Used TOYOTA VITZ Models Comparison

In 1937 Kiichiro Toyoda created Toyota Motor Corporation. In the ensuing decades the company has grown to become the world's largest producer of automobiles, topping such global powerhouses as Volkswagen and General Motors year after year. In 2012, Toyota Motor Corp. became the first automobile manufacturer to produce more than 10 million vehicles in a single year. One of Toyota's top selling models, especially in Japan, is the Toyota Vitz. The Toyota Vitz is also known as the Toyota Yaris and the Daihatsu Charade. Global sales of the Toyota Vitz topped 7.5 million by the end of 2014. The success of the Vitz can be attributed to many things, but owner's often point to its sporty styling and long term reliability as the main reasons that they would buy another Toyota Vitz, if the one they own ever wears out.

Sales Comments

"This vehicle is versatile and popular with ages between 25 and above. It has ample room to transport a small family. Fuel consumption is also respectable."

Yasu

Sales Manager

BE FORWARD Ratings

RATING

8.0

The BE FORWARD Car Expert Recommends The Toyota Vitz.

The BE FORWARD car expert gives the Toyota Vitz a ranking of 4 stars out of 5, giving the third generation higher marks than earlier versions of the Vitz. The Vitz is most popular among buyers who are between 25 and 35 years old, essentially young families that need room to grow, but still crave fuel efficiency. The Vitz offers the sporty styling, low cost, and large passenger cabin that its core buyers desire.

Due in part to the improved airbag system, the Toyota Vitz merits five-stars in many crash test criteria. The dimensions of the Vitz have increased through the generations and the curb weight has increased as well, but it is still a lightweight vehicle; allowing it to continue to offer great fuel economy.

Style & Design - 8.0

Our car expert points to the sporty and stylish exterior of the Vitz as a major selling point. It offers a sleek, aerodynamic body that has a near predatory stance. The lower stance and aerodynamics are especially pronounced in the third generation when Toyota reduced the Vitz's drag coefficient to 0.285.

The Vitz currently has a length of 3,885 mm, a width of 1,695 mm, and a height of 1,510 mm. All of these numbers combine to provide best best-in-class cabin space as well as enough cargo space for a small family to take everything they need during an extended trip anywhere in Japan. When you add in fuel efficiency that tops 26 km/l, it is easy to understand why the Toyota Vitz is a great car to fill any need.

Under the Hood - 8.0

The Toyota Vitz display modest power; thus the four star ranking. In its defense, power is an opportunity with other cars in its class like the Honda Fit Aria and the Mazda Axela. The 1KR-FE three-cylinder 996cc engine is the biggest culprit. While it is sufficient for city driving conditions, and great fuel economy, acceleration is modest. This can be improved upon by buying a model that features a manual transmission. The engine line-up of the Vitz is durable and dependable, often lasting beyond the 200,000 km mark with few mechanical issues, so long as proper maintenance is done.

The Toyota Vitz is designed to be a sporty economic vehicle. It delivers on all of the points that a buyer shopping in that class is looking for: great fuel economy, a low initial purchase price, and a low cost of ownership after the purchase. The expanded cabin room and cargo space add to the attraction of the Vitz, allowing for extended trips or plenty of room to transport your family to any activity. The added safety features and improved crash test results of the third generation, make the Vitz the perfect car for a growing family or an eco-conscious single person.

History

The Toyota Vitz was introduced during the 1998 model year to replace the aging and dated Toyota Starlet. The Vitz is a line of three and five-door hatchback subcompact cars with a variety of engine and transmission options. The Vitz is usually front-wheel drive, but an AWD option was added in later generations. Perhaps best known for its fuel economy, the Vitz also scores well with current and previous owners for its reliability. Now in its third generation, sales of the Toyota Vitz have topped 7.5 million worldwide, with many of the earliest models still being driven on a daily basis. Perhaps the greatest attractions of the Vitz are that it offers room for a small family, while featuring a sporty exterior and the dependability and fuel economy that buyers need from an economic entry level car.

First Generation (1998 - 2005)

The Toyota Vitz was introduced to the world at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as a concept car titled ''Funtime.'' The concept was developed by a team under the leadership of Shuhei Toyoda. The first generation of the Toyota Vitz, given the platform designation XP10, went on sale in Japan in January of 1999. The Yaris and Echo badges were placed on the Vitz in varying world markets. In Japan, the XP10 series was given the model code GF-SCP10(1.0Liter). The initial release included three and five-door hatchbacks that were equipped with a fuel efficient 997cc engine that was able to achieve up to 22 km/l. The strong running engine could be paired to either a four-speed automatic transmission or a sportier five-speed manual. Both the three-door and the five-door are capable of seating five adults comfortably, with plenty of cargo space.

As the Toyota Vitz evolved during its first generation, the engine and drivetrain options expanded. Those options eventually included an upgraded 997cc engine that now offered 88 bhp, a 1298cc petrol engine, and a 1496cc petrol engine. The transmission options expanded to include a CVT and a four-wheel drive option was added.

In Japan, the most popular versions of the first generation Toyota Vitz are the CBA-SCP13 with a 1296cc engine that offers 23.0 km/l when paired to the CVT. The CBA-SCP13 is available in a variety of trim levels including the U, U Intelligent, U L Neo Edition, and Clavia.

The first generation of the Toyota Vitz received worldwide acclaim. It was named the Japan Car of the Year in 1999, as well as being named the European Car of the Year and the Irish Car of the Year in 2000. This generation also offers a 1.3Liter TA-NCP10 and a 1.5Liter TA-NCP13.

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Second Generation (2005 - 2010)

Sales Comments

"Superb Styling with a sportier aesthetics, Versatile, great fuel consumption, interior space is great. Reliable and affordable. Toyota Vitz is known for reliability, affordability, and sportier style."

Yasu

Sales Manager

The second generation of the Toyota Vitz went into production for the 2005 model year and was given the platform designation XP-90. The second generation marked the first time the Vitz was offered in the United States, badged as the Toyota Yaris. The second generation was a mild refresh of the exterior, but included a significant change in the engine, transmission, and drivetrain offerings. The engine changes included: the 997cc VVT-i engine was replaced by a 3-cylinder engine, the 1296cc engine was given more power. The most significant styling upgrade was the addition of the Vitz RS model in 2007.

The Vitz also grew during the second generation. When compared to the first generation, the wheelbase was 90 mm wider, it was 110 mm longer, and it was 10 mm taller. In 2008, the Vitz was given an additional 35 mm of length. All of these second generation changes added to the Vitz's ability to transport a small family in comfort while still offering the fuel economy it has become famous for.

In Japan, three Vitz model codes are very popular. The first is model code DBA-KSP90(1.0Liter). This model code is powered by a strong 1KR-FE three-cylinder 996cc engine paired to a CVT. The 1KR-FE engine was named ''Engine of the Year'' in its category in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. This engine/CVT pairing in the DBA-KSP90 allows owner's to achieve up to 23 km/l. This model code is available in a variety of trim levels, including B, F, F Limited, and the F Chambre A Paris Collection, and U.

The model code DBA-SCP90(1.3Liter) is another popular grouping of the second generation Vitz. This grouping is powered by one of three 1296cc engines. The engine possibilities are the 2NZ-FE, the 2SZ-FE, and the 1NR-FE. All are powerful inline-four cylinder engines that provide more than adequate torque and best in class fuel economy. All of the engine options are paired to CVT unless ordered otherwise. Despite the added weight, when compared to the DBA-KSP90 group, owner's can still expect to achieve 20 km/l. The trim levels include the F, F Limited, F Chambre A Paris Collection, U, RS, and the I LL. The I LL trim package includes intelligent drive, allowing for increased fuel economy. This generation also offers a larger engine DBA-NCP91 (1.5Liter).

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Third Generation (2010 - present)

The third generation of the Toyota Vitz has the platform designation of XP-130. It was first offered for sale in Japan on December 22, 2010. The XP-130 features a new, more aggressive stance and a reduced drag coefficient, allowing the Vitz to offer improved fuel economy. The new Vitz features an improved 1296c7hir7c engine that Toyota Japan claims is just as fuel efficient as the 996cc engine. Additional new features include a single windscreen wiper, start-stop technology that can improve fuel economy to 26.5 km/l, and up to nine airbags. The airbag system incorporates driver and front passenger airbags, front-seat mounted side airbags, a knee airbag for the driver, first and second row side-curtain airbags and two front seat cushion airbags. In Japan, the third generation of the Vitz can have the model codes DBA-NSP130(1.3Liter), DBA-KSP130(1.0Liter), and DBA-NCP131(1.5Liter).

The Japan model code DBA-NSP130 Vitz is most commonly powered by a 1329cc 1NR-FE inline four-cylinder engine that is paired to a CVT unless ordered with a manual transmission. This grouping is offered in a variety of trim levels, including F, F Smart Style, U, and Jewela. The DBA-NSP130 group are powered by a sporty 1329cc 1NR-FE inline-four cylinder engine that features Stop and Start technology which automatically shuts down and restarts the internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling, allowing it to offer fuel economy that tops 24 km/l. The grouping is available in the F, F Smart Stop, Jewela, and U trim packages. A CVT was normally featured in this group, but a five-speed manual was also available.

The Japan model code DBA-KSP130 Vitz is frequently powered by a 996cc 1KR-FE inline-three cylinder engine that is paired to a manual transmission unless buyers request a CVT. The DBA-KSP130 group is available with the F, F M, F Smart, Jewela, and Jewela Smart packages.

The Japan model code DBA-NCP131 is a group of five-door hatchbacks that feature a strong performing 1496cc motor that is paired to a CVT or a five-speed manual transmission. The DBA-NCP131 group is available with Smart Stop technology, allowing it to offer 26.5 km/l fuel efficiency. The group is offered in the U, U Smart Stop, RS, RS G, and RS Smart Stop trim packages. In some trim levels, the third generation of the Toyota Vitz incorporates laser radar and camera systems to support Toyota's Safety Sense C collision avoidance package for added safety.

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