2023 Toyota Vitz

Toyota Vitz

Toyota’s Vitz enters a B-segment hatchback market that’s already packed tighter than Joburg peak-hour traffic. On paper at least, it targets budget-minded city dwellers who want that Toyota dependability but balk at the Yaris Cross’s price tag. You’re looking at rivals like the Swift, Picanto, and Grand i10, which all offer more used options and a greater sense of dealership security. Every Vitz here runs a 1.0-litre petrol — nothing fancy — with a choice of manual, AMT, or semi-automatic boxes. Nine used examples are up for grabs, priced between R174,990 and R239,950, with the median at R189,950. Thin pickings, really. You’re not landing a volume seller, and the lack of new stock means you’re buying someone’s nearly-new hand-me-down. XR AMT trims dominate the listings, making up four out of nine, priced from R179,900 to R239,950. Most cars are 2023 to 2026 models and average mileage isn’t crossing 35,000 km yet — reassuring if you’re worried about picking up headaches on a shoestring budget. The XR seems to be the spec to chase, especially since the base 1.0 variants offer less for about the same cash. What you’re getting is a no-nonsense, featherweight hatch that nails the low running costs and badge trust that matter for South Africans watching every rand. Still, with so few on the market, I’d be grilling my dealer about long-term support and part prices. That’s the point: reliability only counts if you can keep your car on the road without breaking the bank.