The third-generation Toyota Vios comes with many improvements, compared with its predecessor.

While there is no change for the car’s powertrain, the new Vios is touted as having better fuel efficiency, increased cabin room, a larger trunk, improved noise insulation as well as more occupant comforts and conveniences.

It is offered in one manual transmission variant, and four automatic gearbox variants.

The new Vios is priced on-the-road at RM73,200 (J manual); RM77,300 (J auto); RM82,900 (E auto); RM88,500 (G auto) and RM93,200 (TRD Sportivo auto).

Choose your favourite. The Vios G (above) and the TRD Sportivo variant is shown below.

It has a sportier and sculptured dynamic design, with a body that is longer by 110mm and a roofline that is 15mm higher.

While its 2,550mm wheelbase is maintained, the new Vios offers increased head, shoulder and hip room.

Boot space has increased to 506 litres (according to VDA measurement), 80 litres more than before, allowing for up to four golf bags to be packed.

It should be noted that the J variants, which do not have 60:40 split foldable rear seats, get a 476-litre boot.

Meanwhile, the catamaran-shaped roof is said to help in better airflow across the top of the car.

Other improvements such as “air spats” around the tyres, have resulted in a better co-efficient of drag at 0.28 (previously 0.29).

Also, compared with its predecessor, the usage of high-tensile steel has been increased to 56% (from 47%).

The new Vios is lighter (compared to the previous model) by between 10kg to 30kg, depending on variant.

The car uses the familiar 1NZ-FE 1.5-litre 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine featuring VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence), with a maximum power output of 109PS at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 141Nm at 4,200 rpm.

“Based on feedback from customers, we kept the same engine and transmissions as they have been proven to be robust and reliable for many years,” said Toyota Motor Corp deputy chief engineer Takatomo Suzuki.

For both the four-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions, various components were redesigned to be lighter or more compact, thus reducing their weight.
















According to Toyota, the reduced weight of the powertrain, combined with the lighter vehicle weight and a more aerodynamically efficient shape, has made it possible for a 5% improvement in fuel economy compared with the previous generation Vios.

To improve rigidity, which is important for handling and ride comfort, the number of spot welds was increased by more than 100 in strategic areas, especially around the door openings.

The new Vios also has lower levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), due to factors such as an acoustic glass windscreen to reduce wind noise for some variants as well as the redesigned engine mount, optimal positioning of insulating materials inside the dashboard, and increased use of asphalt sheets around the floor area.

Also, the car’s electric power steering has been revised, for better driving feedback and reduced transmission of road shocks.

Braking performance has been improved and in factory tests, the new Vios can come to a stop from 100kph in a shorter distance than the previous model (from 44.3m to 42.4m).

Safety features include dual airbags, ABS (anti-lock braking system), electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, reverse sensors, ISOFIX points for rear seats, and seatbelts incorporating pre-tensioners.

All variants now come with 15-inch lightweight alloy rims as standard, and 185/60 R15 tyres.

Dual-cell reverse sensors and rear fog lights are also standard for all versions.

Projector headlamps, six audio speakers, a MID (multi-information display), as well as smart entry and engine push start features, come with the TRD Sportivo and G variants.

The TRD Sportivo, G and E variants also get front fog lamps, and 60:40 split foldable rear seats.

Concerning the upholstery and cabin colour theme, the Vios TRD Sportivo has combination black leather with red trim while the Vios G has combination leather in darker ivory.

The Vios E comes with fabric in two shades (grey and black) while the Vios J has black fabric.

The top-of-the-range Vios TRD Sportivo comes with a sporty aerokit that has a front bumper spoiler with LED daytime-running lights, a rear bumper spoiler, side skirts and a bootlid spoiler.

This aerokit is offered as an option (priced at RM2,300) for other Vios variants.

Other items in the Vios TRD Sportivo include sports front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching and audio switches, sports analogue meters with white lighting for the MID (multi-info display) which also has a drive monitor, and TRD embossed scuff plates on the front door sills.

Exclusive TRD Sportivo floor mats are also provided.

Besides the sporty aerokit, two other optional accessories are available for the new Vios, namely a DVD-AVN or DVD-AVX system with reverse camera.

The DVD-AVN system (priced at RM2,990) has a 2-DIN head unit incorporating a DVD Player and a seven-inch touchscreen.










Besides the radio receiver and MP3 capability, connectivity options are via an AUX jack, USB and SD card slots as well as Bluetooth.

The system also comes with a smartphone link and Voice Recognition as well as GPS route navigation.

As for the DVD-AVX system (priced at RM1,900), this is similar to the DVD-AVN system but has a 5.8-inch touchscreen.

There are three choices of window tints – Toyota Premium Security and Solar Film (at RM1,900), Standard Solar Film (at RM1,400) and Essential Solar Film (at RM990).

All Toyota window tint comes with a seven-year warranty.

The new Vios is sold with a three-year/100,000km (whichever comes first) warranty, and is available in five exterior colours – Quartz Brown Metallic, Medium Silver Metallic, Silver Metallic, Attitude Black and White.

Before the launch of the new Vios last week, UMW Toyota Motor had organised a test drive for the media in Sepang, Selangor.

Each journalist had a 45-minute driving session, over a variety of road surfaces on a 46km route.

The test drive units were the G variant, fitted with the optional aerokit.

At first glance, the new Vios comes across as sleek and sharp, with an athletic-looking side profile.

In the cabin, a noticeable change from the earlier two Vios generations is the relocation of the instrument panel from the centre of the dashboard to a more “traditional” position directly in front of the driver.







The meter cluster has a sporty design, while an ECO light (automatic transmission only) appears when the car is being driven in a fuel-efficient manner.

We liked the stitched design for the top dashboard panel and door trim, which Toyota says come courtesy of Japanese moulding precision technology.

As expected, the new Vios has a pliant suspension set-up, with a front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam, which provides a smooth ride that families would enjoy.

Road bumps and undulations are absorbed with ease, while the electric power steering is precise.

We found smooth and responsive acceleration with three occupants in the car.

Wind, engine and road noise was not uncomfortably intrusive even at 110kph.

Based on our brief test drive, the new Vios ranks high in the list of non-national cars that Malaysians would flock to buy.

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