2018 Toyota Yaris iA Review

Name: 2018 Toyota Yaris iA
Brand: Toyota

Price Range: $12,599 - $17,998

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Average price: $14,709

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Toyota Yaris iA model years

Toyota Yaris iA for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by James Riswick

Pros

Lots of appealing standard features at a reasonable price
Attractive interior fitted with upscale materials
High fuel economy

Cons

A less expensive trim level isn't available
Taller drivers might have a hard time getting comfortable

What’s new

The Yaris iA carries over unchanged for 2018.

Vehicle overview

Take a long look at the 2018 Toyota Yaris iA, especially at the back. Notice how it doesn't really look like other Toyotas? Now, peek into the cabin. Apart from the badge on the steering wheel, there's zero family resemblance. This is because the iA is designed and produced by Mazda. Mazda doesn't have an equivalent to the iA in its lineup, but take a look at its cars and you'll quickly see where the iA's DNA really comes from.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

9 listings

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New Listing
2018 Toyota Yaris iA
Base Sedan
$16,998
- 46,385 miles
- 30 City / 39 Hwy MPG, Manual
- CarMax Brandywine (41 mi away)
- Free delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Brandywine, MD
Wanna drive? CarMax puts you in the driver's seat-and that includes transparency. Certain cars may have unrepaired safety recalls, so check nhtsa.gov/...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary Unavailable.
Features and Specs:
34 Combined MPG (30 City/39 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3MYDLBYV2JY302645
Stock: 27794894
Certified Pre-Owned: No
New Listing
2018 Toyota Yaris iA
Base Sedan
$8,999
good price
$2,380 below market
- 110,178 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 32 City / 40 Hwy MPG
- Belt Auto Sales (105 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Richmond, VA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
35 Combined MPG (32 City/40 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3MYDLBYV9JY315540
Stock: 315540
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 12-16-2025

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We point this out because Mazda is quite good at building small cars. If anything, this Toyota and Mazda partnership is a best-of-both-worlds scenario. The iA benefits from Mazda's design approach that results in a fun-to-drive nature, excellent fuel economy and stylish, high-quality interior design. Yet, since it's sold by Toyota, the iA comes standard with plenty of features (including advanced driver safety aids) and is available to more people because of Toyota's larger dealer network.

But there are some reasons to think twice about the iA. For starters, it doesn't have a lot of power — even for a segment known for being on the slow side. Interior space can also be an issue because backseat legroom and driver-seat adjustability are limited relative the competition. Some may also lament that there's no hatchback body style or a cheaper, lesser-equipped base model available.

In total, though, we think the 2018 Yaris iA is a must-drive for anyone seeking an affordable subcompact sedan — no matter which company makes it.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.2 / 10

A Toyota in name only, the Yaris iA is in fact a rebadged Mazda subcompact sedan. That's actually a good thing as the iA is one of the most appealing subcompact cars around. You'll like its nimble handling, high fuel economy and wealth of standard features.

Trim tested

The ratings in this review are based on our full test of a 2016 Scion iA (1.5L inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | FWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current iA has been renamed the Toyota Yaris iA, but is fundamentally the same car with no significant changes. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Yaris iA.

Scorecard

Overall	7.2 / 10
Driving	7.0
Comfort	6.5
Interior	7.0
Utility	6.5

Driving

7.0

Like most subcompacts, there's little emphasis on performance in the Yaris iA. Its Mazda roots offer decent performance, though the Yaris' acceleration is a touch slower than the best in the segment.

Acceleration

6.5

Keep your expectations realistic and plan ahead since there's never a lot of thrust available. Sport mode livens up responses. In our testing, the iA accelerated to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds with the manual transmission. The automatic-transmission version is slower still.

Braking

6.5

The brakes are predictable and easily modulated around town. Emergency braking performance is average.

Handling

7.0

You can have some fun behind the wheel despite the relatively low grip limits of the tires.

Drivability

7.0

Other than being fairly slow (which requires planning), the Yaris iA exhibits few flaws. It follows rain grooves, sometimes aggressively, on the freeway and isn't as stable as some competitors.

Comfort

6.5

Ride comfort is average. The front seats are very supportive and comfortable, even on long-distance drives.

Seat comfort

7.0

The firm but supportive seats with good adjustability provide all you need on multi-hour trips.

Ride comfort

6.5

The Yaris iA's ride is taut. You'll feel sharp bumps, but the car is controlled overall.

Noise & vibration

6.5

One of our two test cars exhibited a wind whistle in the driver's window area, even at low speed. Levels of road and tire noise are no worse than in most subcompacts, however.

Interior

7.0

Overall, the iA's interior is a win. The stitched leather-look material on the dash and the doors is a clear step up from the segment standard. The basic but effective climate controls are easy to reach. The seat material is excellent. But some trim pieces still look and feel cheap.

Ease of use

7.5

Though its main controller and volume knob aren't as well placed as they could be, the infotainment system is easy to use. Steering wheel controls allow easy access to high-priority switches.

Getting in/getting out

6.5

The center roof pillar can interfere with the driver's seat if the seat is positioned rearward for a tall driver. The front doors are large and open quite wide, though. The rear door openings are small, and the doors don't open wide enough for large passengers.

Roominess

6.5

Front seat space is ample. There's good headroom and elbow room, though there's no center armrest. The rear seats lack legroom and feel confining for tall occupants. A low roofline impedes headroom.

Visibility

6.5

The view forward is OK despite heavily sloped front roof pillars. The rear pillars are large and inhibit views over your shoulder. The tall rear decklid limits rear visibility as well.

Quality

8.0

A mix of better than segment-standard materials and hard, cheap plastics make up the Yaris iA's interior. Very good seat material and solid secondary controls give the iA a quality feel.

Utility

6.5

The 13.5-cubic-foot trunk is average for the segment. The folding split rear seats improve cargo space, but they don't fold flat, which hurts utility. No center console. Marginal small-item storage.

Technology

The iA features Mazda's tech interface — a dash-top screen (touch-sensitive when the car is stopped) and a center console button-and-knob controller. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available, but every iA comes with standard forward collision warning and automatic braking.

Compare 2018 Toyota Yaris iA trim levels

2018 Toyota Yaris iA models

The 2018 Toyota Yaris iA subcompact sedan comes in just one trim level. Power is supplied by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (106 horsepower, 103 pound-feet of torque). A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and a six-speed automatic is optional.

Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories (locks, windows and mirrors), keyless ignition and entry, a rearview camera, a low-speed forward collision warning and automatic braking system, cruise control, air conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, the Mazda Connect tech interface in all but name (7-inch display, knob-and-button controller, touchscreen operation when parked), two USB ports, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker sound system with an auxiliary audio jack, media player interface and HD radio. There are no factory options beyond paint color and transmission.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$101/mo

$151/mo

Avg. Compact Car

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Reliability

The 2018 Toyota Yaris iA has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, ranks it #4 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5Excellent

#4 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$428/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Frequency

0.65x/yr

vs. 1.22x/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Severity

6.7%

vs. 10.1%
for Average Subcompact Car

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2018 Toyota Yaris iA

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 2 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 2 years / 25,000 miles

Toyota Yaris iA Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.3

27 reviews

5(59%)

4(22%)

3(11%)

2(3%)

1(5%)

See all 27 reviews of the Toyota Yaris iA

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

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Unbelievably Great

Happy Owner, 08/22/2017

2017 Toyota Yaris iA 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl 6A)

This car has by far exceeded my expectations. I also currently own a newer full size luxury sedan. I was looking for small, fuel efficient an decently comfortable. I looked at, test drove and considered Honda Fit (terrible CVT transmission, sluggish engine response. Great head/legroom, lots of interior space) Toyota Corolla (They don't refer to the Corolla as an appliance for nothing, …

First thoughts of owning a Yaris IA

Shawn, 07/31/2017

2017 Toyota Yaris iA 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl 6M)

This review is being written after my first two days of owning the Yaris IA. I've driven hills, highways, and city. Only thing left is curvy mountain roads and inclement weather. Prior to owning this car I drove my friends 2015 Honda Civic LX Manual. So that is my comparison for the Yaris IA. -------------------------------------------------------------WHAT I LIKE - PRICE: It's a great … car for a first time owner. I honestly don't believe you can do better for the price for how much the car provides. INFOTAINMENT: I've heard mixed responses on the Mazda style shift knob to control the music, etc. But I honestly love it. After a single drive I think all cars should be heading in that direction. I also really like the Display. Bright, crisp, with good customization. I think back to my buddys honda and I practically have a tv over his mini screen. INTERIOR: For the subcompact class I think this is where the Yaris really shines. The interior looks sleek and attractive with a good mixture of textures. I appreciate the blue/black schema as well. Only complaint is some clear areas that held together loosely. The middle console you can shift quite a bit if you're trying to. This however I don't think will ever come up during us so I'm not worried. MIDDLE ARMREST: This was a concern before I got the car. If it'd be comfortable with nothing to put my right elbow on during driving. However, even after a long drive, I found it hadn't bothered me at all. In fact, it felt very natural to rest my hand on the control for the infotainment system the whole drive. Surprised how natural that felt. HANDLING: The car does feel very responsive. I've been enjoying myself to say the least. FUEL ECONOMY: I'm currently averaging 34mpg with some aggressive driving. My buddies Honda doing the same drives averages 28mpg. That speaks enough right there. BACK UP CAM: Once again comparing to my buddies honda the camera on this thing is much brighter and more detailed. However, at night it becomes extremely pixelated and blotchy. Totally usable, but a noticeable drop in quality of image. Frankly, having a back up cam at this price at all is amazing, so still a plus. --------------------------------------WHAT I DON'T LIKE: ACCELERATION: Admittedly I'm still getting used to the manual in this car but I'm having trouble getting this puppy going. Once I get up to about 2 or 3 things go just fine but the low end torque is nothing to be impressed by. BACKSEATS: I'm a personal trainer, I weigh 220lbs with broad shoulders at 5'11". I'm a little above average but I do feel pretty big in this car. The front seats accommodate well enough but if you have friends taller than 5'8" they will not be comfortable in the back. I mean, it's a subcompact, what do you expect, but damn. I put 3 friends plus myself in there and it was a clown car. FRONTSEATS: The side wings on the front seat don't feel immediately comfortable to me. It may be different for differently shaped people but for me it's like they're poking my sides. This however, is mediated. When I drive for a long time it doesn't become unbearable. It may just be a getting used to it thing since I don't even notice the seats after an hour drive. STORAGE: Now, trunk storage is fantastic. Don't worry about that. I don't think you can do better in this class. However, cabin storage like a middle divider is completely absent. Two cubbys and two cup holders. I'm having to get creative with where i store things like Loose change and gum. PAINT: Now, this isn't so much a concern now but I did see a review once saying the paint was cheap and chips easily. I'll have to see across the years that I own this. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FINAL THOUGHTS: So, I just listed certain talking points that I know I want people to tell me about in their reviews. But, in the end, I'm loving this car. Having got it used for 14k with less than 2,000 miles on it I can't believe how much I'm getting for my money. I feel like I'm in a much more expensive car while in the interior and the driving experience is just fine as long as you're not drag racing. i honestly don't think you can do much better for the money. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I will update this review in 6 months after I finish my first Maintenance.

By far the cheapest "Luxury" car you can buy!

Larry Camura, 03/27/2018

2018 Toyota Yaris iA 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl 6A)

It would be difficult to find a small car cheaper than ~$17,000 w/ two years free maintenance. And yet this car feels like a very well appointed miniature Honda Accord or Camry. It is far away more appealing than even Toyota's own original Yaris (not the iA). The fact that Mazda makes his car makes total sense because the car is far from boring, as long as one keeps in mind the ultra …

*UPDATE* sold it at 32K miles...

Nicholas, 12/19/2016

2017 Toyota Yaris iA 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl 6A)

Pros: Still surprised at how comfortable the car is. Great seat shape. Love the range on the telescopic steering wheel adjustment. Great car for smaller people. Standard tech package is very useful and convenient. Can't ask for a better screen and the image quality from the back-up camera is razor sharp. The mpg has been wonderful. Even when the low fuel light comes on I have … been able to go another 80+ miles making for many tanks of gas where I have gotten 500+ miles on just one fill-up. Cons: This is not the best choice for rural/country roads that suffer from neglected maintenance. Potholes, broken pavement, and rain washout make for suspension killers on this car's tight and sporty suspension setup. The car is too light and although your cabin comfort is not all that compromised on a bad road (as long as you can handle being tossed around a bit that is) a rear pinch weld/tack weld in the rear frame broke on mine and took three dealer visits to fix. I have already had to have the driver side strut and strut bearing replaced and the day after it was replaced I was hearing the passenger side creaking. Beware of the extremely limited supply of what is the rarest tire size ever 185/60R16. This tire is a specially designed Toyo Proxes tire for the Scion/Toyota iA and is only available at dealerships. My passenger side rear tire blew out before 5000 miles and cost $180 to replace at my dealership. That is an insanely high price for a budget subcompact car tire. Conclusion: I have found myself looking at a heavier tougher vehicle for the roads I drive in less than a year of ownership. Is there value with this car? Yes, if you live and drive on nicely maintained roads and don't mind the limited tire options and availability. *UPDATE* I bought a 2003, made in 2002, v8 4runner limited that gets less mpg but only costs me $5k. I invested about $1K in timing belt and maintenance on an already well-maintained truck. I have noticed that Toyota is simply not what it used to be. The 4runner I have now is truly a 500,000 mile vehicle if I want it to be while the Toyota I sold which is made in the era of cheaper vehicle production will likely not see 200,000 miles or if it does it will be pricey to make it last. Too much emphasis is laid on tech these days and not on true cradtsmanships and durability and quality. However, as mentioned above, if I lived in a place where the roads were maintained to racetrack perfection then the iA could possibly last longer. Whereas this older 4runner could make it to 500k no matter the terrain.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Toyota Yaris iA, so we've included reviews for other years of the Yaris iA since its last redesign.

2018 Yaris iA Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$15,950
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	34 MPG
Cost to Drive	$101/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Yaris iA models:

Low-Speed Pre-Collision System: Warns you of obstacles ahead and automatically brakes if necessary. Works only at lower speeds.
Dynamic Stability Control: Senses when the car is losing traction or control and uses various means to get you straight again.
Brake Assist: Brake Assist

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover13%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

2018 Toyota Yaris iA Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Technology

Which Yaris iA does Edmunds recommend?

2018 Toyota Yaris iA models

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Recalls

Warranty

Toyota Yaris iA Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2018 Yaris iA Highlights

Safety

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