Thinking about a new 2018 Yaris IA sedan ...

[kimona]

CVT's... ugh!

[KALISPEL II]

Originally Posted by Saintjmv04

First off, you are partially correct regarding the direct injection system. It is a dual system... there are two injectors per cylinder, one above the valve and one directly in the cylinder. This design prevents carbon build up.

The new 2019 Corolla hatch & upcoming 2020 Corolla sedan Dynamic Force Toyota engine uses a combo port/direct-injection design, but none of the Mazda Skyactiv engines do as far as I know. They are a straight GDI design, and that means that fuel/gasoline additives cannot clean 50% of what they need to keep clean in an engine to prevent carbon buildup.

[KALISPEL II]

Originally Posted by kimona

CVT's... ugh!

My thoughts exactly. I think if I was going to try a CVT in a regular car (a non-eCVT CVT), it would be the new in-house KIA forte design that uses a more robust metal chain driven design instead of a metal push-belt design. The KIA design is the first of its type to be implemented in smaller/lighter cars in the place of the flimsier push-belt design, & doesn't drive/feel like a push-belt CVT. Plus, the 2019+ KIA Forte doesn't use a GDI or Turbo engine (though the 2020 GT version will). If I don't go that route in 2020 with a Forte EX (or the non-GDI engine GT-Line trim), I will probably work on tracking down a low-mileage used 2018 Yaris SE hatch automatic (the last of the bulletproof 1NZ-FE Yari sold in the U.S.).

[KALISPEL II]

Originally Posted by Saintjmv04

I noticed that with the Kias as well. I think they are great cars overall. I use to own a Forte 5 (hatchback) with DI. I looked at the new Fortes with CVT and came across the more robust belts used in my research. I think they may be worth considering. I hate autos with gears :-/ ... I never cared for how they feel with shifts as they age. I've always been a manual trans person, but after putting my body through high performance endurance activities and considering stop and go traffic daily, MT ended up not being a smart move on my part.

I know the feeling. I've always enjoyed driving manual transmission cars, & have never owned automatic transmission vehicles in my 37 years of driving. My only experience with automatics is from driving the occasional rental car here & there over the years. I still enjoy driving my manual Yaris today for the most part, but I am not getting any younger, and the frustration of stop-and-go traffic, & every-increasing congested city driving, in general, is finally starting to take its toll on me. That is why I am looking to buy my first automatic with my next vehicle in 2020 or perhaps 2021. The thing is that I really don't want a low/random-lifespan, rubbery-feeling push-belt CVT automatic, a carbon-sludge prone straight-GDI engine, or high-stress turbo on my car, and that limits my choices to next to nothing really in the current new car market. So, either a lightly-used 2018 Yaris SE hatchback or 2020/21 KIA Forte EX or GT-Line (sedan or hatchback) are my current top choices for my first automatic vehicle.

[kimona]

^^^ I've driven many of the Hyundai/Kia vehicles, and I liked most of them. But, with all the problems (check out the forums), mass recalls for major issues, and horrific customer service, I wouldn't NEVER consider one right now... even for a short term lease.