Tata Tiago vs Toyota Vitz

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Tata Tiago in South Africa

Tata Tiago

1.2 XZ+ MT Petrol 5-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 224,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 63 kW 🔧 113 Nm ⛽ 20.00 km/l
VS
Toyota Vitz in South Africa

Toyota Vitz

1.0 XR CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 229,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 51 kW 🔧 91 Nm ⛽ 20.4 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Tata Tiago vs Toyota Vitz: the short answer

Tiago and Vitz are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Tiago starts ZAR 20,090 cheaper Tiago from ZAR 189,900 · Vitz from ZAR 209,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Tiago Vitz
Maximum Power Tiago63 kW @ 6000 rpm Vitz51 kW
Maximum Torque Tiago113 Nm @ 3300 rpm Vitz91 Nm
Engine Size Tiago1199 cc Vitz998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Tiago20.00 km/l Vitz20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance Tiago170 mm Vitz145 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Tiago

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Vitz

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Tiago

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Vitz

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Tiago Vitz
Model Introduced Year 2025 2019
Generation First-generation South African-market Tata Tiago five-door hatchback Third-generation Vitz adapted for SA market
Facelift History Introduced with Tata Passenger Vehicles' South African return in 2025; no South African facelift has been announced Current generation introduced in SA in 2019
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2019
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Compact hatchback Hatchback
Vehicle Type Passenger Car Hatchback
Color Note - White Pearl, Silver, Black, Red
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 900 kg
Spec Tiago Vitz
Length 3767 mm 3785 mm
Width 1677 mm 1695 mm
Height 1535 mm 1530 mm
Wheelbase 2400 mm 2460 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 170 mm 145 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 134 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 242 l 230 l
Kerb Weight 982 kg 900 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1382 kg 1250 kg
Payload Capacity 400 kg 350 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.0 m 4.7 m
Front Headroom 990 mm 983 mm
Rear Headroom 920 mm 951 mm
Front Legroom 820 mm 1048 mm
Rear Legroom 860 mm 899 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Tiago and Vitz comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Tiago 30 vs Vitz 22.

Efficiency index: Tiago 75 vs Vitz 76.

Safety-equipment index: Tiago 44 vs Vitz 47.

Practicality index: Tiago 53 vs Vitz 49.

Ownership-cover index: Tiago not separately scored vs Vitz 43.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Tiago leads by 3 points

Tiago and Vitz are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 49 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 67% source coverage
49
#1 Evidence leader

Tiago

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 75 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 75
Safety 44
Practicality 53
Leads by 3 points
46
#2

Vitz

85% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 76 Check Performance 22
Performance 22
Efficiency 76
Safety 47
Practicality 49
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tiago +8 Efficiency Vitz +1 Safety Vitz +3 Practicality Tiago +4

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Tiago

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 75/100
Safety 44/100
Practicality 53/100

Vitz

Performance 22/100
Efficiency 76/100
Safety 47/100
Practicality 49/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Tata Tiago leads the specification evidence index with 49 pts vs 46 pts for Vitz

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Tiago leads. However, Vitz may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Tiago vs Vitz questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.