Outside of the rainy season and its looming threat of flood, a small hatchback is the ideal type of vehicle for moving around in urban areas. The segment's small, city-friendly package--with its convenient maneuverability and easy-to-park dimensions--just makes sense.
When it comes to hatches, two nameplates that are common sight across Metro Manila are the Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris. The former just saw its all-new iteration launch a couple of months ago, and the latter received a significant refresh late in 2017.
Price-wise, this matchup is pretty polarizing. The Swift 1.2 GLX CVT comes in at P899,000 while the Yaris 1.3 E MT carries a tag of P875,000--pretty costly considering the Suzuki is a spec-packed, top-of-the-line offering and the Toyota is a base model.
Fortunately for the Yaris, it has a couple of things going for it. Its 1.3-liter gasoline engine packs more punch at 98hp and 123Nm, compared to the Swift's 82hp and 113Nm. It also comes with knee, curtain and side airbags, while the Swift is only equipped with driver and front passenger airbags. And safety is something every car buyer has to consider when buying brand-new.
The two vehicles' turning radiuses and dimensions are worth a look, too. While the Swift is more maneuverable with a 4,800mm radius, it's considerably shorter than the Yaris and sacrifices on cargo room and space.
So, which one would you buy? Take a look at the specs and let us know in the poll below.
| Suzuki Swift 1.2 GLX CVT | Toyota Yaris 1.3 E MT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Philippine Peso) | 899,000 | 875,000 |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Engine | 1.2-liter gasoline | 1.3-liter gasoline |
| Power | 82hp @ 6,000rpm | 98hp @ 6,000rpm |
| Torque | 113Nm @ 4,200rpm | 123Nm @ 4,400rpm |
| Fuel tank capacity (liters) | 37 | 42 |
| Transmission | CVT | Five-speed manual |
| Brakes (front/rear) | Ventilated disc/drum | Ventilated disc/drum |
| Front suspension | MacPherson strut with coil spring | MacPherson strut with stabilizer |
| Rear suspension | Torsion beam with coil spring | Torsion beam with stabilizer |
| Wheels | 16-inch alloys | 15-inch alloys |
| Tires | 185/55 R16 | 185/60 R15 |
| Airbags | Driver/passenger | Driver/passenger, knee, side, curtain shield |
| Dimensions (mm) | 3,840 x 1,735 x 1,495 | 4,115 x 1,700 x 1,475 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,450 | 2,550 |
| Turning radius (mm) | 4,800 | 5,100 |
