Toyota Yaris vs Suzuki Swift - Which one to buy?

The small size of compact hatchback sedans coupled with their affordable price tags makes them the practical choice for city driving. Two competitive brands of the hatch at the moment are the Toyota Yaris and Suzuki Swift. Both the Yaris and Swift are offered in three models and two trims. Suzuki Swift GL available in automatic and manual and the flagship GLX CVT. Toyota Yaris, on the other hand, is available in 1.3 E available in automatic and manual and the top trim 1.5 S AT.

Let’s see which car fairs better when it comes to size, design, performance, safety, and affordability in this side by side comparison of the flagship models of the Toyota Yaris 1.5 S and Suzuki Swift GLX.

Dimensions

Yaris is longer, wider, and taller than the Swift. This Toyota compact car has a longer wheelbase by a staggering 100 mm which translates to a more desirable legroom space. There’s also a height and length difference by 5 mm and 305 mm respectively in favor of the Yaris. The Suzuki hatchback tries to compete in size with the Toyota compact sedan by having a wider body by 5 mm and lower ground clearance by 20 mm to make up for its short height.

Though both cars are very compact, the Swift might feel more cramp in terms of leg space though the lower ground clearance does provide enough headroom so passengers will not feel too claustrophobic. On the plus side, the smaller dimension means the Swift is easier to handle making it more agile when dealing with the daily city gridlock.

Exterior

The new Toyota Yaris has a more sporty design styling and is larger and more functional compared to its predecessor. Designed with utility and value in mind, the exterior has the right amount of sharp edges and smooth surfaces. It is larger and more functional than its predecessor and comes available in seven color options. The traditional rubber duck antenna of the Yaris is a bit off though unlike the shark’s fin of the Swift.

The Suzuki Swift, in contrast, adopts a non-traditional approach when it comes to designing their sedans. Unlike the competition— the Toyota  Yaris— that tends to increase in size, the new offering from Suzuki actually decreased in overall length (-10 mm) and height (-15mm) with a more rounded design and low and wide form. The Suzuki offering comes in six color options and rides on a set of 16-inch wheels which are an inch larger than those of the Toyota Yaris.

Interior

Inside the cabin, both the hatchback sedans are equipped with the usual infotainment system you would not usually expect on budget-friendly cars. Though the Yaris’ infotainment is smaller by an inch, it does come compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and is equipped with two more speakers than that of the Swift. Clever storage like glovebox, console box tray, door pockets, passenger seatback pockets, and bottle holders neatly stow away small items to keep the car organized and uncluttered.

Engine

Under the hood, the Yaris specs sheet features a Dual VVT-i, 4-Cylinder In-Line DOHC, 16 Valve EFI engine while the Swift specs sheet comprises a 1.2-L 4-Cylinder, 16 Valve with DOHC and VVT engine. Because of the bigger engine of the Yaris, it is quite obvious that it will be more powerful and torquier. The Yaris also has a bigger tank capacity— five liters more than the Swift. 

Compared to full-size sedans, the power and performance of these hatchbacks can be a bit lacking for some which make them less responsive and not typically suited for long drives— especially on unpredicted terrains. But since these compact cars are marketed for everyday city-driving, the power output of these is sufficient to take you places. And on the plus side, a smaller engine means they are more economical and need less fuel to run.

Safety

When it comes to safety and driver-assist features, both cars were able to cover the basics. The Swift body design is based on Suzuki’s TECT concept that efficiently absorbs and disperses the energy in an event of a collision. While the front façade—particularly the hood, windscreen wiper area, and bumper of the Swift were all cleverly designed to absorb impact to lessen the head and leg injuries in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. Toyota also takes vehicle safety very seriously and had gone into the process of ensuring that all future releases of its car will be equipped with its suite of active and passive safety and driver-assist technology called Toyota Vehicle Security System (TVSS).

Price

If the only factor we’d look at, the Swift will hand down win the affordability round. The price of the top trim of the Swift is Php 1,000 less than the price tag of the base Yaris. In fact, between the two base models, the Suzuki compact car is a cool Php 145,000 cheaper than what Toyota offers.

Verdict

If you need a basic hatch that can do the job of taking you from point A to point B in relative safety, then both cars are good options. For first-time buyers and those who have a tight budget would find the Suzuki Swift more appealing. But you would have to compromise in terms of power and performance. However, if you can spare a bit more cash, then the Yaris is also a good candidate just because of its aftersales service which makes repairs, parts replacement, and other maintenance services easier to access.

Also read: 2020 Toyota Yaris hybrid for the European market is here