“It will outlive you.”
Buying your first car can be daunting. You want to get the most bang for your buck while still having a car that’s reliable, hopefully fuel-efficient, and decent to look at.
One car enthusiast has a strong opinion on what you should go for, and many commenters seem to agree.
In a viral video with more than 56,000 views, car content creator @theinternalledger breaks down why the Toyota Yaris is the perfect starter vehicle for new drivers.
“Anytime someone asks me, ‘What do I get for my first car? I’ve just passed my test’: the Toyota Yaris,” he says in the video. “The more I see about this thing, the better it gets.”
@theinternalledger launches into a detailed pros-and-cons list, starting with affordability. According to him, used Yaris models can be found for roughly £1,000 to £2,000 (approximately $1,250 to $2,500 USD), making it one of the cheapest reliable options for first-time buyers.
“Have you ever seen one of these on the side of the road with a hazard on, some guy lifting up the bonnet and trying to fix it? No. Because it’s Japanese. It doesn’t break,” he says.
He goes as far as to joke that the car’s durability is so robust that you could “put [expletive] vegetable oil in there and it will still work.”
He also notes that, with its modest 1.3-liter engine, the Yaris falls into a low insurance group, which is something to consider for young drivers who often face higher premiums.
As for the downsides, the creator says there really aren’t many significant ones. The car is small and kinda slow, but he argues that’s exactly what a 17-year-old should expect.
“You’re 17. Where are you? Why, where are you trying to rush to?” he asks. “It’s got everything you need for a first car. You’re gonna get from point A to point B. You don’t need to get there at Mach 1 speeds, honestly.”
In the caption, he refers to the Yaris as “peak toyota engineering.”
As Motor1 previously reported, Toyota killed both the Yaris hatchback and sedan in the US following the 2020 model year. The decision came down to economics: Engineering the new-generation car to comply with American safety and emissions regulations would have made it too expensive, pricing it similarly to the larger Corolla.
But when Motor1 reviewed the 2020 Toyota Yaris XLE Hatchback, we found a surprisingly fun-to-drive subcompact that checked a lot of boxes for budget-conscious buyers.
The 2020 Yaris wasn’t actually a pure Toyota. It used Mazda’s sporty underpinnings, complete with a peppy 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 106 hp and 103 lb-ft of torque. While not powerful on paper, Motor1’s reviewers found the engine delivered power exceptionally well, with “lots of low-end pep.”
Safety was somewhat of a mixed bag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Yaris a five-star overall rating, along with five stars in frontal- and side-impact categories. However, Motor1 noted that the car lacked more advanced active safety features, such as lane-keep assist or rear cross-traffic alert, even on the top trim.
Mazda’s excellent suspension tuning and well-weighted steering made it “the most fun to drive car in the class,” we reported. And fuel economy was respectable at 32 mpg city, 40 highway, and 35 combined.
The new boss of the Toyota National Dealer Advisory Council told Automotive News that “a lot of dealers” are interested in selling the Yaris again, noting that Toyota’s plan to compensate for lost Yaris sales with more Corollas didn’t work out. In 2024, Corolla demand was nearly flat.
With the Mitsubishi Mirage now discontinued and the Nissan Versa being the only new car starting under $20,000, there’s untapped demand for affordable small cars in America. Whether Toyota brings back the Yaris—or perhaps the Yaris Cross crossover variant sold overseas—remains to be seen.
There were mixed opinions of the Yaris in comments on the post.
“280K miles on it still runs like brand new,” one wrote about their Yaris.
“I disagree with the Yaris being small, I’m 6’3″ and fit comfortably, there’s plenty of boot space and loads of compartments and extra storage. back seats are fine too,” a second person said.
“I rather have my car look cool, for example bmw,” another wrote.
“Opinions change every other day,” another commenter added.
Motor1 reached out to @theinternalledger via TikTok direct message and comment and to Toyota via email. This story will be updated if either party responds.
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