Face-off: Mazda 2 vs Toyota Yaris

1.699244-305704229 — Image Credit: Christopher List/ANM

Small has never been big in the UAE. Our obsession with jumbo mobiles is hardly a secret. As a result, many exciting superminis that were launched elsewhere in the world, never made it to our shores. But the global slump, coupled with the dangling threat of major fuel price hikes, has changed the equation. Most manufacturers have seen a spurt in demand for their compact and sub-compact models, and those who were yet to have these superminis in their local lineup suddenly woke up to the new reality and started bringing them in.

Case in point; the new Mazda 2. The car has been around since 2007 competing with market leaders such as the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz. But the Middle East never got one. Now that it's finally here, and with a competitive price tag too, the segment is sure to hot up.

Since the top end Mazda we got was priced at Dh48,000, the relatively expensive Jazz was ruled out from the comparison right away. Instead, we chose the mid-range model of the most ubiquitous hatchback in the country, the minion of car rental firms, the Toyota Yaris. It sells for Dh49,000, and it's going head-to-head with the pretender to its sub-compact throne.

Although the car we tested was a 2010 Yaris, which had a price tag of Dh47,500, it has the same specifications as the 2011 model.

Toyota Yaris

Styled at Toyota's European studio, the Yaris was launched in Europe way back in 1999. Although it reached our shores only about six years later, the hatch went on to cement its position as the class market leader, finding favour with fleet businesses and individual buyers alike. There is no wonder it became so popular, as the Yaris brings exterior compactness, interior roominess and decent fuel efficiency all in a clever little package, with Toyota's reputation for bulletproof reliability to boot. While the Yaris was initially available only with a 1.3-litre unit, Toyota has also added a new 1.5-litre variant to the range to match competition from Honda and Nissan.

The model we tested had the more economical 1.3-litre engine, which unfortunately lacks oomph. If your idea of a fun hatch is racing others at the lights, this Yaris is not the car for you. Even when you floor the accelerator pedal in anger, all you get back is an agonising scream from beneath the bonnet and a slow motion playback of the world around, while other cars zoom past in selective fast forward. The four-speed auto 'box is not the smoothest either, with the change from second gear to third seemingly taking forever. But, after the initial lack of enthusiasm, the engine picks up pace quickly and is smooth and responsive at highway speeds. The ride is steady and comfortable for a car of this class with minimum wind noise even at speeds of up to 140kph. The electronic power steering makes the car a breeze to park and manoeuvre in city traffic, but could be too light for most drivers' liking.

The Yaris' interior is roomy with umpteen storage pockets in the dashboard, the doors and the centre console, so that you can store dirham coins for a year's worth of parking. The instrument cluster in the Yaris is something which has divided opinion among scribes and customers alike right from the beginning, but Toyota has stuck to the centre mounted gauges in all its iterations. It's a bit weird at the beginning, but once you get used to it, it's no more distracting than glancing at a dial behind the steering wheel.

Although hard plastics abound in the dashboard and door panels, Toyota has taken care to ensure that parts of the interior which you'll come into contact with frequently have been given a fabric or leather treatment. Surprisingly this model, which is not the top end one, gets a leather-covered steering wheel with audio controls, which was earlier available only on the 1.5-litre model. The same fabric that's used on the seats finds its way to the upper door panel, making it easy on the elbow in long distance cruises. Also available are features like keyless entry, power windows and a CD player.

Together with the Jazz, the Yaris is the roomiest of the small car lot, with enough space for four reasonably sized adults to travel in comfort. Rear legroom rivals that of bigger cars, but the downside to this is reduced cargo space. A wider glass area means better visibility all round and safety aspects are also not overlooked with two front airbags and ABS as standard in the model. However, the brake pedal feels too soft to inspire confidence.

Specs & rating

Model: Yaris 1.3
Engine: 1.3-litre four cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto, FWD
Max power: 84bhp @ 6,000rpm
Max torque: 121Nm @ 4,400rpm
Top speed: NA
0-100kph: NA
Price: Dh49,000
Plus: Spacious interior, comfortable highway ride
Minus: Engine lacks punch

Mazda 2

Knowing that the Mazda 2 shares a platform with wheels' best supermini of 2009, the Ford Fiesta, we had no doubt that it would be fun. But the tiny Mazda still managed to surprise us with its zippy drive and sharp handling. A grand cheaper than the mid-range Yaris, the Mazda 2 has a 1.5-litre engine that's good for 101bhp, 17 horses more than the Toyota's 1.3-litre lump.

And the difference is apparent the moment you put foot. The engine is super smooth and the four-speed automatic transmission swaps cogs almost seamlessly. The feedback from the steering is sharp and precise; you might even find yourself going around exit loops on Shaikh Zayed Road just to have some fun through the twisties.

It's not just great to drive, but offers a compliant ride on highways as well. Sound dampening is a notch better than in the Toyota with engine noise barely audible until you really floor the pedal. The Mazda's instrument cluster has a rev counter, which is absent in the Yaris, and the gauges are lit in red as against the cool blue in the Toyota, making it easier to read at night. However, Mazda has skimped on storage pockets and cupholders in there.

The driver and front passenger get ample head and legroom in the Mazda 2, but where it really disappoints and loses out to the Yaris as well as the rest of the cars in the segment is the rear legroom. Once the front passengers are comfortably seated, it leaves the rear accommodation cramped. Mazda seems to have compromised on rear passenger comfort to clear more cargo room, as the car offers a larger boot than the Yaris.

And the spare wheel, though it's full size, is bright yellow to make sure you won't forget to get your flat tyre repaired!

Oddly enough, the car, which sports alloy wheels and front fog lamps, does not have a multifunction steering wheel, which is made of PVC but isn't too rough to the touch. The seats, especially the fronts, are comfortable and better looking in the Mazda. The CD/MP3 player is integrated into the dashboard, ruling out the possibility of installing an aftermarket system, but you probably won't need one. The sound system is one of the best in class as well, with superb radio reception and great fidelity while playing back from a CD.

Safety features include dual front airbags and ABS, with the brake pedal a lot more responsive than that of the Yaris.So, which is better?

Verdict

It'll be far fetched to think that the Mazda 2 will go on to topple the Toyota Yaris as the most popular hatchback in the country anytime soon. But, Mazda has hit the sweet spot with its clever pricing.

What you get for a thousand dirhams less than the 1.3-litre Yaris is an infinitely more fun to drive car. As we haven't driven the 1.5-litre Yaris yet, it might look unfair to compare these two different-sized engines, but as was mentioned in the beginning, we compared the cars on what they offer for the same kind of money. And the Mazda wins here with its peppy engine and engaging drive. Plus it looks amazing. However, if your priority isn't power or lively handling, but carrying more people in comfort, then the Yaris is your best bet. And if you want the 1.5-litre variant, it will set you back by anything between Dh52,500 and Dh61,000.

Specs & ratings