Buy or Hold: Wait for Toyota Yaris or choose Peugeot 208?

When Toyota launched the 2019 Vios in the country, we knew that it would not take long for the Japanese automaker to bring the hatchback variant, i.e. the Yaris, of this car. And recently, Toyota Malaysia did confirm that the 2019 Yaris is going to be launched in the country pretty soon. And the official confirmation was enough to tense up the competitive hatchback segment in the region.

There are a number of good hatchbacks available in our country like Honda Jazz, Perodua Myvi, and of course, the Peugeot 208. These should be some of the main rivals of the upcoming Yaris. While we have already covered a story comparing the 2019 Yaris and the Honda Jazz, this time we are going to shift our attention from Honda and focus on the Peugeot and would try to get an answer to the question, ‘Whether to wait for the Toyota Yaris or choose Peugeot 208?’

Toyota Yaris

The 2019 Toyota Yaris looks very promising both in the images and on the paper. It is going to be familiar territory for someone who is already acquainted with the 2019 Toyota Vios. Both these cars have got a lot in common and thus you shouldn’t be expecting anything extraordinary for the new Yaris.

The Yaris will definitely bring a fresh design but only in the hatchback segment. Its elder sibling is already available for purchase and thus has made people a bit used to with its looks. This doesn’t mean that the 2019 Yaris is not a good looking car. It is. It would definitely cause many heads to turn and appreciate its large headlamps and tail lights. Even though with a similar design philosophy as the Vios, the Yaris tends to look sportier, nimble, and more youthful. Perhaps this has got something to do with the fact that it is a hatchback which made it lose its elegance.

The 2019 Toyota Yaris specs have got only a single engine option - a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder unit that has been tuned to churn out 107 PS of power and 140 Nm of torque. And it would be mated to a CVT ‘box. Clearly, Toyota has focused more on providing a balance of performance and fuel economy.

Peugeot 208

Peugeot is a brand that isn’t very popular in Malaysia. It is capable of making some great cars but perhaps it is due to bad marketing or God knows what, we don’t get to see a lot many Peugeot cars on the roads. The Peugeot 208 is a hatchback that looks way apart from what other cars of this segment have to offer. The 208 appears to be years ahead of its competition when it comes to style and design. We love how Peugeot has crafted the 208. Its front fascia is extremely attractive and unique thanks to the aggressive headlamps and elegant front grille.

View the 208 from the side and you’d continue to get amazed by its flawless shape and proportions. Windows, blacked out B-pillars, the design of the doors, the thick C-pillar, gorgeous alloy wheels, everything seems to be perfect. We are also a fan of the tail lights of this car. They have got this signature three strips inside that look simply beautiful. The Peugeot 208 is very sporty but in a very subtle and elegant manner. It is not too loud, let’s say like the Yaris.

And we can say the same about its interior. It features an innovative interior layout. Peugeot likes to call it as its i-Cockpit. And it looks like one. Sitting in the driver’s seat would make you want to drive the 208 very enthusiastically. The steering wheel is nice and sporty with a silver touch on the bottom spoke. The instrument cluster looks very elegant and has a central screen which shows all the necessary information and is easy on the eyes too. Then there’s the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that gives you access to a wide range of functions. Another thing that we like about the cabin of the Peugeot 208 is the attention to detail. Simply fantastic.

As far as the engine and performance are concerned, the Peugeot 208 specs show us a 1.2-litre engine which produces 110 hp and is mated to Peugeot’s EAT6 6-speed automatic gearbox which optimizes fuel consumption and performance.

Verdict

It is a very difficult decision to pick from these two cars if you compare every single detail about them. But if you can clear up your requirements and perhaps write them down on a paper, then you would be able to choose wisely.

For us, the Yaris would be a better option for someone who doesn’t like to experiment a lot and is looking for something new on the shelf that will continue to have its place in the market for many years to come. On the other hand, the Peugeot 208 should suit perfectly for someone who likes to try new things and is a bit curious about the world in general. It is a car that stands out for its looks and definitely for its interior. And by the way, there is also a more powerful GTI variant of the 208 available that has got 208 horsepower and simply throws the Yaris out of the equation if performance is what you’re looking for.

The 2019 Toyota Yaris price hasn’t been announced yet. We will be the first ones to let you guys update about it as soon as its out. The Peugeot 208 price is RM 86,888 for the normal 1.2L variant and RM 131,865 for the 208 hp GTI variant.