From its excellent fuel economy and eccentric appearance to its comprehensive package of safety features, the 2010 Toyota Yaris is a good value. Nonetheless, with a painfully bare cabin and an awkward driving position, it has a hard time competing with class leaders.

The Yaris is not one of the vehicles affected by the recent Toyota recall.

Although little has changed about the Toyota Yaris for the 2010 model year, the big news is the new list of safety features — part of the Toyota Star Safety System — that will now come standard. The Yaris will now be among only a precious few vehicles in its class to offer as standard such driving aids as vehicle stability control and traction control.

In addition to its impressive safety package, the 2010 Yaris has other strengths. Its quirky appearance is received well by the automotive press and its excellent 29/36 city/highway fuel economy tops most rivals. Moreover, despite its minimal engine power, many reviewers maintain that the Yaris is reasonably fun to drive.

Despite these high points, the Yaris certainly has a few failings as well. Its cabin is among the barest in its class and the enticing base price can inflate quickly since features that come standard on most other cars — like power windows and doors — have to be added in package upgrades. Reviewers also complain about the awkward driving position in the Yaris and its distracting, centrally-located dashboard.

Consumers interested in the Yaris should definitely also check out a few of its class competitors. The Honda Fit, for example, may have a starting price of about $2,500 more than the Yaris, but it offers an interior features list that rivals that of some upscale small cars. Also worth a look is the Volkswagen Rabbit, which costs about $4,000 more than the Yaris but boasts one of the most opulent cabins in its class with interior comfort to spare.