Toyota Yaris YR vs Fiat Punto Pop

Yaris won our recent city-car comparo and is a hard one to beat. The base YR five-door manual gets power windows, USB/iPod and Bluetooth, 14-inch steel wheels and 24 cabin storage spaces. Six capped-price services over three years costs a total of $780. Resale is 48 per cent.

Euro-chic Punto five-door returns as a value proposition. Six-speaker audio, Fiat's neat Blue&Me hands-free phone and media integration, power front windows but no iPod/USB connectivity. Price is drive-away but no capped-price servicing.

The 1.3-litre engine (63kW/121Nm) is adequate in five-speed manual guise and weak as an auto, claiming 5.7 L/100km on basic unleaded. Steering is electric assist, brakes are front discs/rear drums, the suspension is front struts and rear beam and Bluetooth is the techno high point.

The 1.4-litre (57kW/115Nm) with five-speed manual has stop-start and an Eco-Drive program for economy driving. Fiat claims 5.7L/100km on standard fuel, so it's lineball with Yaris. Same chassis specs, too, with discs/drums and electric-assist steering.

Aged design still works. Five-door is the better bet, with good boot space (286L-768L). Unlike Fiat, split rear seats don't fold flat. Simple, old-fashioned and overly-plastic dash is easy to use and read. Wider and taller than the Fiat but 80mm shorter.

Shape's not new but nose and tail are. Looks more expensive than pricetag and even steel 15-inchers look OK. Cabin room is good, boot is 275L-1030L with completely flat floor. Minimal personal storage, dash isn't as logical as Yaris but is more stylish.

This is a five-star car with seven airbags, electronic stability and traction control, brake assist. The spare's a space-saver, which is acceptable in a city car.

Punto gets a five-star crash rating, six airbags (in the Pop), electronic stability and traction, a full-size spare (Pop only), daytime running lights, hill holder and brake assist.

The 1.3 is perfect for commuting as long as it's not pushed too hard or burdened with passengers and/or cargo. Reasonable ride comfort but can be noisy. Frustrating asthmatic low-end power is redeemed by its ease of driving and parking and low ownership costs.

Needs a hefty push but performance is adequate for a town car. Cornering is good, restrained only by the tyres. Punto wins on ride comfort and despite its size, copes very well with bumps and with good seat comfort. It leads Yaris here.