Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Suzuki Vitara vs Toyota Yaris

What's the difference?

VS
Suzuki Vitara
Suzuki Vitara

$19,800 - $31,555

2021 price

Toyota Yaris
Toyota Yaris

$21,443 - $37,888

2023 price

Summary

2021 Suzuki Vitara
2023 Toyota Yaris
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 1.6L

Inline 3, 1.5L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol/Electric
Fuel Efficiency
5.8L/100km (combined)

3.3L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • No AEB availability in this grade
  • Stiff ride
  • Too much road and engine noise intrusion

  • Might as well buy a Corolla?
  • Noisy engine under load
  • Diminutive back seat and boot
2021 Suzuki Vitara Summary

Suzuki invented the modern compact SUV. It’s funny how quickly people forget.

Yes, the pioneering Vitara of 1988 rode on a ladder-frame chassis so was not car based, but it was successful enough to show the way for others to follow. Chiefly, Toyota, with the seminal Corolla-derived first-gen RAV4 of 1994.

Fun fact: this earliest Vitara was also known as the Suzuki Escudo (Japan) and Sidekick (North America), as well as the GMC/Geo/Chevrolet Tracker and Pontiac Sunrunner (USA), Asüna Sunrunner (Canada), and perhaps most evocatively, Wanli WLZ5020XLD and Guangtong GTQ5020XLZ (China).

So, respect to the Vitara, especially since it has evolved over four redesigns, eight different badges and 33 years, from fashionable 4x4 leisure machine to 4x4 off-roader (1998 FT and 2005 JT Grand Vitara) to 2015’s monocoque-bodied JY-series small SUV.

How does the 2021 JY Series II Vitara 1.6 auto stand up? Keep on reading.

View full pricing & specs
Interested in a Suzuki Vitara?
2023 Toyota Yaris Summary

Small cars aren't what they used to be.

For the most part, I mean this in a good way. A lot of the remaining cars in this ever-diminishing segment are safer, higher tech, and better to drive than ever before. The problem is, they're also much more expensive.

Don't feel like you, dear reader, are to blame. Yes, demand has heavily shifted to the realms of SUVs for reasons most buyers can't properly articulate (they're just trendy, okay?), but there are also safety, expected equipment, and design pressures pushing once-cheap small cars out of Australia.

Maybe you're SUV-resistant (good on you), and you're wondering why the once-ubiquitous Toyota Yaris is now so expensive, and whether it's worth its newfound asking price. Let's find out.

View full pricing & specs
Interested in a Toyota Yaris?

Deep dive comparison

2021 Suzuki Vitara 2023 Toyota Yaris

Change vehicle