Was able to talk to a Toyota SA, lahat daw ng variants ng Vios including Base will have dual airbags. But if you need ABS, then you need at least the E version. Looks like Vios is winning for me. Hope to decide within 2 weeks.
Airbags-seatbelt-defensive driving are combination factors, one out of 3 of them would not spare your life.. You will be better on the vios in the long run.. Both of them eventually would not be a head turner after 1-2years.. So it would boil down to maintenance and durability... Then thats when vios would pawn fiesta bigtime..