The Yaris may well be the perfect little economy car.

In part, this accolade is down to the Toyota branding, which brings so much along with it, characteristics like reliability, economy and of course, safety.

The individual Toyotas themselves however, need to live up to those expectations and the Yaris – as the smallest car in the Toyota branded range - does it well.

Drivers are not likely to choose this particular model Yaris for reasons of style, high performance or gadgetry, but then, that’s not what this particular model is about.

On the other hand, the Yaris does incorporate some modern features which one is pleased to see in any contemporary car, even one at the ‘economy’ end of the scale.

For example, the Yaris sound system has an auxiliary port to plug in one’s favourite form of portable music.

And as far as other practical considerations are concerned, the Yaris has spaces in the doors for carrying a bottle of drinking water.

There is also all the air bags one could expect in a car of this size, and every kind of assisted braking - Anti-lock Braking [ABS], Brake Assist [BA] and Electronic Brake-force Distribution [EBD] - system, bringing the car’s safety rating right up there with the best.

Apart from a few concessions to today’s driver’s modern lifestyle, this is a basic car designed to keep its purchase price and running costs down.

It is all about practicality, not luxury, and in this respect, it does a fine job.

If fuel economy is important to you, whether for environmental or budgetary reasons, the Yaris – again - may be the perfect car.

With a Euro 4 emissions rating and fuel consumption of 6.5 litres per 100 km, you can drive this car with a clear conscience.

The instrument panel is basic. It has just what’s needed and nothing more, though the positioning of the instruments takes a bit of getting used to.

Rather than being directly in front of the driver, they are centred in the middle of the dashboard, requiring the driver to glance sideways to check the speedo.

There is a science to this, apparently. The placement of the speedo is designed to keep the driver’s eyes level with the road, rather than continuously looking up at the road ahead and then down to the instruments.

Unfortunately, this concept seems to be a little ahead of its time. As most drivers are well used to finding information in front of them, it takes considerable getting used to, trying to re-establish where the information you need actually is.

Yaris’ snub nose and power steering, combined with good all-round visibility, mean it is great for parking in small spaces and manoeuvring through the urban environment.

Its excellent low-gear torque also lends itself to some zippy moves in commuting traffic. Although, as often happens with cars designed for commuting, this driver found herself looking for one more gear when driving at open road speeds.

The Yaris has a tiny, but well-configured boot space (with a full sized spare wheel) and lots of useful storage nooks in the driver and front passenger spaces.

For the driver, their own glove compartment and easily accessible cup and bottle-holders work brilliantly.

On the passenger’s side, the double glove compartment (opening both up and down) results in a place for everything.

It is, of course, up to the user to keep everything in its place.

Ingenious rear seat adjustments and a child restraint system with secure anchors result in a worry-free ride for parents of small children.

External features such as energy-absorbing bonnet and front guards, combined with the generally low profile of the vehicle, are designed to reduce potential injury to other people’s children in the unfortunate event of colliding with one.

The adjustable seat height and adjustable shoulder height for front-seat belts mean there is a fair bit of room for tall people, although one is still left with the impression this is a compact car for compact people.

Bigger folks may find that the Yaris’ small pedals don’t leave much room for the toes of their winklepickers in the driver’s side footwell.

Drivers of larger proportions may also have trouble finding a position that allows their knees enough room under the steering wheel.

All in all, the Yaris is likely to live up to the expectations of its market: a small, zippy, economical and well-designed car with excellent safety features and a few concessions to the lifestyle of the modern, urban car owner.

The mid-ranged Yaris will satisfy the needs of the urban commuter, retired couple or small family. Those looking for a good entry level model will find the 1.3-litre fit the bill nicely, while the racier 1.8 litre model will appeal to those wanting a little more bang for their buck.