Man, they really made some vast improvements to the Echo/Yaris/Vitz. . .

I hope most of these changes make it over to the next generation Scions. . .

namely the longer wheelbase (for improved ride), recessed headrests, fold down rear armrest, interior design, and a few other things I'm forgetting.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...leId=108501#27

 

They both look sweet. The sedan is like a mini Mazda 3 mixed with some Camry. The hatch looks pretty good, slightly more "cute" than the xA, but it definitely looks cheaper. With everything being optional though, a fully loaded from the factory Scion still adds up to a better deal.

I still can't wait to see the U.S. production Honda Fit.

Final verdict on the Yaris... I'd rock one.

-THE DON

 

What's up with the xA being refered to as a "big headed toddler"?

 

That is a hot looking little car. The dash looks futuristic. Much better looking than the xA. I think it will be a really hot seller.

 

Personally I think the xA would have sold equally as well as the xB had they brought the 3dr instead of the five. So I'm glad to see the yaris 3dr make it stateside. Im sure it and the sedan will be very successful.

 

What's with the grills? The look like their noses are stuffed up or something? The rest of the car looks good though.

 

I think its part of that new toyota "look" thats starting this year check the new camry

 

honda sux toyoata rules the market

 

The Yaris looks pretty goofy (interior is nice for an econo-car however), but the new Camry looks pretty f'in sweet. I wonder what the 2-door will look like.

 

I don't believe there ever was a 2 door IST (which is the Japanese xA). . . there was the Yaris/Vitz, which is what this thing is, albeit the updated version. The previous generation Yaris was known as the Vitz hatchback in Canada.

All the US ever got was the Platz 4dr and 2dr, also known as the Echo here, but it's essentially the same thing as a Yaris/Vitz, minus the hatch.

I'm glad they didn't bring the 5dr Vitz/Yaris. . . it would have overlapped too much with the xA. I personally like the lines on the new Vitz 5dr more. . . maybe it will make it over as the next generation xA.

 

thats what I meant thanks for the correction. I couldn't remember the vitz name. Not bringing the vitz/yaris (3dr) and not branding it a scion was a missed oportunity.

So yeah they should have brought the vitz as opposed to the ist. although the xB and xA are fairly different a fair share of customers sat in both and said why would I want a five door with less room?

Wheras the 3dr vitz (at the same pricepoint as the xA) would have played well (for the average consumer) as the sporty counterpart to the xB. And would be tearing up auto-x's everywhere as we type.

I don't say this to ____ off the die-hard xA crowd. xA's are excellent cars with a much nicer (albeit smaller) interior than the xB and with much better road manners and inherant sportiness. But a 3door wouldn't have been cross-shoped with the xB. oh well they finally brought this car and thats that.

 

Would 17's fit in the Yaris?
The wheel wells look too small.

 

The center console on the sedan is nice. Do I see a FLAT floor when the rear seats are folded down? I'm torn between the 3-door and my current xB. I wonder if my 21" bike will fit in the 3-door like it does in my xB (with the wheels attached)?

 

I think the Yaris 3 door looks like a puppy. Its a very cute design I'm sure it will sell very well. If anything ever happens to my Xb I know what I'll be driving.

 

Yeah now that you mention it, it DOES look like a puppy haha.

 

Yes. . . the wheel wells have nothing to do with it, so long as you keep the over all wheel diameter the same. . . for instance, you start with a 15" wheel and a thick tire. . . When you swap to 17's, you have to get a thinner tire. You are SUPPOSED to keep the total diameter the same. Assuming they didn't reduce the wheel size for this platform (and I don't see any reason why they would), 18's would even fit. I believe the wheel wells look small because the new chassis sits lower, as it SHOULD. I hate the raised look of the current (older?) design.

 

Totally understandable. . . but I guess I'm part of that VERY small niche. I would not have bought a Scion, had the xA not been available. I needed 4 doors, so I decided against the tC. I was concerned about vandalism issues with the xB (and at the time, it was just too edgy for me). I was in the process of buying a Mazda3 hatch, but I found the xA to be a real bargain. . . and it was a Toyota. The Matrix was just too bland for me.

 

I'm diggin' the hatch.

 

has a very european look.

i guess they have finally figured it out what the european already knows. cheap does not equal boring.

 

funny you should say that. As I was on a very simmilar purchase path. Came close on the vibe (i get gm employee discount through my grandpa) but just found it too boring. Then I was starting the wheels turning on a protege5 (the forebear to the 3 5dr) and found it to be a killer car with terrible insurance rates. Then I remember that the scions wewre coming! Took a test drive and the car won me over. There was no vandalism problem then since there were so few scions stateside in summer of 03. Any ways, Ended up with the xB! 45000 trouble/vandalism miles later I'm still proud to be a early adopter!