Both have excellent reliability reputations, but they suit different priorities. The Yaris is cheaper to buy and insure across the board, while the Jazz trades a higher starting cost for more interior space and, in hybrid form, exceptional fuel economy.
Group 2 to 14. The ordinary 1.33 petrol sits around group 7 to 10; the 1.5 Hybrid sits at group 13 to 14.
Group 13 to 22. There is no low-group Jazz: even the entry petrol trim starts around group 13.
Typical used price
£6,700 to £14,200 on the used market
£14,500 to £19,300 on the used market
Road tax
£170 to £200 a year depending on registration date and trim
Around £200 a year across the range
Fuel economy
55 to 57 mpg on the ordinary 1.33 petrol; up to 76 mpg on the 1.5 Hybrid
52 to 56 mpg on the ordinary 1.3 to 1.5 petrol; up to 113 mpg on the i-MMD hybrid
Euro NCAP rating
5 stars
5 stars
Why choose this one
Cheaper to insure across nearly its whole range and a lower typical purchase price, with the same class-leading reliability reputation as the Jazz.
More interior space and a more upright, visibility-friendly driving position. The i-MMD hybrid's fuel economy is the best of any car compared on this site so far.
Sources: First Car Scout vehicle listing and insurance-group data (July 2026).
The catch
The two cars solve different problems rather than compete head to head. Typical Yaris asking prices (£6,700 to £14,200) sit well below typical Jazz asking prices (£14,500 to £19,300), and the Yaris insures in a lower group across nearly its whole range (group 2 to 14 against the Jazz's group 13 to 22). The Jazz's case is space and hybrid efficiency: the i-MMD hybrid returns up to 113 mpg, against the Yaris hybrid's still-strong 76 mpg. If budget is the main constraint, the Yaris wins easily; if interior space and the very best fuel economy matter more, the Jazz's higher starting cost is easier to justify.
