2013 Toyota Yaris

2013 Toyota Yaris Overview

Is the 2013 Toyota Yaris a Good Used Car?

The Toyota Yaris hatchback – which comes in three-door and five-door models – is a great option for a used subcompact car. It has a spacious interior, good fuel economy estimates, and a pleasant ride. It also rates highly for reliability and offers some of the lowest ownership costs in its class. It’s not very brisk, though; if you want a small car with energetic acceleration, give the used 2013 Chevrolet Sonic a look.

Used 2013 Toyota Yaris Performance and Interior

The 2013 Toyota Yaris has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 106 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive are standard, while a four-speed automatic transmission is available. The engine provides adequate pep around town, but it offers meager passing power at highway speeds and can sound strained. Fuel economy is good by class standards at 30 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The Yaris strikes a nice balance between ride comfort and handling. The hatchback feels stable around corners, its power steering is responsive, and its tidy dimensions make it an easy car to maneuver and park. The Yaris L and LE models soak up bumps and dips in the road nicely, providing a smooth ride. The SE model has a stiffer suspension. While it feels a bit more athletic, it’s not as comfortable on rough pavement.

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The Toyota Yaris seats five, and both rows offer ample head- and legroom for adults. That said, tall drivers may struggle to find a cozy seating position due to the steering wheel’s minimal adjustments. It tilts, but it doesn’t telescope forward. There are two full sets of LATCH connectors for securing child car seats. The Yaris has 15.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats. The seats can fold flat to accommodate larger items. Visibility is good in all directions thanks to the car’s large windows.

The Yaris has a stylish dashboard and user-friendly controls. The air conditioning knobs are large and within easy reach, and the audio controls are simply arranged. It’s also easy to pair a smartphone with the standard Bluetooth system. It’s not all good, though. The Yaris’ cabin tends to be loud at highway speeds, letting in a mix of engine, road, and wind noise. The interior plastics also feel rather hard and cheap, though this isn’t uncommon for a small economy car.

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Used 2013 Toyota Yaris Prices

The price of a used 2013 Yaris ranges from around $8,000 to $8,800. Prices will vary depending on the vehicle's condition, mileage, features, and location.

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We Did the Research for You: 28 Reviews Analyzed

We’ve researched 28 Toyota Yaris reviews, as well as hard data points like reliability scores and cost of ownership estimates, to help you make the best car-buying decision possible.

Why You Can Trust Us

U.S. News Best Cars has been ranking and reviewing vehicles since 2007, and our team has decades of experience in the auto industry. Though we’re passionate about cars, we’re even more committed to providing helpful consumer advice. To maintain objectivity, we don’t accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies.

How Reliable Is the 2013 Toyota Yaris?

The Yaris has great reliability, earning a score of 4.5 out of five from J.D. Power.

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How Safe Is the Yaris?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Yaris a 2013 Top Safety Pick. The vehicle earned a Marginal rating, the second lowest score, for small overlap front crash safety. It received the best score of Good in all other areas tested. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Yaris a perfect five-star rating in side impact testing, as well as four stars in overall, front, and rollover crash testing. That said, the Yaris offers no advanced safety features, like a rearview camera or blind spot monitoring.

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Is the 2013 Yaris the Best Model Year to Buy?

If you’re looking for the best value, consider a used 2012 Yaris. Toyota redesigned the Yaris for 2012 and the vehicle saw no major updates over the next two years. Therefore, buying a 2012 model will get you the same features as the 2013 and 2014 Yaris models, but often at a much lower price. The Yaris saw significant changes in 2015, including an updated exterior, interior, and suspension, as well as the addition of a standard touch screen.

Compare the 2012, 2013, and 2014 Yaris »

Which Used Toyota Yaris Is Right for Me?

Toyota offers the 2013 Yaris hatchback in three trims: L, LE, and SE. The Toyota Yaris L is available in both three- and five-door styles, and its standard features include a satellite radio, USB and auxiliary inputs, a CD player, Bluetooth, air conditioning, cloth seats, power door locks, and manual windows.

The Toyota Yaris LE trim (three- and five-door) adds power windows, cruise control, remote keyless entry, and 60/40-split-folding rear seats. The Toyota Yaris SE trim (five-door only) adds a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a sport-tuned suspension, fog lights, and alloy wheels.

You may also want to consider a certified pre-owned Yaris. Toyota provides a one-year/12,000-mile limited warranty on all of its certified pre-owned vehicles, and it extends the original new-car powertrain warranty to seven years or 100,000 miles. Each CPO Toyota must pass a 160-point inspection. Additional benefits like towing and roadside assistance may be available, so read the Toyota warranty page carefully. The model's original sale date determines whether it is eligible for the CPO program.

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Read more about the Toyota certified pre-owned program »

2013 Toyota Yaris and Other Cars to Consider

Which Is Better: 2013 Toyota Yaris or 2013 Honda Fit?

You can’t go wrong with either the 2013 Honda Fit or the 2013 Toyota Yaris. Both of these hatchbacks have great reliability ratings, roomy seating space, and fuel-efficient engines. The Fit, however, offers a few extras. It has a more flexible cargo area with rear seats that fold fully up or down, as well as sportier handling and an available touch-screen navigation system, which the Yaris lacks. We named the Honda Fit our 2013 Best Subcompact Car and Best Hatchback for the Money.

Which Is Better: 2013 Toyota Yaris or 2013 Ford Fiesta?

The 2013 Ford Fiesta is available as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. The Fiesta stands out for its sharp handling and low used car prices, but it’s not a good buy overall. The Fiesta has poor reliability ratings, a clunky automatic transmission, and cramped rear seats. Stick with the Yaris.

Which Is Better: 2013 Toyota Yaris or 2013 Toyota Prius c?

Like the Yaris, the Toyota Prius c liftback is an excellent used car pick. Both of these Toyota models have a sterling reputation for reliability, and each offers roomy seating and cargo space. Go with the Yaris if you’re on a tight budget – used models tend to be a few thousand dollars less than used Prius c models. If fuel economy is your primary concern, opt for the Prius (a hybrid). The Prius c delivers a superb 53/46 mpg city/highway, and it’s available with features the Yaris can’t match – such as heated seats and a touch-screen navigation system.

Compare the Yaris, Fit, and Fiesta »