Honda Fit vs Toyota GR Yaris

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Honda Fit in South Africa

Honda Fit

1.5 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 380,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 109 kW 🔧 253 Nm ⛽ 26 km/l
VS
Toyota GR Yaris in South Africa

Toyota GR Yaris

1.6T GR-Four Rally 6MT Petrol Manual
ZAR 897,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 200 kW 🔧 370 Nm ⛽ 11.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance GR Yaris
Fuel Economy Fit
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Tie
Fit starts ZAR 897400 cheaper Fit from ZAR 380,500 · GR Yaris from ZAR 897,400

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Fit GR Yaris
Engine Power 109 200
Torque 253 370
Engine Size 1498 1618
Claimed Mileage 26 11.5
Ground Clearance 135 180
Boot Space 304 174
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1150 1280
Seating Capacity Available Available
Warranty 3 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Fit

69
/ 100
+13
pts
#2

GR Yaris

56
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Fit has a slight advantage, but GR Yaris remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance GR Yaris +7 pts
Efficiency Fit +20 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Equal
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Fit

Performance 10/20
Efficiency 20/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 12/20

GR Yaris

Performance 17/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Fit

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

GR Yaris

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

Fit

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

GR Yaris

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Fit GR Yaris
Ground Clearance 135 180
Wheelbase 2530 2560
Length 3995 3995
Width 1695 1805
Height 1515 1455
Kerb Weight 1150 1280
Gross Vehicle Weight 1550 1620
Seating Capacity 5 4
Boot Space 304 174
Towing Capacity 800 Not Available
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1500
Front Track Width 1550 1550
Rear Track Width 1540 1540
Turning Radius Available 5.2
Load Bed Length Available Available
Load Bed Width Available Available
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available Available
Seats Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Fit GR Yaris
Engine 1.5L Hybrid Petrol G16E-GTS
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Atkinson Cycle with Electric Motor Inline 3 Turbocharged
Displacement 1498 1618
Cylinders 4 3
Valves per Cylinder 4 12
Power 109 200
Torque 253 370
Fuel System Direct Injection + Electric Motor Assist Direct Injection
Top Speed 175 230
0-100 km/h 10.5 5.5
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard Standard
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 9.8:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 82.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 92.0
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Power @ RPM 150 6500 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 3000 rpm
Turbocharger Available Yes
Engine Position Available Available
Engine Oil Capacity Available Available
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Available
Maximum Engine RPM Available Available
Engine Type Config Available Available
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda Fit wins with 69 pts vs 56 pts for GR Yaris

In structured scoring, Fit emerges as the stronger overall package. However, GR Yaris may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Fit edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Fit 20 vs GR Yaris 0. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Fit 18, GR Yaris 18. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Fit 12, GR Yaris 12. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Fit 9, GR Yaris 9. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Fit 10, GR Yaris 17. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Fit edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Fit scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Fit and GR Yaris in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Fit scores 10 vs 17.

Efficiency: Fit scores 20 vs 0.

Safety: Fit scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Fit scores 9 vs 9.

Ownership: Fit scores 12 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Fit the advantage in this comparison.