Suzuki Ignis vs Toyota 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.

Suzuki Ignis in South Africa

Suzuki Ignis

1.2 GLX AMT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 293,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 113 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
VS
Toyota Yaris in South Africa

Toyota Yaris

1.5 XR CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 359,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 88 kW 🔧 145 Nm ⛽ 15.1 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Yaris
Fuel Economy Yaris
🛡 Safety Yaris
📦 Practicality Ignis
🔑 Ownership Ignis
Ignis starts ZAR 289900 cheaper Ignis from ZAR 237,900 · Yaris from ZAR 289,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Ignis Yaris
Engine Power 61 88
Torque 113 145
Engine Size 1197 1496
Claimed Mileage 13.5 15.1
Ground Clearance 180 160
Boot Space 400 286
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 855 1110
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Yaris

57
/ 100
+2
pts
#2

Ignis

55
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both Ignis and Yaris are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Yaris +2 pts
Efficiency Yaris +8 pts
Safety Yaris +2 pts
Practicality Ignis +2 pts
Ownership Ignis +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Yaris

Performance 7/20
Efficiency 8/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 12/20

Ignis

Performance 5/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Ignis

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

Yaris

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Ignis

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Yaris

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Ignis Yaris
Engine 1.2L K12M 4-Cylinder Petrol 1.5L Naturally Aspirated Petrol
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Inline 3 Cylinder NR
Engine Code K12M Standard
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Naturally Aspirated Turbocharged
Displacement 1197 1496
Cylinders 4 3
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Cylinder Bore 73.0 82.0
Piston Stroke 71.5 92.0
Compression Ratio 10.0:1 13.0:1
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted Front Transverse
Variable Valve Timing VVT on Intake Camshaft Available
Fuel System Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI) Direct Injection
Turbocharger Not Applicable Not Available
Power 61 88
Power @ RPM 6,000 rpm 6000 rpm
Power 83 150
Torque 113 145
Torque @ RPM 4,200 rpm 4800 rpm
Maximum Engine RPM 6500 Available
Engine Oil Capacity 3.3 Available
Fuel Grade Required 93 RON Unleaded Petrol Petrol
Top Speed 152 182
0-100 km/h 14.0 11.2
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
Spec Ignis Yaris
Length 3700 4180
Width 1690 1745
Height 1595 1500
Wheelbase 2435 2550
Ground Clearance 180 160
Kerb Weight 855 1110
Boot Volume 260 Available
Seats 5 Available
Doors 5 Available
Boot Space 400 286
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1500
Seating Capacity 5 5
Front Track Width 1550 1490
Rear Track Width 1540 1490
Towing Capacity 1500 Not Rated
Gross Vehicle Weight 1600 1515
Turning Radius Available 5.1
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
Number of Doors Available 5
Max Payload Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota Yaris wins with 57 pts vs 55 pts for Ignis

In structured scoring, Yaris emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Ignis 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 Yaris 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: Ignis 0 vs Yaris 8. 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: Ignis 18, Yaris 20. 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: Ignis 20, 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: Ignis 12, Yaris 10. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Ignis 5, Yaris 7. 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 Yaris edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Yaris 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 Ignis and Yaris in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Ignis scores 5 vs 7.

Efficiency: Ignis scores 0 vs 8.

Safety: Ignis scores 18 vs 20.

Practicality: Ignis scores 12 vs 10.

Ownership: Ignis scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Yaris the advantage in this comparison.