More bark for the bite

It used to be that picking a small car was pretty easy: There just weren't that many candidates, plain and simple.

Now it's like trying to pick a puppy from the pound. There are plenty of cute choices with all kinds of bark and sass, and more keep arriving every day it seems.

In that respect, the Yaris was more of an Old Dog than a Young Pup, but the upgrades for the 2012 model year at least keep it fresh enough to belong with newcomers such as the Mazda2, Hyundai Accent, Chevy Sonic and Ford Fiesta.

The first-generation Yaris that lasted for five model years wasn't the liveliest runner on the track, but a roomy interior and low price kept it on the front burner. As well, the tiny Toyota could be had in two or four-door hatchback body styles, as well as a four-door sedan.

There's no word if a trunk-equipped Yaris will again be built, but both hatches return in slightly enlarged formats. Overall length has been increased by nearly 3 inches, with much of that stretch occurring between the front and rear wheels where it aids passenger and cargo volume, the latter increased by as much as 68 percent, according to Toyota. Despite the size adjustment, the car's 2,300-pound weight remains about the same.

The sheetmetal looks familiar, but otherwise displays a style that is less egg-shaped and with added attention to detail. The more prominent nose features a larger air intake and angular headlight pods, while the door panels are stamped with sharp creases extending to the taillights.

More obvious physical changes include the installation of a single windshield wiper arm (containing a built-in washer nozzle) replacing the traditional dual-wiper system.

The Yaris retains its familiar suspension, but a bigger stabilizer bar has been installed at the front. Out back, the nonindependent torsion beam has been revised to provide an improved ride. The platform now rests on larger-diameter 15- and optional 16-inch wheels, compared with the previous 14- and 15-inchers.

Many of the Yaris' detractors will be pleased to hear that Toyota's stylists have finally abandoned the center-mounted instrument cluster, which is a feature that dates back to the 2000 Echo subcompact. The new Yaris is updated with a more natural position directly in front of the driver, behind the steering wheel. The new dashboard goes from worst to first as far as style is concerned and erases what had been a deal-breaker for some buyers.

Other cabin improvements include wider and reshaped front seats with improved coverings throughout, increased sound insulation and nine standard air bags, including front and rear side air bags, side-curtain air bags and driver's-side knee protection.

Toyota is sticking with the familiar 106-horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder and five-speed manual transmission. The optional four-speed-automatic is lighter than before and features reduced friction, but offers negligible improvement in fuel economy. The automatic's 30 mpg city and 35 mpg highway numbers compare with the 2011 model's 29/36 rating. The manual is rated at 30/38. Those numbers are nowhere near category leading, but a gasoline-electric hybrid that's apparently being readied for a 2012-calendar-year introduction could elevate the Yaris to the head of the pack.

Base L models are only available as two-door hatchbacks and provide relatively basic transportation. However, air conditioning is included, along with power door locks and a four-speaker audio system that was formerly an option.

You get more in the two- and four-door LE, such as power windows and mirrors, remote keyless entry, a six-speaker audio package and Bluetooth short-range wireless networking.

The top-rung SE adds a sport-tuned suspension, front and rear disc brakes, alloy wheels and other distinctive interior and exterior content.

While the base L uses a one-piece folding rear bench, a 60:40 split-folding seat is standard in the LE and SE trims.

Yaris pricing begins at $14,900, including destination charges. That's about $1,000 more than the 2011 base car, but there are more base ingredients.

The upgraded, crisper-looking Yaris will remain among the more popular small-car picks, even as the entire category adds variety at a steady clip.

Indeed the pound is getting bigger and the new pups are getting everyone's attention, but at least the Yaris now has enough bark to be noticed.