Toyota Yaris vs Skoda Fabia

The five-door Toyota Yaris is $1600 less than the Skoda but still enough standard features to be a genuine rival. The six-speaker audio system is more than adequate and cruise control is standard but you will be resorting to a space-saver spare in the event of a puncture. Opting for the four-speed automatic transmission will cost $1600.

The starter Skoda Fabia is almost $1000 cheaper than the comparable Volkswagen Polo. Given they ride on the same platform, that makes the Czech Republic-built car good buying. Cruise control, heated mirrors, Bluetooth and front foglights are standard, along with a full-size spare. The only option to tick is the reverse parking sensors.

Toyota says the third-generation Yaris was given a European-inspired styling. That translates to a wider car with more muscular lines that the company hopes will increase its appeal with males - sales of previous models were biased to women. Younger buyers are likely to appreciate the light-coloured interior which is a direct contrast to the austere Skoda.

The Skoda is function above form. The high roof easily accommodates tall adults but gives the car a slab-sided appearance is exaggerated by the stumpy tail. Specify the contrasting roof colour to disguise the height. The interior is plain - there isn't enough chrome or colour on the dash to lift the black plastics.

A 6.1-inch touch screen is the redeeming feature. It is easy to use and the start-up screen can be personalised with a picture via the SD card slot. The engines and transmissions are carryover units but have been tuned to improve fuel economy by up to 0.4 of a litre, giving the manual 5.8/L/100km and the auto 6.3L/100km.

The 1.2-litre turbo four is as good as engines get in the light car class and is matched to a light five-speed manual gearbox (a twin-clutch auto will arrive next year) that uses 5.5L/100km. The stereo system has eight speakers but the sound from the pair in the rear doors gets lost, leading to requests from back-seat teenagers to pump up the volume.

The Yaris stacks up well - literally. Seven airbags and stability control helped it earn a five-star Euro NCAP rating. The biggest criticism the safety body could level at the Yaris was that whiplash protection was marginal in the event of a rear-end hit. Like the Skoda Fabia, the solid C pillars can limit vision when changing lanes.

The Fabia's six airbags, stability control and brake assistance are typical for the class. NCAP awarded the car four stars when it launched in 2007, noting the dash could injure front occupants' knees and upper legs in a frontal crash. The high driving position improves forward visibility but, like most cars in the class, the chunky C pillars make mirror and head checks a must when changing lanes.

The Yaris can't match the Skoda Fabia for mid-range acceleration and it also trails in ride and handling when pushed. Around town - where these cars will spend most of their time - there's not a lot in it and the up or downshifts with the five-speed manual gearbox is as good as its Czech rival. The Toyota is also is quieter inside than the Skoda and the interior is lighter and fresher, though build quality is on a par.

Body roll is the biggest bugbear for the Fabia - and that's only going to happen if the car is driven hard. In normal situations its size and performance make it the most practical vehicle in the light car class. The MacPherson front/multi-link rear suspension is soft enough to deal with suburban streets but stiffens as the pressure mounts to cope with bigger hits.