Toyota Yaris ZR
Yaris has been playing first loser to Swift for a while now, which is something Toyota New Zealand does not like to do. Swift was the second-biggest-selling car overall last year, while Yaris was next-best supermini at number five. The Suzuki has retained its spot year-to-date 2014; unfair to compare the old Yaris when it has been in runout (number 13 overall), but suffice to say Toyota is gunning for Suzuki in this segment with the new Yaris, as Swift starts to age. Toyota already has the lower-end versions well covered, but what's been missing is a more interesting and engaging Yaris at the top of the range.
Yaris is reaching upwards, aspiring to be more sporting and special in ZR form. Funnily enough, Swift Sport has been trying to broaden its appeal lately with the introduction of an automatic-gearbox option. While this might seem like anathema to purists who appreciate the Sport's road-and-track credentials, it's a good way to take the car more into the mainstream.
Perfect really, because it means that Yaris ZR and Swift Sport meet in the middle. Even in price, with identical retail figures of $28,990 each. Which is the better pseudo-special small hatchback?
In terms of powertrain and performance, the Swift Sport is the benchmark. Its 1.6-litre engine makes a neat 100kW/160Nm and is happy to work hard. It has a true sporting flavour and many devoted fans, which is why many were aghast when it was announced that not only would there be a two-pedal version of the Sport, but it would be
a "gearless" continuously variable transmission (CVT). It's worked out that way because the engine/transmission combination was developed for use in Suzuki's S-Cross wagon.
The ho-hum interior of the Suzuki Swift Sport.
While a dual-clutch transmission or even conventional automatic would suit the Sport's character more, the CVT is far from a disaster. It makes for relaxed around-town running and will allow the engine to rev hard when you want maximum acceleration. You can shift through seven steps via steering wheel-mounted paddles, but as with so many pseudo-manual CVT modes it's not terribly convincing.
The handling is sharp as ever: great steering, eager turn-in and the ability to adjust your cornering line with the throttle. The Sport successfully achieves a dual personality: it's easy to drive in normal conditions, but still offers great rewards for the enthusiast.
Drive the Yaris ZR hard after the Swift Sport and it feels like somebody's hooked a trailer on the back and let the tyres down.
The Toyota might have a bold new face and stylish cabin, but underneath it's all familiar. The 1.5-litre engine makes just 80kW/141Nm and it's matched to a four-speed automatic gearbox.
Inside the stylish new Toyota Yaris ZR.
The transmission handles day-to-day duties quite well, but on the open road and/or hill work it shows its age in these days of six and seven-speed superminis. Yes, even CVTs.
The Yaris ZR's steering has very little self-centring action, which is a plus around town but brings opportunity cost on the motorway and open road, with less straight-line stability than Swift. The Yaris is competent in corners without being entertaining, although it rides better than the Swift. Both have 17-inch alloy wheels on low-profile tyres.
That's probably enough about hard driving, because part of the reason we're here is to find out which of these two is best in attracting a broad audience.
The Yaris is larger than the Swift overall (although both are less than four metres long) and has a wheelbase that's longer by 80mm, so it is a much better proposition if you're carrying passengers.
The Toyota also has a larger boot (347 litres versus 210) which features a clever false floor. You can either have a secret compartment and a cargo floor that lines up with the rear seatbacks when they're folded down, or a much deeper boot for maximum volume.
The interiors of both are in the cheap-and-cheerful category, with neat design and excellent fit/finish, but lots of hard plastic. The Suzuki's dashboard is simple in the extreme and a little short on flair. The Toyota makes more of an attempt at style, with the "layering" design we've seen on Corolla and RAV4.
There's sporty seat trim in the Swift, with a carbon-fibre-type graphic on the backrest and the "Sport" logo embroidered in red.
The Suzuki Swift Sport
The Yaris goes more fashion-forward, with a bold striped fabric that looks like Paul Smith pyjamas. That need not be a bad thing.
For 2014, both cars have gained satellite navigation systems with touch-screen controls, although you have to pay extra for the Toyota's: $1000, leaving you just $10 change from $30k. The Swift system has clear and colourful graphics and is easy to programme. The Toyota's runs on a smaller screen, which can split two or three ways (your choice) with other information. It's not as pleasing to look at as the Suzuki's, but it features Suna traffic information, which is a boon for a small car like this. The Suna system identifies traffic jams via roadside sensors and helps you avoid them.
Other little luxuries include the Swift's keyless entry/start or the Yaris' automatic headlights. The Yaris also makes full use of its colour screen with a reversing camera:
a great feature for an urban vehicle.
The bottom line
The Swift is no spring chicken, but it still has a real spring in its step in Sport form. It's the winner here because the CVT endows it with true ease of use for the ordinary driver, yet it's still capable of delivering a sporting drive when you're in the mood. It still feels special.
The Yaris could easily have won this with a more modern and accomplished powertrain, because it ticks plenty of other boxes: the new look has wow-factor, it's roomy and the sat-nav is excellent for city driving.
