Yaris Off Road???

[carlghoul]

I'm planning on buying a Yaris partly for it's appearent off-road ability. Short wheelbase cars with little front and rear overhang beyond the wheels can handle offroading better than their limited ground clearence would imply. Short overhangs = good approach and departure angles, and the short wheelbase keeps things from catching underneath. O-O vs. O-----O
The best mpg official SUV's get is about 24, and none of the modern ones are truly small. Narrow cars like the Yaris also have a big advantage in squeezing thru narrow roads. 4wd would be nice, but it has such a large weight and mpg penalty, and it only helps with uphill traction, not with turning or braking. I've been using my '91 Ford Festiva offroad since it got old and expendable, it's a very short (141") car with small overhangs, no awd or traction control, and have gone on "medium" rated Jeep trails,crossed muddy and rocky streams, and gone places most SUV's won't because they're too wide. I've been doing this with all season tires, the right tires on a Yaris could improve it's offroad ability, larger diameter tires can also add an extra precious inch to inch and a half of ground clearence. You say Yokohamas are good, which specific Yokohamas are you using and in what size?