Smart on the inside
Quite the opposite of an entry model, the Vitz makes a surprisingly amiable companion regardless of whether you’re a tech-obsessed Gen Zer or an empty-nester buying down from much dearer automotive stock. In less than 20 years, the definitive budget car has gone from a solo airbag and primitive wind-up windows to a full suite of safety kit comprising six airbags (yup – curtain and side airbags added to the March 2025 model upgrade), ISOFIX and Vehicle Stability Control, plus enough ‘electrickery’ to have the ol’ Tazz spinning (pun intended) in its grave.
Hi-tech wizardry that would have seemed alien for budget cars in the noughties is standard on the new Vitz, including an anti-theft immobiliser and rear park distance sensors, while for just 30k extra, XR variants top up with features like a reverse camera (new for the ’25 model year), 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, steering wheel controls, electric windows/mirrors, trip computer with digital rev counter keyless entry, and an electronic alarm.
All very well you may say, but isn’t the Vitz a tad on the small side to be considered a real car? Believe it or not, the plucky Vitz is in fact 95mm longer and 55mm girthier than the venerable Tazz. So, yes, it’s compact enough to make it the ideal single-person urban warrior, but more than up to the occasional round of road-tripping or carpooling. Boot capacity is pretty decent too. According to a car rental site, the Vitz will gobble up to four standard-sized cabin bags, and if you fold down the seatback, you can add two golf bags and a baby stroller to the cargo tally.
Small stature, supersized spirit
With a kerb weight way under a ton, the Vitz delivers a spirited driving experience, extracting every ounce of get-up-and-go from its diminutive 49kW, 1.0-litre engine.
Upping the fun factor is the gruff ‘bark’ emitted by the three-cylinder engine which is akin to a miniaturised V8. It’s quite noticeable at idle and when gunning the little ’un, but surprisingly smooth and resonance-free at cruising speeds. Its free revving nature goads you to redline the eager little motor, while the impressively light and precise five-speed gearbox (if you opt for the manual), coupled with an ultra-lightweight clutch, makes traffic crawling a breeze. Another notable characteristic of the Vitz is its linear power delivery – what this means is that pulling power or torque is strong throughout the rev range, requiring fewer gear changes to keep you on the boil. And when you have to make a pit stop, the Vitz’s virtuous fuel efficiency will leave you with a smile – under ideal conditions, it will achieve 4.2L/100km for the AMT model, but in everyday driving, this will rise to around 5,5L, which is still impressive.
The verdict
Summing up then – and stealing a line from Matt Watson of Carwow fame – ‘should you buy it, consider it or forget it?’
If a compact urban runabout fits your needs, go right ahead and swipe your card, but take note of the following:
- If you’re an enthusiast, opt for the manual. The AMT or automated manual transmission is very convenient but doesn’t dish up the same degree of driving pleasure. (P.S. The AMT essentially uses a manual gearbox with automated clutch and gear shifting, resulting in no-hassle driving, but the shifts are not as smoothly or quickly executed as the manual.)
- Stretch your budget to the XR if you can. Externally, the smoked 15-inch alloys really butch up the softly contoured ‘bug-eyed’ design, and the cabin upgrades are nice-to-haves.
- And, of course, the big Toyota drawcard is peace of mind as well as bulletproof future value, reinforced by a three-year/100,000km warranty and a four-services/60,000km service plan (rare for this class of car). You also get the exclusive MyToyota app, offering key features like Wi-Fi connectivity, roadside assistance, electronic logbook and service booking.
Connect
