Cheap cars don’t always have the best features and great performance, but they can get the job done in a pinch. If it’s made by Toyota, there’s probably a good chance that it’s also reliable enough to last many years. The Toyota Yaris has a good predicted reliability rating, and it’s one of the cheapest new cars, according to U.S. News.

You can get a new Toyota Yaris for under $16,000. As you might expect from a small car, the Yaris doesn’t have the best acceleration. Still, there’s plenty of other things to love about this vehicle.

The Toyota Yaris is highly efficient

The Toyota Yaris comes with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine capable of 106 hp and 103 lb-ft of torque. Drivers can have either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission and the Yaris is only available with front-wheel drive. With the manual transmission, it gets 30 mpg in town and 39 mpg on the interstate.

If you live overseas, the Toyota Yaris is also available as a hybrid. It has a more stylized exterior than its U.S. counterpart, plus a CVT. Drivers of this Yaris can expect to get a combined average of 65 mpg with the hybrid powertrain.

It has a long-lasting quality

The 2020 Toyota Yaris has an almost perfect predicted reliability rating from Consumer Reports. It also received a four out of five in terms of reliability from J.D. Power. The Yaris has gotten consistently great dependability ratings from J.D. Power for years, so it’s also a good used option.

However, only the latest Toyota Yaris is available as a hatchback. It has over two extra cubic feet of cargo space compared to the sedan, but both versions have a folding second row. The center storage console is also quite large and the door pockets can hold several small items.

Nice standard features

Even though it’s cheap, the Toyota Yaris still comes with some of its automaker’s latest tech. It has standard smartphone integration, a feature that isn’t standard on cars that cost thousands of dollars more. It also has a 7-inch touchscreen with standard voice command controls. The interface is very user-friendly, plus it has crisp graphics.

It also comes with Bluetooth and HD/satellite radio, plus navigation for the higher trims. Base safety offerings are sparse, but it does include a forward collision warning and a backup camera. Fortunately, Toyota markets the Yaris as one of the safest cars in its lineup, and the crash test scores reflect this.

A fun-to-drive package

The Toyota Yaris doesn’t have the most comfortable drive, with a firm suspension over bumpy roads. The occasional jolt also causes wobbles throughout the interior, but it’s not that big of a disturbance. Wind noise is also very prominent on highway drives.

However, the Yaris feels very athletic while weaving through the city. The steering wheel is well-weighted and gives drivers plenty of fun feedback. It feels composed around twisty turns, the transmission shifts on time, and it’s a cinch to park in tight spaces.

The Toyota Yaris against its competition

The Toyota Yaris isn’t perfect, but some rivals are worse. The Mitsubishi Mirage is only around $14,000, but it has a reputation for being one of the worst cars ever. Its engine only makes a pitiful 78 hp, the ride quality is terrible, and its interior is filled with low-grade materials.

The Hyundai Accent is a much better option. It has more interior space than the average subcompact and it’s almost the same price as the Yaris. However, it’s not the best value because it has very few standard features. Critics have also reported that it doesn’t feel composed over bumpy pavement, unlike the Toyota Yaris.