Toyota are marketing the new Vitz as the little car with a big heart, and there certainly is a lot to like about this nippy little hatchback.
There’s just something refreshing about reviewing a vehicle that doesn’t have all the fancy gadgets and technology we typically see on the market nowadays. Toyota introduced the Vitz earlier in 2023 as a replacement for the Agya and the little hatch is the latest product of the collaborative partnership between themselves and Suzuki.
The Vitz isn’t a completely new name in the market and was initially released to the Asian market in January 1999. It then arrived as the Yaris in Europe markets in April 1999, as the Toyota Echo in Australasia in October 1999, and North America in late 2003. In South Africa, the Vitz was rebadged as the Yaris which is currently still in production – albeit in high-performance Gazoo Racing form.
Those eagle-eyed observers will have noticed that the Toyota Vitz is a rebadged version of Suzuki’s Celerio (the latter being much cheaper – priced from R183 900). Mechanically, the Vitz is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder K10 engine with figures of 49kW and 89Nm. In XR form only, buyers can choose between a five-speed manual or automatic transmission. The unit we tested had the manual transmission and was decked in Shadow Black Pearl paint.
Plain and simple
Coming back to the point of cars that don’t have fancy features, in the Vitz, there’s no need for it. The lack of technology means that the price can be kept down, making it affordable and representing overall value for money. Inside you'll find a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality, along with an analog speedometer and digital rev cluster. There are no front seat headrests as it’s a complete unit, just like the seats that came out in the Etios. While cloth-trimmed, the seats are quite comfortable and deliver a pleasing driving experience.
The only major exterior differences on the XR compared to the normal entry model are the colour-coded bits (side mirrors, door handles), front fog lights, and 15-inch black alloy wheels. Though it’s impossible to tell by looking at it, the Vitz is slightly bigger than the outgoing Agya measuring at 3 695mm, where the Agya was 3 660mm long.
The interior doesn’t feel too claustrophobic, with there being just enough space for cups/bottles and a smartphone. Connecting any smartphone to the infotainment system is easy and not overcomplicated, with everything set out in good sequence.
Despite being geared towards those who want an affordable new set of wheels with all the modern basics, the Vitz comes with a lot of character. The majority of hard plastic in the cabin, exposed boot shocks, and roof handle screws are some of the not-so-nice ‘features’ of an entry-level vehicle, but fortunately, those are the only ones present in the Vitz.
How does it drive?
The Vitz is built to be a nippy city-runner and it delivers on that front. Its low mass and kerb weight provide nimble handling that contributes to brilliant fuel economy. Having had the vehicle on test for a week, we managed an average fuel consumption of 5.1 litres/100km. Toyota claims a figure of 4.4 litres, but remains to be seen how easy it would be to maintain that figure in everyday driving.
The five-speed manual is a thing of beauty and almost grabs the next gear for you. The great thing about the smaller engine in the Vitz is that it has a lot of rev range, especially compared to competitors, without sounding overly noisy (at least until the redline). Surprisingly, it doesn’t have the lumpy idle, particularly on a cold start, and hoarse tone of a traditional three-cylinder engine.
City driving is where the little Vitz excels but you’ll hear tyre noise when driving on the highway or at speeds that exceed 100km/h. Strong gusts of wind will also play around with the lighter chassis, which is a downside of any A-segment car these days. We found the Vitz to have a great turning radius, which definitely made parking and navigation in tight spaces a breeze. Compared to the Renault Kwid, the Vitz has a slightly bigger boot, a bigger fuel tank, and comes with a 2-year service plan as standard.
If you’re looking for an affordable city car that has all the basics you need to get from point A to B, the Vitz is one of the best offerings out there. Whether it's your first car or you’re looking to add another set of wheels to the garage, it ticks all the essential boxes.
Pricing and aftersales
1.0 manual - R189 900
1.0 XR manual - R219 900
1.0 XR automatic - R239 900
According to Wesbank’s car finance calculator, customers can expect to pay approximately R3 900 over 72 months with no deposit and an interest rate set at 13%.
All Vitz models are sold with a 2-year/30 000km service plan. A 3-year/100 000km mechanical warranty is also provided. Service intervals are pegged at 12 months/15 000km. Customers can purchase an additional service plan and warranty options via the dealer network.
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