First drive in the new Toyota Vitz

Toyota has launched the new Vitz in South Africa which is the most affordable car the automaker now sells.

Retailing from R189,900, the compact hatchback is around R16,000 less expensive than the car it replaced while boasting a more complete equipment set.

At the Vitz’s official market launch, we got behind the wheel of the mid-range XR manual (R219,900) for a short stint through a rainy Johannesburg to get a taste of what Toyota’s new entry to the brand is like.

What is it?

The Vitz is the fifth model to be born out of the Toyota-Suzuki alliance, following in the footsteps of the Starlet and Baleno, the Rumion and Ertiga, the Urban Cruiser and Vitara Brezza, and more recently, the second-generation Urban Cruiser and Grand Vitara.

As such, it is based on the Suzuki Celerio and shares the same platform and many features.

Driven by a 1.0-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol engine, the Vitz is available with a five-speed manual or five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT), with all configurations churning out 49kW and 89Nm. This allows a claimed fuel consumption reading of 4.4l/100km for the manual and an even lower 4.2l/100km for the AMT.

It’s further available in two specification grades comprising standard and XR, resulting in a total of three individual models to choose from.

How does it drive?

In creating the new Vitz, Toyota focused on ironing out the issues that owners of the outgoing Agya experienced such as no remote door locking and limited interior space.

Being the brand’s most affordable offering it doesn’t knock your socks off in terms of power or features, but we’re glad to report it is a definite improvement upon its forebear while simultaneously being more attainable to its target audience – which includes students and people who are only just entering the professional environment.

The manual XR model is undoubtedly the one to go for, offering nice-to-haves like a 7-inch infotainment screen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital tachometer, four speakers, all-round electric windows, a multifunction steering wheel, 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, and two park distance control sensors integrated into the reflectors at the back.

The hatchback is now also 35mm longer which, coupled with the blockier design, translates to a “best-in-class” boot space of 295 litres – up from 260 litres – and four adult passengers are able to occupy the seats with satisfactory leg and shoulder room, though the riders can’t be too tall if they want to sit on the rear bench.

Unlike its power figures would suggest, the Vitz feels rather peppy from a standstill and has a decent pull at urban speeds, perfectly fitting its “city car” persona, but as is generally the case at this end of the market, its spirit starts diminishing as you approach the triple-digit mark.

The steering is on the heavier side, too, and the suspension is firm so you are always aware of bumps and dents in the road.

Engine and road noise are well taken care of, though, as the Toyota’s cabin is certainly a few decibels quieter than that of its budget-focused peers.

Final thoughts

With all the improvements that took place on the new Vitz paired with a lower window sticker, Toyota projects sales to reach an average of around 830 units per month, more than double the 406 units that the Agya maintained.

Overall, the Vitz in XR spec is an attractive buy that may not totally eclipse the competition, but nonetheless makes for a competitive option that we doubt owners will be disappointed with.

Doubling sales is a tough task for any manufacturer but if one can do it, especially in South Africa, it’s probably Toyota, and with the current economic landscape, the Vitz is probably the car it can do this with.