• Home
  • About Evelyn Kanter
  • Evelyn Kanter’s Books & Apps
  • Evelyn Kanter In The News
  • Workshops
  • NYC Travel Guru

Evelyn Kanter ecoXplorer

green living, smart spending

  • Green Hotels
  • Green Cars
    • Best Cars under $20,000
    • Test Drives
    • Diesel Cars
    • Electric Cars
    • Hybrid Cars
    • Hydrogen Fuel Cell
    • Luxury Drives
  • Travel Deals
    • Free
    • Budget Travel
    • Discount Tickets
  • Xplore More
    • Safety and Health
    • How To
    • Five Best
    • Travel Pioneers
    • Motorcycles
    • Vintage Cars
  • Scam Alert
  • Where to Go Next
    • Historic Travel
    • Epic Adventures
    • National Parks
Home » Best 2012 cars under $20,000: 2012 Toyota Yaris

Best 2012 cars under $20,000: 2012 Toyota Yaris

1 Comment

Even the top-of-the-line fully loaded 2012 Toyota Yaris is under $20,000, and will save you money while you drive it, since it gets an estimated 30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.

2012 Toyota Yaris
2012 Toyota Yaris: best buy new car under $20,000

Safety features — Equally important, the all-new Yaris is loaded with safety features, some of which are unusual in a car this size and price.  Standard driver and front-passenger dual-stage airbags (SRS) are complemented by front-seat mounted side airbags and a knee airbag for the driver.  Roll-sensing side airbags are fitted to both front- and rear-row seats for a total of nine airbags.  Like all Toyota vehicles, the Yaris features  Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Plus, the new Yaris features Toyota’s breakthrough brake-override system, as standard.

New to the 2012 Yaris is Toyota’s system to reduce whiplash injuries to driver and front-seat passenger.  The seat design and technology helps to ensure that all areas from the head to the lower back are equally supported, helping to reduce whiplash-type injuries during certain types of collisions.  Halogen headlamps and intermittent front windshield wiper are also standard.

That’s a lot of safety features crammed into a vehicle with a starting price of just $14,115.

Style and handling —  The Yaris has been redesigned for 2012 with sportier styling and handling.  It’s two inches longer and nearly an inch lower than previous model years, and the longer, lower stance means tighter, more responsive handling in city traffic or on longer road trips.  A small turning radius also means it is easier to park in tight spots.The most popular model is the liftback, which Toyota says is preferred by 70 percent of  sub-compact buyers.   The new Yaris will be offered in three grades, with the entry-level L and value-packaged LE editions available either as a three-door liftback or five-door liftback. The sport-tuned SE is available only as a five-door.

Power and performance — The 2012 Toyota Yaris is powered by a 106 horsepower 1.5-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing (VVT), unusual in a vehicle i with intelligence (VVT-i).  Choose between a new four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, or a featuring a more compact, lighter-weight design and reduced friction for greater fuel efficiency.  A smooth-shifting five-speed manual transmission is available on L and SE models only.  And it adds up to 30/38 mph.

Warranty — Toyota’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-car warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and against corrosion with no mileage limitation. The all-new Toyota Yaris will also come standard with Toyota Care, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Other  best buy cars under $20,000 to check out —

  • 2012 Ford Focus
  • 2011 Nissan Juke Crossover
  • 2011 Kia Optima mid-size sedan

All in all, the 2012 Toyota Yaris is a great little car, offering safety, performance,  style and fuel efficiency for a budget price.

Thanks for visiting ecoXplorer. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars, smart spending and frugal living by subscribing. It's free. RSS feed.
Welcome back to exoXplorer. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars and smart spending by subscribing. It's free. RSS feed.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Related

Filed Under: Budget Cars, Family Cars Tagged With: 2012 Ford Focus, 2012 Kia Optima, 2012 Nissan Juke, 2012 Toyota Yaris, Best cars under $20 000

What do you think? We value your comments and love hearing from you.Cancel reply

Most Popular Recent Posts

  • NYC Guide: Best Free & Cheap Things to Do In June, July & Beyond
    NYC Guide: Best Free & Cheap Things to Do In June, July & Beyond
  • Best Viewing Spots for 2025 Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks
    Best Viewing Spots for 2025 Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks
  • Scam Alert: Mideast Peace Charities
    Scam Alert: Mideast Peace Charities
  • NYC Guide: Best Central Park Picnic Spots
    NYC Guide: Best Central Park Picnic Spots
  • NYC Guide: LaGuardia Airport Transportation
    NYC Guide: LaGuardia Airport Transportation
  • Valle Nevado Opens 2025 Ski Season in South America
    Valle Nevado Opens 2025 Ski Season in South America
  • 2025/26 Ikon Pass Buyer's Guide
    2025/26 Ikon Pass Buyer's Guide
  • Heat Wave Health and Safety Tips
    Heat Wave Health and Safety Tips
  • Panera Removing Artificial Ingredients From Bread
    Panera Removing Artificial Ingredients From Bread
  • Five Great Low-Cost Hostels in NYC
    Five Great Low-Cost Hostels in NYC

ecoXplorer is your guide to smart spending and eco-friendly living

ecoXplorer is published by Evelyn Kanter, an award-winning journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter and guidebook author – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

Evelyn Kanter is the Past President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), a past Board Member of a prestigious professional group for travel journalists, and a member of several other top international organizations of journalists.

Evelyn Kanter is Senior Editor of SeniorsSkiing, which focuses on the 50+ outdoor enthusiast.

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com or evelyn@evelynkanter.com.

Search ecoXplorer by category

© 2010-2025 ecoXplorer by Evelyn Kanter. All articles and photos are protected by US (C) Copyright laws. Any unauthorized copying is strictly prohibited. Plus, it’s just not nice.

  • Home
  • About Evelyn Kanter
  • Evelyn Kanter’s Books & Apps
  • Evelyn Kanter In The News
  • Workshops
  • NYC Travel Guru

ecoXplorer.com is an independent information service which is compensated by advertisers and sponsors. This site includes some links to other websites which are compensated for by our sponsors when you click them.

 

Loading Comments...