The local hatchback segment saw quite the introduction this year with the arrival of a brand-new nameplate in the Suzuki S-Presso. It’s without a doubt a promising proposition in this price range, and on paper, it looks poised to stack up well against its competitors.
To get an idea at just how good exactly the S-Presso fares in our market, we’re putting it head to head against the Toyota Wigo, an established hatch that itself received a minor facelift just recently. The Wigo’s biggest upgrades won’t be evident here, though, as we’ll only be looking at its base variant specifically.
It’s a fitting comparo nevertheless, as these two tiny vehicles are identical in a lot of different aspects. The S-Presso measures 3,565mm x 1,520mm x 1,565mm, while the Wigo stands at 3,660mm x 1,600mm x 1,520mm. Ground clearance is equal at 180mm, which tops basically every other hatchback in the segment.
Both cars pack a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine under their hoods, with the S-Presso’s engine generating 67hp and 90Nm while the Wigo’s is capable of 65hp and 89Nm. Both setups have a five-speed manual transmission that sends power to the front wheels.
Underneath is the same story—both cars get an independent MacPherson strut and ventilated disc brakes up front, and a torsion beam and drum brakes out back. The Wigo, however, gets 14-inch alloy wheels while the S-Presso has only been fitted with 14-inch steel rims with hub caps. As for the fuel tanks on these things, the Wigo’s 33-liter tank edges out the S-Presso’s by a mere six liters.
Inside, the two are almost equal yet again. Both get fabric seats with the driver’s seat sporting four-way manual adjustability. The steering wheel on either car, unfortunately, lacks adjustability entirely. Power locks and windows are available here, although the second row on the S-Presso only gets traditional manual windows.
In terms of extra features, the S-Presso has a more updated infotainment system with its seven-inch touchscreen display. The Wigo, on the other hand, only gets a 2DIN head unit—the Apple CarPlay- and Android Auto-compatible infotainment display is available on the top-spec Wigo only.
As far as prices go, the Suzuki S-Presso’s P518,000 tag undercuts the base Toyota Wigo’s P568,000 by a bit. Whether that’ll be a deciding factor in choosing between these two vehicles is something that’ll be up to you. In any case, you can check out the specs below, and tell us which of these two is the better bang-for-your-buck hatch afterwards.
2020 Suzuki S-Presso |
2020 Toyota Wigo E MT |
|
| Price (Philippine Peso) | 518,000 | 568,000 |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Engine setup | 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine | 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine |
| Power (hp) | 67 | 65 |
| Torque (Nm) | 90 | 89 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual |
| Fuel tank capacity (L) | 27 | 33 |
| Brakes (front/rear) | Ventilated discs/drum | Ventilated discs/drum |
| Wheels | 14-inch steel rims with hub caps | 14-inch alloy |
| Tires | 165/70 R14 | 175/65 R14 |
| Front suspension | Independent MacPherson strut | Independent MacPherson strut |
| Rear suspension | Torsion beam | Torsion beam |
| Seat material | Fabric | Fabric |
| Infotainment system | 7-inch touchscreen | 2DIN unit with AUX and Bluetooth connectivity |
| Steering wheel adjustment | None | None |
| Driver’s seat adjustment | 4-way manual adjust | 4-way manual adjust |
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Power door locks | Yes | Yes |
| Power windows | Front row only | Yes |
| Rear parking sensors | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions (mm) | 3,565 x 1,520 x 1,565 | 3,660 x 1,600 x 1,520 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,380 | N/A |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 180 | 180 |
