Buy or Hold: Wait for Toyota Yaris or choose Honda Jazz?

Ever since the word broke out that Toyota Malaysia has confirmed the 2019 Yaris for the local market, there has been a mild yet noticeable stir in the hatchback segment. Toyota is a well-known and big brand with decades of experience in making cars. Its competitors know what it is capable of. The new 2019 Yaris, when launched in Malaysia, will primarily compete against the Honda Jazz. So, the question is - whether to wait for the new Yaris to reach the showrooms, or go ahead with the already available Jazz? Read on to find out.

Just like Toyota, Honda has a wide range of products available in Malaysia. It has been around for many years now and knows the market inside out. The Jazz has been helping Honda reach its sales target every year. However, the chances are that the upcoming Toyota Yaris would affect those numbers.

Honda has just launched the Jazz Mugen Limited Edition model in the country. This comes just after Toyota announced its plans with the Yaris. Now, whether you call it a coincidence or a well thought out strategy, we are getting a new Jazz. The Mugen model is somewhat similar to what we saw at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). It comes with a Mugen body kit that includes a new and sportier front bumper, which has got LED fog lamps and distinctive LED DRL design, side skirts, rear tailgate spoiler, tailgate garnish, and a rear under spoiler or diffuser with a revised bumper. All these changes make the Jazz look that much sportier and desirable.

Honda is going to make only 300 units of the Jazz Mugen. Also, this model is based on the 1.5L V variant of the standard Jazz and will be available in two color options - Modern Steel Metallic and White Orchid Pearl that will set you back by RM 88,600 and RM 88,720, respectively. Other than the aesthetics, the rest of the car remains exactly the same.

The Honda Jazz specs show a 1.5-litre engine that churns out 118 hp and is mated to a CVT unit. Being a Honda, it is very smooth, refined, and quiet. It offers various interior features like touch controls for AC, comfortable seats, attractive and informative instrument cluster, etc. It also scores good marks in the safety department as it comes with 6 airbags, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, ABS with EBD and brake assist.

The 2019 Toyota Yaris hasn’t been launched yet and it has already gained a lot of attention. Coming from the house of Toyota, the Yaris promises to deliver unbreakable performance. It is most likely to be powered by a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine that generates 107 PS of power and 140 Nm of torque. These figures should be sufficient to provide a perfect blend of performance and fuel efficiency.

The Yaris also has a new design. Well, of course, we already have its elder sibling, the 2019 Vios, available for purchase and both the cars are very identical. But still, the Yaris would prove to be a fresh product in a competitive hatchback segment. It would attract more young buyers courtesy its funky colors and large headlamps and tail lights. Also, the rear roof-mounted spoiler adds a bit of more fun to the overall package.

The interior of the Yaris might not be the best one available in the market, but it does offer a good number of features to keep you engaged like a very interesting and stylish instrument cluster with MID, automatic AC, electrochromic rearview mirror, AC touch controls, touchscreen infotainment system, etc. As far as safety is concerned, you shouldn’t be worried because the 2019 Vios gets a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating and chances are the Yaris would have the same rating too. It will also get seven airbags, blind spot monitoring, hill start assist control, ABS with EBD and brake assist, etc.

So, if you are someone who likes to have a sober yet attractive car with a trustworthy engine and good reputation in the market, also, if you are really in a hurry to get a new hatchback, then you can look at the Honda Jazz. And if you want a bit more sportiness, opt the Jazz Mugen limited edition. But if you like to be loud when it comes to your ride, and wouldn’t mind having a ‘smaller variant’ of a larger car, and of course, can wait for a few weeks from now, then you should definitely consider the 2019 Yaris.

The Honda Jazz price starts at RM 70,242 for the base model and rises as high as RM 83,633 for the range-topping variant. Of course, the Mugen limited edition is even costlier. Toyota has not released details regarding the pricing of the 2019 Yaris, but it will be out soon and we are hoping to see a reasonable and attractive price tag.