Ford Fiesta vs. Toyota Yaris: which is better?
Helping you decide whether it’s the Ford Fiesta or Toyota Yaris that’s the better hatchback for you
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The Ford Fiesta vs. Toyota Yaris is a long-debated duel between two of the most attractive used supermini hatchbacks on the market.
While they may be similar in size, they’re very different in almost every other way – offering different engines, tech, and interiors.
But they’re both popular for a reason, so which one is best for you?
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Yaris vs. Fiesta
Our guide will answer:
Is the Ford Fiesta or Toyota Yaris better to drive?
Does the Ford Fiesta or Toyota Yaris have better tech?
Which hatchback has the better styling?
Is the Ford Fiesta or Toyota Yaris more reliable?
What are the dimensions of the Ford Fiesta vs. Toyota Yaris?
Fiesta vs. Yaris: styling
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Look at both hatchbacks from the outside and they are totally different, there's no doubt about that.
The Fiesta, as we all know, is a classic shape that’s been tweaked and improved from all the way back in 1976 until 2023 when Ford stopped making it.
More recent models have a softer face than before, with oval-shaped LED headlights that look more like Ford’s logo than the eyeliner-flicks of the previous generation and a big, open grille like a shark’s mouth.
In many ways, it’s the quintessential hatchback shape, so the Yaris has a lot to live up to.
Speaking of the Yaris, it has a very distinctive shape. If we’re sticking with the animal theme, it looks a bit like an angry frog with sharp lines going down the bonnet and its abstract front and rear lights.
Toyota has been making the Yaris since 1999, so they’re not new to the game, and it has become more stylish and distinctive with each new generation.
Fiesta vs. Yaris: what are they like to drive?
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Get behind the wheel of the Ford Fiesta and it drives exactly how a hatchback should drive. It’s fun, nippy, and handles town driving with ease.
But even when you do take it on a faster motorway road, it’s just as happy and feels well-planted at higher speeds.
You can get a Fiesta with either a manual or automatic gearbox, though the auto is a much rarer find on the used market.
On the other hand, the Yaris feels less playful but instead keeps fuel economy front of mind, reaching up to 68.9mpg, beating the Fiesta’s 51.4mpg.
In terms of dynamics, the Yaris isn’t as fun as the Fiesta (which is well-regarded as one of the best driving small cars), but it does the job very competently.
Fiesta vs. Yaris: interior and technology
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While they’re drastically different on the outside, they do feel quite similar inside. Both cars have well-sized infotainment screens, plush seats and (thankfully) physical climate control knobs and switches.
The Fiesta gets a nine-inch (10.5 inches in the top-spec model) central screen that runs Ford’s SYNC software and with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
And while the level of tech equally as strong, the Yaris lacks in terms of general interior quality compared to the Ford.
The Fiesta’s cabin is more solid and features nicer soft-touch materials that make it feel more expensive than it really is.
It gets an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes as standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it all just feels very well put together and nicely finished. These two cars are very much the same in that respect.
Fiesta vs. Yaris: boot space and practicality
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Boot space isn’t the be all and end all of hatchback life – most buyers of smaller cars don’t need massive amounts of space – but it’s still nice to have when you need it.
Thankfully, both cars get decent boot spaces, but there’s a clear winner. The Yaris gets 286 litres (768 with the rear seats folded), which is slightly on the smaller end.
Whereas the Fiesta has 303 litres (1,093 with the rear seats folded) and a wide boot opening, so it comes out on top here.
Fiesta vs. Yaris: safety and reliability
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Both Toyota and Ford know how to build a safe and reliable car, they’ve been around long enough to get things down to a science.
Thankfully, this means both the Yaris and Fiesta offer full five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings. That makes them two of the safest superminis on the road.
As for dependability, Toyota is famed for making robust engines, and Ford has been going so long it rarely misses a beat. So, as long as both cars are well-maintained (as all cars should be) then you should rarely encounter any issues.
Ford might not make the Fiesta anymore but it’s been such a popular car that finding parts and garages to work on them (including Ford itself) won’t be much trouble.
Fiesta vs. Yaris: dimensions
Ford Fiesta (2021)
Length: 4,040mm
Width: 1,735mm
Height: 1,476mm
Boot space: 303 litres (1,093 litres with the rear seats folded)
Toyota Yaris (2024)
Length: 3940mm
Width: 1745mm
Height: 1500mm
Boot space: 286 litres (768 litres with the rear seats folded)
Verdict: Ford Fiesta vs. Toyota Yaris: which should you buy?
Choosing between two of the UK’s favoured hatchbacks is hard. They both do different things really well, and appeal to different people, but let’s break it down.
You should buy a used Ford Fiesta if...
You want a bigger boot
You want something with a bit more character
You’re familiar with Fords and like them
You should buy a used Toyota Yaris if...
Dependability is at the front of your mind
You’re after a car smaller than the Fiesta
You prefer its interior
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