Well, that was unexpected. We're peering at the freshly generated spec chart for the 2012 Toyota Yaris before us, and our eyes slither down to the 0-60 mph box, the omniscient measure of acceleration. The updated Yaris hits the 60-mph mark in 9.1 seconds -- with the carryover 1.5-liter four-cylinder and five-speed manual transmission.
Allow us to clarify. The 2012 Toyota Yaris SE, the most eye-catching add-on to the burgeoning B-sized Yaris litter, is offered solely as a five-door hatchback. The newest Toyota runt distinguishes itself from the pack with firmer steering, front springs that are 20-percent stiffer than stock, and front brake disc rotors that are 0.8-inch larger than its other refreshed Yaris brethren. It also gets rear discs. The Yaris SE looks more energetic, thanks to its touched-up sheetmetal and overhauled interior, and the SE-specific 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 195/50-16 Bridgestone Turanza tires help the cause, too. Many of the globular Yaris hatches and sedans you see on the road today strut on 14-inch steelies.
But back to the acceleration. This is the first Yaris we've tested that didn't need more than 10 seconds to get to 60 mph (10.3 for a 2010 five-door with a four-speed automatic; other results aren't any better). Impressive, considering the 2010 version was just 44 pounds heavier than our 2012 SE's 2368-pound as-tested curb weight. After ruminating over the numbers, we'd presume the bigger wheel and wider rubber offers an advantageous footprint without the detriment of excessive rolling drag - too much tire in this segment means buzzy, diminutive powerplants like the Yaris' 1.5-liter four (supplying 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque) will find themselves overworked in a hurry. Let's not forget the manual model currently achieves 30/38 mpg city/highway on 87-octane, an improvement of 1 city and 2 highway mpg from last year as well. All signs point to a smartly selected wheel and tire package.
Now that it's a better sprinter, the Yaris SE also finishes the quarter mile more swiftly. Precisely 17 seconds after a pithy chirp from the front tires, the little hatchback will have covered 1320 feet, trapping at 80.1 mph in the process. It's not very fast in a broader sense, but the SE's time is still 0.8 second quicker than the 2010 car. Performance gains were also achieved in the figure eight, as the more-agile SE's 28.4-second lap at 0.58 average g bests its automatic-equipped predecessor by a hefty 1.2 seconds. Braking also takes a turn for the better, with the single-piston binders bringing the SE to a dead stop from 60 mph in 120 feet. Ever the good sport for enduring this terse compare/contrast, our old 2010 Yaris needed an extra 6 feet to halt all forward momentum.
Around town and on the highway, the Yaris SE is as soft-riding as it needs to be. The higher-rate front springs don't markedly compromise ride quality, and we'd welcome the specially calibrated electric steering on the entry-level L and volume-leading LE trims, both of which felt more detached. While body roll is inevitable if you're really hustling along, one of the leading benefits of this class size is that the vehicles are very manageable, a big plus for any developing driver. And should any troubles arise, there's a comprehensive array of safety equipment ready to intervene, including nine standard airbags.
The enhanced dynamics add a bit more respectability to the subcompact crowd, and we'd imagine the refreshed Yaris will see a healthy bump in attention on dealer floors. If you're convinced a 2012 Yaris SE is the suitable car for you, it'll cost $17,160 - no small amount, but think of it as the price of tightening up in an already snug segment. For another $800, the four-speed automatic is yours to take home. But as far as we're concerned, the manual SE is the only Yaris you'll ever need to consider.
