After 2 years with my Yaris I have one complaint

[Blue Y job]

It's always a compromise. More gears cost more. But more features attract more buyers, if the price is right. Price it too low, and Toyota wouldn't make enough $ per unit.
I think it's geared pretty good. A six or more speed would be nice, but my car was so affordable when I bought it, it was a selling point. And the way the engine was designed and with the small displacement, it would be a complete dog at 2000 rpm at cruise speed. To change your speed or to go up even a slight hill, you would have to downshift.
In the Mustang world, it's the opposite situation, most everyone wants to make the engine spin more for more acceleration!

[why?]

Originally Posted by Blue Y job

It's always a compromise. More gears cost more. But more features attract more buyers, if the price is right. Price it too low, and Toyota wouldn't make enough $ per unit.
I think it's geared pretty good. A six or more speed would be nice, but my car was so affordable when I bought it, it was a selling point. And the way the engine was designed and with the small displacement, it would be a complete dog at 2000 rpm at cruise speed. To change your speed or to go up even a slight hill, you would have to downshift.
In the Mustang world, it's the opposite situation, most everyone wants to make the engine spin more for more acceleration!

this car is so light you almost need no torque to get the thing moving. Cruising at 2000 rpm is fine, and a stab of the throttle is all you need in most passing situations.

The problem is 1st gear and fifth gear are terrible. 1st is too short, even stock cars can spin the front tires too easily, and 5th gear is basically worthless, the difference between 4th and 5th is barely noticeable.

They should have stayed with the gearbox from the echo. Or at least 5th should be a proper overdrive gear.