is fairly simple to operate, but it sounds lousy. Bass seems practically non-existent. The quality of the interior materials seems to be adequate, however.

Another problem with the 2008 Toyota Yaris is its handling, which is also terrible. It feels unsettled; emergency maneuvers feel "darty" and unstable. It does not relay confidence to the driver at all. Braking feels acceptable, certainly aided by the anti-lock brakes. Regardless, the driving experience is marred by the poor driving dynamics of the car.

To sum it up, the 2008 Toyota Yaris could have been a hit. It has great fuel economy, nice interior room, and a peppy engine. However, its flaws far outweigh the positive aspects of the car--and that makes it a huge disappointment from Toyota.

What a shame.

The Car Exam Grade: C-

It Is What It Is Supposed to Be: The 2009 Toyota Corolla LE

The Toyota Corolla has been one of the best selling small cars in the United States for a very long time. It one of the most fuel efficient small cars on the market. While the Corolla used to be a cheap, no-frills basic transportation, it has evolved into a larger, nicely styled (it looks like a smaller version of the Camry), better appointed, and more economical mode of transportation. It doesn't have the crude feel that small cars of the past had; however, you still know that the Corolla is meant to be a reliable economy that does everything alright--not exceptionally, but alright.

My Driving experience in the 2009 Toyota Corolla LE was unexciting, to be frank (if you have read my review of the 2007-2008 Camry, or will read my next review of the 2008 Toyota Yaris, you will see a definite pattern here). Acceleration in the 132-hp, 1.8 liter four cylinder, 4-speed automatic transmission-equipped Corolla LE was fair; I reached 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 10.6 seconds. I expected a better time than that. However, I did average about 30-32 miles per gallon in mixed driving--and that was superb fuel economy.

Handling was fair and safe enough, but uninspiring. Steering was okay, but more feedback would have been nice. The brakes worked very well; stopping distances seemed to be short and crisp. Side curtain airbags, along with anti-lock brakes enhance the safety of the car. The Corolla LE was also equipped cruise control, a nice feature I like to use when I'm driving long distances.

The interior was generally good. The seats were decently supportive and fair comfortable; I had a good view of the road from the driver's seat. The ergonomics were also good. AM/FM CD stereo controls (as well as the climate control knobs are large and easy to use (there is an auxiliary jack for MP3 players and IPODs). The bi-level glove boxes are a very nice touch, adding extra storage for those who need it. The gauges are easy to read, but my only gripe is the LCD screen in the tachometer that has too many functions.

It's a clock, outside temperature gauge, and fuel economy computer. A separate temperature gauge and a separate clock is desperately needed, because attempting to use it while driving is needlessly annoying and a bit distracting. Interior plastics were decent, Trunk space is very good, and split-folding rear seats help increase cargo capacity.

The 2009 Toyota Corolla isn't the most exciting car to drive, but it is what it is supposed to be: a solid, reliable, economical car that gets the job done for people on a tight budget.

The Car Exam Grade: B

A Modern Interpretation of Affordable Family Luxury: The 2007-2008 Toyota Camry CE Four Cylinder

Being the driver that I am, I generally like to enjoy the total experience when I drive a car: the acceleration, the interior comfort, the handling, and even the security of solid braking. Enter the 2007-2008 Toyota Camry CE: a nicely styled, roomy, and modern interpretation of the American Family Sedan. Comfort-wise, it feels good, it is easy to drive, but it’s the driving experience that leaves you begging for more in terms of overall driving pleasure.

Okay, I know the Camry CE is not supposed to be a sports sedan; it is meant to be a reliable, affordable family car that can haul a family in reasonable comfort. It does that just fine. The seats (both front and rear) are very comfortable and supportive, and passenger room is very good (front and rear), and should accommodate four to five people in reasonable comfort. It makes a good car for long trips. Trunk room is very good, and split-folding rear seats provide even more hauling flexibility.

The controls are well laid out and easy to use, making it generally easy for the driver to make basic climate and radio adjustments at a quick glance (the AM/FM stereo CD player had a good sound quality—there is even an MP3 player jack and an auxiliary mode to accommodate audiophiles who may want to bring their portable music player. The a/c and heat work very well, also. The climate controls knobs are large and very easy to use.

The driving experience is unexciting, but then again, it's not meant to be. The 2.4 liter, 158 hp four-cylinder engines sprints quickly from a standstill and works well with the five-speed automatic transmission, but mid-range power between 40-60 mph is somewhat weak, and needs extra coaxing to achieve maximum acceleration. The more powerful V6 option would be a better choice for those who would sacrifice fuel economy for more power.

Speaking of fuel economy, it’s decent—as long as you don’t drive with a lead foot. I averaged 18-21 mpg in the city and 23-29 on the highway, depending on my driving habits. The Camry’s braking is good (this car is equipped with anti-lock brakes) and secure with a fair amount of nosedive; as far as handling goes, it does its job adequately, with a bit more body lean that I would like. The ride is soft and comfortable, but I would prefer the suspension to be firmer. The steering could provide a bit more feedback to the driver, as well. Safety-wise, anti-lock brakes and a full array of air bags (including side-curtain, as well as a driver’s knee air bag) are included to enhance the safety of the Camry.

Nevertheless, the Toyota Camry is not meant to be a sporty car—just an affordable, reliable, economical, good-looking family sedan to haul families around in reasonable comfort. The Camry accomplishes those tasks very well.

The Car Exam Grade: B

Written by P. Scott

Photos by P. Scott (Copyright 2008)

Review #2: "It Could Have Been So Much More: The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SE"

Quick Impressions:

When Dodge totally redesigned the Grand Caravan for the 2008 model year, I was expecting big things from it. After all, since Dodge created the mini-van segment in the early 1980's, one would think they would still be the leading innovator in this market. However, when I saw the first spy photos of it in the major car magazines, its ugly "refrigerator box" styling was not exactly encouraging to me; the class leading Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna both look great (my test van was dark blue--it would have looked worse in white--or in any other lighter color).

Now having spent a day driving the Grand Caravan SE, I can see that my concerns for it were more than just "skin deep." This version had a Flex Fuel, 3.3 liter V6 engine with 175 hp and 205 foot-pounds of torque. It felt quick from a standstill, but it was all downhill after that. My driving companion clocked its 0-60 mph time at a pathetically-slow 14.03 seconds, demonstrating that 175 horsepower is not nearly enough for a 4300 pound minivan (potential buyers should opt for Grand Caravans with the 3.8 liter, 197 hp engine or the 4.0 liter, 251 hp engine). It had a four-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode, but due to the placement of the the gear shifter on the dashboard I never felt comfortable when I tried to use it--it was just downright awkward.

What was even more awkward and disturbing was the Grand Caravan's tendency to "roll back" much too easily on hills when pulling off from a complete stop. Automatic transmissions tend to "lock" somewhat when on a hilly grade; however, twice when I began to pull off from a green traffic light on two separate hills, I had to hit the gas quickly and peel rubber to avoid rolling back on the vehicles behind me. That was quite unnerving, to say the least.

On the plus side, the Grand Caravan seemed to handle very securely. Its list of safety features includes four wheel anti-lock brakes (and they worked well, by the way), electronic stability control, and side curtain air bags. It also had cruise control, always a nice feature to have on long trips. Interior room was cavernous, and seating comfort was generally good and supportive. However, the second row seats lacked the innovative "stow 'n go" capability that should have been standard equipment (but the third row seats did have it). Removing the heavy 2nd row seat was a painful process (literally) that required two people to accomplish the task. In fact, the things this van is lacking is problematic and inexcusable.

For instance, why no tachometer? With the weak, coarse-sounding 3.3 liter v6 engine being overtaxed like it was, it definitely needed one. Secondly, I found the AM/FM CD stereo (which thankfully did have decent sound quality and an mp3 player jack) and climate control buttons and knobs to be far too small to look at at a quick glance and use effectively (although it did have dual-zone climate controls for the front seat passengers, and rear climate controls for back seat passengers--a very good thing).

I've seen dashboard layouts far better than this one in the Grand Caravan. I also expected the dash materials to be better than what it had, too; it looks good at a distance--but feels cheap and hard up close. Finally, I found the interior noise level to be a bit higher than I would have liked; it was a combination of both wind and road noise.

The Caravan's fuel economy in mixed driving (city and highway--much of it in the mountains) averaged about 19 miles per gallon. Non-mountain driving yielded a two to three-mile-per-gallon increase in fuel economy. Okay, considering gas prices have dropped below $2.40 a gallon recently, and may continue to fall in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, my day in the 2008 Dodge Caravan SE verified to me that the Chrysler Corporation missed a huge opportunity to create another benchmark vehicle. The Grand Caravan could have been a "Grand Slam," but instead--it merely turned out to be a bunt single.

Too Bad.

The Car Exam Grade: C+

Review and Photos by P.S. (11-11-2008)
Test Date: 11-09-2008

The First Review: The 2008 Subaru Legacy Sedan

My Quick Impressions:

I recently drove the 2008 Subaru Legacy Sedan. Besides having goodies like power windows and door locks, it had a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, moonroof, outside temperature gauge, and an AM/FM CD stereo with XM satellite radio. The powertrain was a 2.5-liter horizontally-opposed (or flat) four-cylinder with 175 hp and 169 foot pounds of torque, with a 4-speed automatic transmission (with manual shift mode). Safety-wise, it came with a full assortment of front and side airbags, as well as anti-lock brakes.

Acceleration from the 2.5 liter, horizontally-opposed 4 cylinder engine seemed merely adequate; even when I utilized the manual shift mode, it just seemed a bit underpowered--and I was craving for more. Perhaps an additional 10 to 15 more horses, or even something as simple as a fifth gear for the transmission would have provided swifter acceleration and better passing power. I found the driving experience in the Subaru to be decent during my 400-plus mile trip; the seats were generally comfortable with good support.

Passenger and trunk space were good, and the interior pieces seemed to be made of nice materials--they did not look cheap at all. The ergonomics of the interior were also very good. While the cabin was quiet for the most part, it could have used more sound insulation. The ride and handling was okay, but it was far too easy to feel bumps in the road--it seemed to "bottom out." The suspension could have been a bit softer sprung for more ride comfort. In short, I found that my driving experience in the Legacy was quite unremarkable--not sporty as I had hoped.

The styling of the Subaru Legacy is nice at all angles--except for the rear end of the car. The rear bumper styling is unattractive, ruining what could have been an overall terrific exterior design. Fuel economy was decent; in mixed driving, the Legacy's average MPG was in the low to mid-20's. Finally, I found myself wanting to like the Legacy a lot; nevertheless, its shortcomings left me wanting much more from it. However, the Legacy has good resale value and and a decent reputation for reliability, so shoppers should, at the very least, give it some consideration as a satisfactory new or used car choice.

The Car Exam Grade: B-

Written by P.S. (11/5/08)

Photos by P.S.

If you have any comments, feel free to respond. :)

The Car Exam - The Mission and Goals of this site

All-new, no-nonsense online reviews of road tests for cars 2008 and newer. Road tests of older models may be available in the future; information about vehicles in the used car market is an undoubtedly important tool for consumers today. This site is in its early stage, so check back periodically for new reviews. (the first review should be posted within a week--current as of 10-28-08). Hopefully, this site will be an important resource that will help consumers make solid choices when choosing a new or used car. Thanks for stopping by!