Toyota Vios

The Toyota Vios was introduced in the Philippines in 2003 and boasted superior and sophisticated features. The current generation Toyota Vios features significant changes from the previous generation. Most notably in terms of exterior design, especially the front fascia, which now looks refined and elegant. In addition, the interior has a luxurious feel with numerous highly functional features, ensuring total driving comfort.

The Toyota Vios is not only the best-selling model in the Japanese automaker's lineup but also the entire Philippine market. It is a reliable subcompact sedan for those looking for a daily driver. In addition, the Vios is proudly assembled in the Philippines in Toyota’s Santa Rosa Plant and plays a massive role in supporting Filipino auto workers.

History

The Toyota Vios is a subcompact sedan by Toyota for the Southeast Asian market. The Vios is also built and sold in China. The Vios uses the same P platform as the Vitz/Yaris, and the Echo/Platz. The first and second-generation Vios used the same dashboard with the instrument panel positioned in the middle as other small Toyota cars built on the same platform. The First Generation (2003-2007) Toyota Vios in Southeast Asia came with a 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE engine, but the Vios in the Philippines had a 1.3-liter 2NZ-FE engine.

The Second Generation (2007-2013) Vios was launched in early 2007 and was the same as the Toyota Belta in Japan or the Toyota Yaris sedan in America and Australia. The Third Generation (2013-present) Toyota Vios was launched in March 2013 at the Bangkok International Motor Show in Thailand. In 2020, Toyota Motor Philippines launched another refresh of the Toyota Vios model. TMP fitted it with a sportier fascia, a new grille, a new pair of headlamps, a revised foglamp housing, and a new lower grille, among others.

Price and Variant

The 2022 Toyota Vios price in the Philippines starts at ₱686,000. The following is a price list of all 2022 Toyota Vios variants in the Philippines:

• Toyota Vios 1.3 Base MT ₱686,000
• Toyota Vios 1.3 J MT ₱707,000
• Toyota Vios 1.3 XE CVT ₱769,000
• Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE MT ₱811,000
• Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE CVT ₱862,000
• Toyota Vios 1.3 E MT ₱866,000
• Toyota Vios 1.3 E CVT ₱916,000
• Toyota Vios 1.5 G MT ₱926,000
• Toyota Vios 1.5 G CVT ₱985,000
• Toyota Vios GR-S ₱1.035 Million

The Exterior of the Toyota Vios, looking at it upfront, the refreshed Vios sports a new trapezoidal-shaped grille, with the Toyota logo in the middle.

The headlamps are longer and more angular and paired with a huge opening on the lower bumper.

A teardrop-shaped panel houses the fog lamps that arelocated on the lower portion of the bumper. Even the taillamps are also longer and fitted with LED lighting.

The side profile of the Toyota Vios remains pretty much unchanged from the previous model, but with all the exterior upgrades, it still looks sharp and attractive.

Dimensions

The dimensions of the Toyota Vios are 4,425 mm in length, 1,730 mm in width and 1,500 mm in height and a wheelbase of 2,550 mm.

There are several colors to choose from, namely Dark Blue Mica Metallic, Red Mica Metallic, Quartz Brown, Silver Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, and Dark Gray Metallic.

Lighting

The sleek headlamps of the Vios come with halogen-type bulbs or LED lighting with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) on the high-end variant, making it even more impressive.

But more importantly, this can provide maximum lighting capacity and improve overall visibility with the fog lamps for driving under adverse conditions such as fog and heavy rainfall.

Wheels

The Toyota Vios comes with 15-inch alloy wheels with 185/60R15 tires for the E Variant, while the G Variant features 16-inch alloy wheels on 195/50R16 tires.

Not only do these wheel choices make the Vios more attractive, but they also improve its overall handling and ride quality.

Overall, the interior of the Toyota Vios offers comfort and practicality.

More importantly, it’s built with high-quality materials to ensure durability. Despite sharing the same interior treatment with every other variant, slight differences are found on the top-level variant.

Another notable feature of the interior is its open cabin design that gives the front and rear occupants ample room, making it more comfortable.

The said design also makes it one of the most spacious cars in the subcompact segment.

Dashboard

Despite being built with hard plastic to withstand the elements, the fit and finish found on the dashboard of the Toyota Vios is well executed.

The instrument gauge cluster comes with easy-to-read Optitron gauges, while the silver-colored trim accents give contrast and character to the highly functional dashboard.

Center Console

While the overall looks and the trim level have greatly improved, the number of storage spaces and cubby holes can still be improved.

The same holds for the console box, which needs to be bigger to fit more items inside.

Space & Practicality

The interior space of the Vios is one the most spacious in its segment, making it roomy enough to be comfortable and not feel cramped.

The front and rear seats are highly ergonomic and made with quality material to ensure that the passengers experience total comfort.

Boot

Toyota put a premium on space management and, as a result, even managed to achieve more boot space, measuring larger than the pre-facelift model.

It’s a practical feature that increases the capacity of the Vios to store more items and cargo.

Safety Features

The Toyota Vios, which started with just two airbags, eventually became the most well-equipped car in its segment.

Like the Yaris, the Vios boasts a Blind-spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The current-generation Vios’s safety features can be considered comprehensive for subcompact sedans.

An example of this level of attention to safety is the Vios’ seven SRS airbags which protect and minimize serious injury to passengers in an accident.

Three-point seat belts which serve to keep passengers in their proper position when the driver suddenly brakes or in the event of a minor collision, are standard in the Vios. Safety features have also been added to the brake system, like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), and Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD).

These safety systems ensure maximum safety during emergency driving situations, preventing the vehicle from slipping and help keep the car stable.

Comfort Features

To guarantee that the cabin stays comfortable, the Air-Conditioning System of the Vios comes with Automatic Climate Control with Dual Zone controls.

The improved system provides variable settings to efficiently cool the cabin and reach the desired temperature much faster.

Infotainment Features

The Toyota Vios comes with a new 7-inch infotainment system to make driving all the more enjoyable. It has Bluetooth and Mirrorlink but still missing the all-important Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection.

Engine

The Toyota Vios engine has two powertrain options: a 1.3-liter 1NR-FE engine producing 99 ps and 123 Nm of torque, and a 1.5-liter 2NR-FE engine producing 107 ps and 140 Nm of torque. Both engine options can be paired with a continuous variable transmission (CVT) or a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine is mounted transversely in a front-engine front-wheel drive layout allowing more cabin space.

Transmission

Depending on the variant, the Vios is equipped with either a 7-Speed Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) or a 5-speed manual transmission. The top Vios G Variant comes with two driving modes, ECO and Sport Driving Modes to maximize the power output and fuel efficiency of the engine.

Riding & Control

The Toyota Vios continues to rely on a McPherson Strut front suspension and Torsion Beam rear suspension. This is augmented with gas-filled dampers and coil springs on all corners. The lower variants use 14-inch front ventilated discs and rear drum brakes, while the upper variants use 15-inch ventilated discs up front and a solid 15-inch disc at the rear. Handling is commendable as the steering wheel feels well weighted, resulting in a planted, quiet, and stable drive. It's also easy to maneuver even in tight spaces without needing sensors. Body roll comes naturally but is minimal, especially at speed.

Fuel Consumption

The Vios utilizes a Port Injection fuel system, making the engine more economical and fuel efficient. For mixed (city and highway) driving, the fuel consumption of the Toyota Vios managed to record a 12.2 km/L fuel consumption rating. Meanwhile, it recorded a 19.9 km/L fuel consumption rating on the highway with an average speed of 90 km/h.

The Toyota Vios quickly became the top favorite when it was first launched many years ago, but when the third generation rolled around, the car has since lost its crown to its closest rival, the Honda City.

But the current generation model Toyota Vios is finally making amends by going from a car with only the bare essentials and two airbags to a fully equipped B-segment sedan.

It can now lay claim as the safest car in its class and a pioneer in terms of safety features that have never been available on B-segment sedans.