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Toyota Yaris

Toyota Yaris

First-half sales, 2008: 64,680
First-half sales, 2007: 46,522
Increase: 39%

The sharp rise in demand for the tiny Toyota Yaris is a sign of the times. In a sure indication of high demand, Toyota Motor Sales USA raised sticker prices on the Yaris in May by $200, or 1.6%, to $12,425 for the base model. The Yaris replaced the even more quirky-looking Toyota Echo in the U.S. lineup in 2006 for the 2007 model year. The Yaris was first launched in Europe in 1999 and quickly became Toyota's (TM) best-selling vehicle in Europe. Its 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg city/36 mpg highway.